Any Water Heater Gurus Out There?

[that dude who did that thing]

Water heater is acting up. It's gas fired, about 15 years old. I flush it every few years, and it has been doing well until recently. It still heats up, but the water starts out very hot, and shortly turns to pretty hot, then reasonably hot. my showers are not long enough to determine where this will end.

My research leads me to believe the dip tube is shot. I figure I probably want to replace the anode rod at the same time.

here's the question. Water heater is in a rough basement, with a 6-1/2' ceiling. It's a 60-gallon model, upright. I have a feeling it will be impossible to insert a new dip tube due to lack of overhead space. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a flexible dip tube and/or anode? Or am I going to have to disconnect everything (both water connections, gas connection, vent stack) so I can tip the tank over to remove and/or install the new parts?

[wooley12]

They last 8-12 years on average per Google search. About right in my experience. So a heart transplant for a heater that is 87 in human years? I'd get a new one if you can afford it. That said, I rebuilt the motor of a 40 year old furnace once.

[liv2ski]

I am with Wooley, on it being to old to dick around with. Go to Home Depot and buy one from GE with a 8 year guarantee, bag the receipt in a plastic bag and tape it to the tank. I had one die with a month left on the warranty and was given a new one for free.

[XXX-er]

You could fuck with it and maybe fix it but then it will rust out and leak all over the fucking place soaking the carpets ruining drywall and it will happen on x-mas eve when your mother in-law is visiting and its impossible to buy anything or even hire a plumber ... replace it

[Vt-Freeheel]

You could fuck with it and maybe fix it but then it will rust out and leak all over the fucking place soaking the carpets ruining drywall and it will happen on x-mas eve when your mother in-law is visiting and its impossible to buy anything or even hire a plumber ... replace it

How is it going to leak on the carpets from the basement?

Buy a new one.

[Tippster]

Our 11yo water heater is getting replaced on Monday.

[GiBo]

Agree with replace. I just did did it. It's an easy job. Also, a new one will be more more efficient.

[TWINS]

Replace.Had a broken dip tube on a 20 year old 40 gallon heater this summer.Why waste time and money on something that is worn out.

[hutash]

Yep, not worth fucking with, just replace. It is not the least unusual to fix an old water heater, and as soon as you heat it up again is leaks or completely shits out. DIY water heaters are cheap and easy, and a lot less work then many repairs.

[that dude who did that thing]

Well, I finally got into the basement this morning (It's basically a root cellar that used to be accessed from outside the house, but became inside the house as a result of a 1970's addition). P&T valve shit the bed and is leaking all over the place. To be precise, the valve appears to be fine, I think the tank failed around the valve.

Plumber I called is going to replace the thing for what I would spend retail for a heater. And he's going to do it tomorrow.

So much for my President's Day ski trip.

[XXX-er]

How is it going to leak on the carpets from the basement?

Buy a new one.

Perhaps not this particular situ but it is what happens in general, I know my water heater leaked & soaked the carpets in the basement suite when I was out of town which needed to be replaced, if it had got up into the DW that would have been even worse and very inconvenient

this is not the 1st water heater thread in the padded room where somebody asks how to fix their water heater but the answer is always the same ... replace it

[skiballs]

this is not the 1st water heater thread in the padded room where somebody asks how to fix their water heater but the answer is always the same ... replace it

Except the time rootskier only needed to spend $12 on a new heating element.

[RootSkier]

The other element died a week later. Then the first replacement died a few weeks after that. I got a new unit and installed it in fifteen minutes. Should've done it from the get go.

[skiballs]

^installation error.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

So much for my President's Day ski trip.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like you lucked out.



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[that dude who did that thing]

So much for my President's Day ski trip.

Sounds like you lucked out.

Not where i ski.

[Rideski]

Proactively spring for a drain pan with a hose direct routed to the drain.
Can't effectively be added later.

[Tye 1on]

i exceeded my realistic abilities when i replaced the pressure relief valve. Next even minor issue the fucker's out the door, it's 15+ years old. Or, more accurately, somehow up through the crawl space opening into the bedroom closet then through the whole house and then out the fuckin door....

[XXX-er]

Proactively spring for a drain pan with a hose direct routed to the drain.
Can't effectively be added later.

actualy it CAN be done but you probably wouldn't have it done unless you were replacing the water heater

Some may find it anal retentive but I've dealt with soggy carpets twice and wet drywall once on both a leaking water heater and a dead sump pump so when the Hvac guy was in there doing my new HE furnace in this house I had him slide a drain pan under the old water heater when he was in that room messing around even tho the water heater was ok, I also replaced the supply hoses on the washer cuz anything that can go wrong ... will