Therma-flow/Everhot water heater issues

[chrisexv6]

Just got the service done on my furnace and oil fired water heater. After the service was done the tech pointed out a corroded inlet nipple on the water heater. He said the inlet nipple is "one piece" with the tank, so the whole water heater (minus the burner) needs to be replaced.

Anyone know anything about this water heater? Just trying to figure out if it is necessary to replace the whole thing or if they were just trying to sell me a bridge.

The heater is an E30GL, 30 gallon oil fired. its about 10 years old....not sure if its really past its life or not.

Thanks in advance.

-Chris

[Thatguy]

the tech pointed out a corroded inlet nipple on the water heater. He said the inlet nipple is "one piece" with the tank, so the whole water heater (minus the burner) needs to be replaced.

You might have a galvanic corrosion issue.
The manufacturer may have a parts list showing if this piece is separate from the tank.
For a second opinion as to repairs, find a machine shop that makes house calls.
You can modify a $16 water level detector to alarm when, and if, this thing starts leaking.

If this boiler can be considered "HVAC equip.", 83% have lasted longer than this.
If it's comparable to a gas WH, 81% have lasted longer.

[Runs with bison]

You might want to take your model #/serial # and call the manufacturer to verify that the fellow is correct about the nipple and dip tube arrangement on this glass lined tank.

Where is the corrosion occurring on the nipple?

[chrisexv6]

You might want to take your model #/serial # and call the manufacturer to verify that the fellow is correct about the nipple and dip tube arrangement on this glass lined tank.

Where is the corrosion occurring on the nipple?

Ill get a pic when I have time, but there is probably about 2" or so of pipe nipple exiting the case of the heater before it connects to the copper supply. Those 2" show corrosion on them, Im not sure if it goes farther down than that, as the top of the case is covering the rest of the inlet.

Will contact the manufacturer tomorrow. it seems like Im not completely nuts in thinking this water heater shouldnt be on its last leg already.

[chrisexv6]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone. Called TFI/Everhot and they laughed at the suggestion I need a whole new tank.

Local HVAC place got the dip tube drop shipped to me, I installed it tonight (old one came out easy, but heck if I could get the new one threaded in right away!!! took me a while but I got it)

Thanks again.

-Chris

[Runs with bison]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone. Called TFI/Everhot and they laughed at the suggestion I need a whole new tank.

Local HVAC place got the dip tube drop shipped to me, I installed it tonight (old one came out easy, but heck if I could get the new one threaded in right away!!! took me a while but I got it)

Thanks again.

-Chris

Glad to hear the good guys won one! I thought the nipple claim was suspicious. Generally the things are threaded in rather than welded to the vessel, but I couldn't tell from the drawings I located.

[chrisexv6]

Yeah, in the back of my mind I thought it was odd for everything to be one piece also. But its OK that they *almost* had me (not quite), otherwise I would have ended up in an argument with the tech about it being separate parts.

FYI the oil co gave me a "generous" estimate of 50 times what the part cost me, to replace the whole tank. Not quite sure if they are trying to make $$$ or truly believe its all one piece.

[Thatguy]

So, with the whole new tank. . .
Honest mistake?
Incompetence?
He didn't care either way?