Pulling and replacing old water heaters. You never know how old the water heater is going to be when you get "the call".
In condominiums, many want replacement at 10 years to prevent water damage by a failed water heater. If you get ten years without a problem, you done well. And the neighbors on the floor below are happy that they're not reconstructing their place because your tank failed, trying to save a buck or two.
It's hard to say how long a tank will last, electric tanks tend to last a little longer than gas tanks with the added flue going through the center of the tank acting as a chimney for the fire chamber. Heating and cooling of the water inside will change pressures, flexing the inner tube, and over time the welds can break. Maybe it's a slow leak, and then again maybe it's catastrophic and all Hell breaks loose. You certainly hope that it doesn't happen while you are away from the home and not able to shut things off quickly. The last two gas tanks I installed didn't make it to 15 years of age. Luckily I had put a pan with a 1" drain under it, and the really large leak had a place to go without ruining carpets downstairs.
So what do the water heaters look like that you are pulling out for replacement?
This one was from 1996, I can't even imagine what the rest of the home must have looked like.
Is that soft copper supplying the gas? You would never see that where I'm at.
Is that a helper in the back of the van? What.............?
In condominiums, many want replacement at 10 years to prevent water damage by a failed water heater. If you get ten years without a problem, you done well. And the neighbors on the floor below are happy that they're not reconstructing their place because your tank failed, trying to save a buck or two.
It's hard to say how long a tank will last, electric tanks tend to last a little longer than gas tanks with the added flue going through the center of the tank acting as a chimney for the fire chamber. Heating and cooling of the water inside will change pressures, flexing the inner tube, and over time the welds can break. Maybe it's a slow leak, and then again maybe it's catastrophic and all Hell breaks loose. You certainly hope that it doesn't happen while you are away from the home and not able to shut things off quickly. The last two gas tanks I installed didn't make it to 15 years of age. Luckily I had put a pan with a 1" drain under it, and the really large leak had a place to go without ruining carpets downstairs.
So what do the water heaters look like that you are pulling out for replacement?
This one was from 1996, I can't even imagine what the rest of the home must have looked like.
Is that soft copper supplying the gas? You would never see that where I'm at.
Is that a helper in the back of the van? What.............?