To Be Or Not to Be?

[gabkwong]

I know POS and others had many posts on this. I still have a couple of questions.

1. When do you replace the electric water heater? Mine is about 7-8 year old and is starting to make popping noise and gurgling sound. I have home warranty insurance to replace it when it bust. It is in the middle of house. I really do not want come home one day to find my living room turn into a fishing pond, not to mention the $$$ needed to replace the wood floor! On the other hand, I am a card carrying TCB member and not want to replace it when it is not the time. Any idea?

2. Should I go back to the old fashion tank type or try the new one that POS was talking about?

Thanks,
Gab

[sammm]

7-8 years shouldn't be at the end of its life expectancy, but you never know. You might have a bunch of sediment at the bottom that's making the noise when that thing fires up. Have you ever flushed it out? I'd do that before I ripped it out.

I've looked in to tankless heaters. IMO it's a great idea for new construction. Not so great to retro-fit one in.

[gabkwong]

Sammm,

Excuse my ignorance! How do you flush the tank?

Thanks,
Gab

[cam76034]

If it's already Popping & gurgling, flushing probably won't make a difference. It's too late. However, a buddy of mine had one that made those noises for years, before he finally got tired of listening to it and got him a new one.

If you're paying home warranty premiums just in case of that possibility, then you're (as Rick Stacey would say) burning money. How much is a new one at Home Depot, around $200? You can install it yourself, in fact that is the only way to do it because if you get a plumber in there, he's going to find all kinds of ridiculous new code requirements which will jack the price up.

Take a look at the top or side of your tank, there should be a relief valve and then plumbed to a drain in the floor. You are supposed to periodically check it, although nobody ever does. 8 years isn't really that old for a h20 heater, but then if you've got alot of minerals that would shorten the life.

[sammm]

How do you flush the tank?

http://lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=ho...aintaince.html

[gabkwong]

Thanks! Sammm.

Gab