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What to do with a 25 year old hot water tank? <v>
2/2/11 | Self

Posted on 02/02/2011 3:08:04 PM PST by Bean Counter

Our 1985 model 50 gallon electric hot water heater is original to our house and has been extremely reliable since we have lived here, but lately it is showing signs of age and I wonder if there is anything I can do to extend its life.

It takes a lot longer for it to recover after one use, a shower or a load of laundry, than it used to. Also I have been cleaning particles of white crusty debris out of our various hot water strainers and it's clear the stuff is coming from the hot water heater.

Is there anything I can do short of replacing it, that will restore some of it's heating capacity in whole or in part? Am I better advised to wait until it fails completely, or should I be looking at replacing it now before it goes?

A new 80 gallon electric tank will fit in this one's place and runs about $600. I'm almost certain that a new electric water heater will be more efficient than the 25 year old model so there will probably be some modest savings on our electric bill. The main goal is to restore our hot water in the steady volume we used to get.

This is the last appliance in the house that we have not upgraded, repaired or replaced, and I think the time to kiss it goodbye is drawing near...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: heater; water
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To: Diver Dave; Bean Counter
I agree with DD except for one detail. Before doing ANYHTING have beer. Turn the power of and have the Mrs. check you in that area. Remove both covers. Use an ohm meter or a test pen and make sure the power is off. Remove the wires and test the elements with an ohm meter. If you get a very large reading it has failed. If good have another beer. If bad have a beer a decide how much money you want to spend on this old thing. Try craigslist for “hot” water heaters, may save a ton and get way better insulation capabilities.

http://www.inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Electric_Hot_Water5.htm

81 posted on 02/02/2011 4:03:15 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ (V for Vendetta.)
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To: silentreignofheroes

A 25 year old HW heater would be a bomb waiting to go off if used for an air tank-That is if you could even build any pressure in it.


82 posted on 02/02/2011 4:04:27 PM PST by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: justlurking

I have a long clear vinyl hose on the drain and a nozzle with a valve and section of copper tubing. I drag it all over the house to water the plants.

The plants get watered
the sediments get drained


83 posted on 02/02/2011 4:04:47 PM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. N.C. D.E. +12 .....( History is a process, not an event ))
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To: Bean Counter
I can't believe that nobody has mentioned it yet, but

TAKE IT OUTSIDE AND SHOOT THE HELL OUT OF IT.

They make excellent targets. And yes, I'm a redneck.

;-)

84 posted on 02/02/2011 4:05:01 PM PST by SIDENET ("If that's your best, your best won't do." -Dee Snider)
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To: ErnBatavia; discostu

http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/mythbusters-exploding-water-heater/4d94tYg7rvIOPbYcDq0O8Q


85 posted on 02/02/2011 4:07:17 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ (V for Vendetta.)
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To: Past Your Eyes

We use our propane for emergency heat also and it helps me sleep better at night knowing we are not dependent on grid power for heat (for a month or so, anyway). The problem for me with the cost comparison is the electricity is only 5-6 cents/kWh here and it is hard to beat that. I didn’t look at the price on the last propane delivery but it was probably around $3.50/gallon.


86 posted on 02/02/2011 4:08:34 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture (Could be worst in 40 years))
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To: Bean Counter

Buy a tankless unit and use the old WH to make biodiesel fuel!


87 posted on 02/02/2011 4:10:52 PM PST by Andy from Chapel Hill
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To: Bean Counter

$600.00 is about twice what it should cost to replace.
These things normally last about 10 years. If you are
a cheap skate you could replace both of the heating elements
for 30.00.


88 posted on 02/02/2011 4:11:13 PM PST by Dem Guard (Obama's 57 States = The Organization of The Islamic Conference (OIC).)
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To: mountn man

Had an old tank,worked good.Thing was so old that it did not have a pop off valve.Maybe they made better tanks back then.


89 posted on 02/02/2011 4:19:12 PM PST by silentreignofheroes
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To: steve86

I get it for a lot less than that. But then, I use it for everything. Electricity is very expensive here.


90 posted on 02/02/2011 4:22:00 PM PST by Past Your Eyes (I'd get it myself but I don't have any thumbs.)
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To: Bean Counter

Pull it and have it hydrostated. Put a “K” or “J” valve on top then take it down to the Grand Caymans, strap it on your back and go Scuba diving... you can breathe underwater for half a day.


91 posted on 02/02/2011 4:22:37 PM PST by Mashood
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To: skeeter
Kiss it goodbye before it leaves you cold, naked & sopping wet on a 30 degree morning.

I had that happen to me a few days before Christmas, it SUCKED.

92 posted on 02/02/2011 4:24:13 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: Yet_Again

The electric coop where I worked sells Marathon water heaters that are guaranteed for life. Google that up.


93 posted on 02/02/2011 4:25:35 PM PST by Past Your Eyes (I'd get it myself but I don't have any thumbs.)
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To: Bean Counter

See post 12 and 82


94 posted on 02/02/2011 4:26:16 PM PST by silentreignofheroes
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To: Bean Counter

You can cut it in half length-wise and feed your hogs out of it.......

Seriously....Look into tankless. A standard hotwater heater will last you these days 12-14 years. Tankless will last 20-25 years.


95 posted on 02/02/2011 4:31:02 PM PST by Shamrock-DW
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To: steve86
My heater is in the basement, dead center. The vents go up through the basement, 1st floor, 2nd floor, then to the roof. Much cutting to make new room for larger diameter pipes all the way up. I didn't figure the extra cost would be amortized over the life of the heater. It would have been exceptionally cheap to do the same upgrade to my old house in Mira Mesa. I replaced that one as well. The "extra" work that time was getting the building permit, adding the earthquake bracing and having the inspector come out. No big deal. I've replaced 5 or 6 heaters since I was a teen at home.
96 posted on 02/02/2011 4:40:55 PM PST by Myrddin
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To: RobertClark

Last year we installed about 50 tankless water heaters and about 25 conventional. They are really catching on, and for good reason.

5 years ago, we installed I think 2 tankless.

A bit more up front for the larger gas lines and plumbing involved, but they are just so more efficient.


97 posted on 02/02/2011 4:41:53 PM PST by esoxmagnum
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To: Bean Counter

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-exploding-water-heater.html

This is not how to install a hot water heater.

Why would you want to heat your hot water, it is the could water that you need to heat.

Also how could is it where you are? It could come into play choosing your best option.


98 posted on 02/02/2011 4:42:12 PM PST by ThomasThomas (If bacon grew on trees my dog would be a vegetarian.)
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To: RobertClark

I would trade it for a million $. I could buy a new house with a Rianna on each floor and still have money left over to buy a garage with a retractable roof like those big fancy stadiums.


99 posted on 02/02/2011 4:49:24 PM PST by ThomasThomas (If bacon grew on trees my dog would be a vegetarian.)
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To: Bean Counter

If you drain the tank BE SURE TO TURN THE BREAKER OFF FIRST or it will burn out the heating elements with no water in the tank and then it would be more cost effective to replace it.


100 posted on 02/02/2011 4:59:50 PM PST by Hotmetal (GO DAWGS !!!!!!!)
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