THANK YOU! I'm a widow & now that I have to depend on the kindness of strangers helping me with problems that my husband could fix, I worry more. You just put my fears regarding my water heater to rest. I will now subscribe to your channel for future help. 😊
This posting was very reassuring my concerns. (I still have some though) Our Water heater was installed 39 years ago in 1984. Hot Water has been consistently good & available. The anode rod has long since been sacrificed and I'm not aware of any maintenance in the last decade. I had discussed replacing it w/ my spouse but she's pretty adamant that if it’s not broke don’t fix it. I think 80's they made much better Water heaters than the junk available today with its planned obsolescence. Im afraid to touch it worrying that it will then there-after start misbehaving. I setup water alarm system and the unit is mounted on a drain pad. We will replace it someday. This posting took away the nagging "bottom dropping out" catastrophe fear .
I would have to agree, I inherited a house from grandparents. I remember some history on the water heaters, of course they were all Sears Kenmore units up until 2012 which is the one I had put in its a GE, it has given me some trouble just recently. The history, the water heater before it Kenmore Sears, February1989- Aug 2012, and the one before it (also Sears Kenmore)I was told was older than me was put in about 1968-69’ lasted til 1989
I was very young in the early 70s when our water heater "blew out" in the basement. I recall opening the door to the basement one morning and a blast of steamy air hit me. It was like a steam room. We has a small house so I guess the hot water was enough to remain fairly hot despite there being a few inches of water on the floor throughout the basement. Fast forward about 20 years and in the first house I ever bought, my wife and I were only there a few months when the exact same thing happened. So I suppose I am doubly blessed to have been chosen twice for that honor. I knew nothing about home maintenance and repair at that time (obviously), but those experiences forced me to learn a lot and I do maintain and repair all the usual stuff in my old age. Not only for my own family, but friends as well. Videos like yours are greatly appreciated.
This video was so refreshing. It is nice to see someone share an honest appraisal rather than resorting to fear tactics that are now so common on the internet. My house is 17 years old and the gas water heater continues to work fine. I replaced the pressure relief valve last year when I found evidence of some moisture coming from it periodically. Based on so many 10-12 year predictions for average service life, I started thinking about a replacement last year. I'm glad I didn't replace it prematurely, and hope it lasts another 17 years. Thanks for this helpful information.
I am so glad I bumped into your video so that I don't have to spend 14K dollars for my water heater and boiler for house heating. My system was installed about 18 years ago which is actually still working well. I was baffled as to how could a plumbing company charge over 7K for the replacement job as the equipment they would use will not cost more than 6 to 7K. You are so correct in saying that the "efficiency" gained through replacement will not be worth it. Thank you for the sound advise.
You're welcome! Yes, if the system is working well and there are no leaks, there is no need to replace it. I'm glad to hear this video came at a good time for you. 👍
I can't tell you how much I appreciate every single one of your videos, whether they apply to my stuff at the time or not. It's still learning! I've been nervous about my water heater for a while, only because it is 24 years old. It looks "brand new". Even the stickers on it look new. It's a Bradford White, and one sticker says it's equipped with "Hydrojet Total Protection System". It's natural gas fired. I see no signs of rust, or any other physical changes, and it doesn't make any weird noises. Never flushed it, never replaced or cleaned the rod. I take comfort from today's video, relieved that I can tamp down my stress about it, and not pay a fortune to replace a water heater that is working just fine. Thank you for your videos, your expertise, very clear demonstrations, pictures, and those sound files you include sometimes (like the ac fan motor video). And your sense of humor. I hope you and your family are doing wonderfully in Hawaii. Best wishes to all of you. Looking forward to your next video, and appreciating your past videos.
That's awesome! If your water heater is still looking brand new then you must have one from the half-century series. 😉 I wouldn't be surprised if it gets to 40 years before giving you any trouble. It's amazing how some of the oldest water heaters I've seen are actually the ones that never had the anode rod replaced or have been drained or flushed. You're welcome! I am happy to know that my videos have been helpful for you! Thank you for the positive and pleasant comment! Hawaii has been treating us wonderfully and I trust your side of the world has been good to you too. May God abundantly bless you and yours!!
@@WordofAdviceTV the chemical composition in the water is the biggest factor in corrosion and shorter lives for some heaters than others in my view. Being born and lived in the UK for 40 years our boilers and water heater systems tended to corrode more or less depending on the area or region where water was fed from in areas of hard water or limescale (calcium carbonate) more servicing and annual maintenance are needed for water heaters and tankless boilers or water filled radiators. I moved to the USA 14 years ago. Just replaced an anode rod for an old neighbor of mine the entire 5ft of rod was gone and caked in limescale deposits. Replaced it with a new anode and given the entire system had not been touched serviced or drained other parts are starting to go including the PRV which leaked a little after the replacement would you know it and the metal head PVC to copper transition fitting started to leak. In my view it’s a bit of a lottery depending on your regions water hardness. If you going to service it do it when it’s first installed and annually thereafter. With n older water heater it’s a lottery whether doing work on it is going to cause more problems than worth the issue. Not surprising the old pros often tell people to leave it well alone.
Great content! We have been called to a flooded basement from a leaking heater 4 times I can remember off hand. I have been doing this more than 35 years though. We always tell our clients if you are sure it is actually the tank leaking , DO NOT WAIT to replace it. You did an outstanding job covering the most relevant information. Loved the video!
Thanks so much for this excellent video delivered in a very professional way. I will sleep easier tonight and call my plumber in the morning about the small amount of water under my 22 year old Ruud water heater. Ten years ago I was out of town for several weeks in December. When I returned to my cool home it smelled very musty like a summer basement. The water was up to an inch or so deep in spots of the uneven floor. I turned the water to the tank off and In the morning called the plumber. He said the culprit was a defective valve near the top of the tank, which he replaced. So my home wasn't flooded, but there was quite a bit of water down there. Thanks again for your lesson.
They are not just fantastic but Jay has the great capacity to explain even technical details which are critical to his viewers. This means he is not talking down to people his easy going friendly style pits many people at ease. I have many years of engineering and technical plumbing, HVAC/ R and especially electrical knowledge and I have said it before but it bears worth repeating he is As good as the great Craig Migliacio high praise indeed.👏🏾👌🏾
Thanks for honesty and sharing your knowledge! Home owner need more professionals like you who do the job not to rip people especially women and elderly. Blessed your soul! Irina
You are so correct. I moved into my townhome 1983 and the water heater was still there from when it was built I kept it for like 30 years and someone said I’m living on borrowed time so that’s why I replaced it. But it was a great water heater it was built to last
Thank you for sharing that! Another example of the older water heaters lasting a very long time. I wouldn't be surprised if that water heater would have been just fine even until now if you hadn't replaced it.
@@WordofAdviceTV I think you are absolutely correct. In fact the refrigerator and dishwasher that came with the place are still running. Thank you for all the helpful information you give
Awesome knowledgeable videos, I have drained my hot water tank, flushed it a little, took a good hour, but yet my tank while heating, gas; still is popping, drives me crazy, it's about 7 yrs old, and in a dry area. Crazy, no heating issues or pressure all is well except popping while heating. This is the 1st draining of this tank.
As a new HVAC service tech, I really enjoy your videos. I have seen a few leaking water heaters , especially from flushing the tank after 6 years of not flushing it. it's better to just let them go with a annual flush at that point. Also changing the anode rod is a great way to get more life out of the equipment.
Glad to hear you are liking the videos! Yes, with old sleepers like that, it's best to leave them alone. 😅 When you come out to a 30 year old water heater and they ask you to drain/flush it and test the pressure relief valve... Oh boy. 🤦♂️
just sharing my experience as a home owner . buoght this house with a 10 yrs old gas water heater. after settling in , we drain the tank and the sediment water look closer to squid ink . WHEW , took us around 20 minutes of contnous flushing to be very confident that no more resideue is left . been doing that every year, until the water heater is FORCED by AllState insurance to have it replaced . a good working heater is UNNECESSARILY filling the garbage dump , not ecology minded at all , bad for the environment from insurance big wigs decisions. sad goodbye to a gas water heater, euthanize at 28 yrs old,, was hoping to have her till 30 yrs old. .. THIS replacement,, some friends say,, will NEVER last more than 15 yrs , even with annual purging/flushing. just the quality of materials is lower quality . as they say, to keep their business continue,, plan for their product obsolescense. .
Great video. We just bought a house with a 12 year old electric hot water heater on our well. I was planning on replacing it because i didnt know how long it would last. It works just fine
Love your videos. I had a leak in my water heater and after trouble shooting it a bit found the bottom drain valve was leaking. Just replaced it and no problems since (about 5 years ago). Thx for your work at demystifying this stuff.
What an excellent video! I have a really old water heater and I know nothing about water heaters yet but this video is an excellent head start. Thank you.
Thanks to your attitude (always truthfull) you have forged a strong brand. If you have a company covering the entire USA, you can rest assured you will have loyal and happy customers.
I am glad to come across a video that answered my problem. My Rheem hot water tank which I purchased in 2020 is currently leaking at the bottom, I have a plumber coming this Friday to look at it. Also it’s leaking I still need to leave it on because I need to use hot water. So happy you spoke on years of rust corrosion that would cause the bottom to fall apart and cause a flood, Now I can go to sleep. A yes you’re right about studying history I told my daughter that same thing and she didn’t listen to me😀
Very good, honest and objective video! Sadly, almost all plumbing contractors use fear and deception, and say you must relace it in 8 to 12 years. Of course! They want to sell you a new water heater & installation! The 1st gas water heater in my house, a Rheem, lasted 25 years, with NO maintenence whatsoever. Then just a small leak from the tank. Even with high iron & calcium water. Going on 23 years on my 2nd one, an AO Smith. Started power flushing 15 to 20 gals out once a yr, about 5 yrs ago. Only complaint is the very poor spickets, drain valves used in water heaters. If you have a water heater 20+ yrs old, replace it only if you have to! Most made now are junk in comparison to the old.
I had mine (gas) suddenly "bottom out" about 18 years ago. Luckily, I was home at the time. I don't know how old it was, but it was in the house when I bought the house 24 years earlier. I never saw any signs of a leak. I heard a gushing sound in my basement and immediately turned off the water supply. I watched your video today because I started hearing (for the first time) crackling like noises near the top of my now 18-year-old gas water heater and was concerned it could be signaling it's time to replace it. After hearing your advice, I guess I'll just keep my eyes and ears on it. Thanks
Would a sump pump likely keep up with the water flow, well in case something like that happens, when not at home? I generally can hear if my sump pump turns on during a storm or something, but it is harder to hear after it has been replaced with PVC pipe rather than metal which the ancient pump had.
Good content. I’ve never had a water heater leak, but I lived in a condo complex where the unit above me leaked and caused a lot of damage in my unit. It turns out that quite a few water heaters in other units also failed around the same time and the association recommended owners replace their’s. While it’s not common, depending where it is located, a leaking water heater can cause substantial damage that can be avoided, especially if the water heater is well over the recommended replacement age. Pay me now or pay me later comes to mind.
The old water heaters lasted a long time because they were glass lined and didn't corrode so much. The manufactures figured out that they could sell more heaters if they left out the lining and let them rust. State Water Heaters is the only company I know of that still has some models that are glass lined.
@@WordofAdviceTV or you decide to sell more of the other parts of a water heater and create a strong maintenance schedule. If the reputation grows actually more people will buy them, insurers will recommend them and contractors will fit them. It’s a more longer term business strategy but you create a reputation for being customer focused and excel in your engineering. You can then design more products to sell. If you get a reputation for poor quality water heaters how likely is it you are going to see strong sales? Not much so if state are still glass lining kudos to them.
This is incorrect information. Most water heaters are glass lined today. Lack of maintenance is the reason most fail today. Somewhere along the line people forgot they have to maintenance things if they want them to last.
They all last 7 to 10 years. My last one failed at the weld seam between the sides and the bottom.. The only one I know if that is glass lined is State Water heaters.
Thumbs up ! Our municipal water pressure is over 80psi. I installed a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) years ago to keep pressure at 50psi which reduces strain on piping, tank and water- using appliances. Our washing machine and dishwasher have lasted well past the usual lifespans. I also installed an expansion tank on the cold water inlet to the HW heater. That absorbs the pressure back flow as water heats with no faucet open ( the PRV creates a closed system so pressure can't dissipate back to water service main). I believe , but cannot prove, that reduced pressure alleviates some of the expansion/contraction of the tank interior. Also, best to place HW heater on a pan which connects to a drain. That way if it does leak you don't send water everywhere.and you have time to react., Also you will know that it is not another source of water leakage. If you have a draft induced blower, be sure condensate drain port is connected to a drain as condensate getting in the blower will kill the motor. I never flush the tank but I do drain 5-10 gallons from tank every few months and particularly after the Town flushes the water mains ( twice a year here ).
This was an incredible video to help explain many things. Yeah, my HWH started a little leak from the bottom (I think) with a little puddle, so I believe it's time to replace. It's 30/35 yr old.
I bought a 16 year old 14x64 mobile home for a vacation home and never looked at the water heater and 8 years later the water heater leaked from inside and flooded it's closet from inside. In retrospect I should have replaced it but it was Rheem and went 24 years.... pretty amazing.
Again, thank you so much for your explanation and your experience you have in your field. Your video really helped me out again and lifted a big weight off my mind and my pocket book. Thanks again and keep the great videos coming.
I found my Bradeford water heater was leaking three years ago; however, I had used it until last week and replaced it. The technician had checked the heater and told me that there are no big issues other than small leaking. For 20 years, I had no issue with it, just hope my new Rheem water heater last long without any problem.
Haha Eddy you are an expert in adding on to jokes. I love it! 😂 I appreciate the greetings and that you always stop by to check out the new videos. Aloha from the sunny state of Hawaii my friend!! May your weekend be a marvelous one!
man you are awesome! you have helped me solve a bunch of ac and heat problems. i recomend your channel to everyone! my water heater is at least 14 years old (gas) and going strong!
Thank you! I'm glad to hear that the channel has been helpful for you and I appreciate you recommending it to everyone! May your water heater last you another 14 years easy!
We replaced our water heater in 2015, 10 years after buying the house. We went with a Bradford White gas heater. I keep it flushed regularly, and just replaced the anode rod. Water in our area is a bit hard, so scale and sediment build up. On our sink faucets in change the aerator cartridges once they get clogged up, and our bathtub faucets I’ve changed out the cartridge valves. Every so often, I’ll open a bath faucet to full hot and let it run for a few minutes just to help make sure there’s no sediment in the water lines. Little bit of maintenance goes a long way
Great info on your videos. Just FYI, The INSURANCE companies are NOW REQUIRING homeowners to REPLACE the water heater if it is 15 years old or old, REGARDLESS if there is no issue. Another RIP off for homeowners being subjected to being controlled by them. I was required to do so. Many of the companies I inquired with refused to even consider insuring my home unless I did so. Naturally, they are also sending inspectors to check out the home and require PROOF that it has been completed. Paperwork as well as pictures. Life is so exciting these days.
Add to that it MUST be serviced by their "approved" companies only or it will not be accepted. Of course, this is because they are getting kickbacks from these places to begin with. Outright fraud.
9/1/2023 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am taking notes in Replacing/installing a direct vent side loop Water tank-heater. Thank you for sharing your expertise Regarding when to replace a water heater/tank.
Thanks for this informative video and quelling our fears. I have a 40 year old Ruud electric water heater that is still working. I have never drained the unit or replaced the anode. I am assuming that if it ever starts to leak it will start off as a trickle at which time i wil start looking for a new water heater,but that hasnt happened yet.
Thank you for this video. My hot water pressure is affected with my electric water heater. I was told the corrosion on the tubes at the top was part of the problem and it could cost me well over 500.00. I know this not to be true. I had the problem 7 years ago. I am doing more research I think it's a collection of sediment in the tank. But you did ease my fears. I was about to purchase a new one and call it a day. It's 10 yrs. old.
Thank you, a nice video, I live in NSW Australia and i built my new home in October 1980 a DUX HWS was installed then, which then sprung a leak Oct 1998 after 18 yrs service, i then had a new RHEEM HWS installed which then started to leak in Febuary this year (2022) which did last 24 yrs, now i have a DUX replacement so lets see how long this one lasts. All these HWS are/were 250 litres (60 Gall) have a single bottom element,and water temp is set at 60 Deg, also our water supply here is Soft water which could also help for longer tank life 👍
very interesting comment about glass lined water heaters. We had a furnace (Trane) and water heater (40 gal, gas) installed in 2091. We're on well water with sediment filter and softener. Water heater working fine but I will be putting in a tankless heater this year. The heater that is still plugging away is a State Water Heater. Connection to longevity....possibly! Thanx for your content.
Good video....Thank you. Here in Texas the hot water tanks are in the attic. Why they aren't in the garage, I have no idea. Stupidest thing in my mind. Ours are 16 years old and I have flushed them regularly but the thought of a major leak in the second story ceiling makes us crazy. Replacing the originals (2) that have been trouble free except for a 1 new pressure releif valve replacement. Makes me think we could wait, but the thought of an issue at this stage has us replacing them.
Just replaced my 10-year-old AO Smith tank here in Hutto yesterday. Stopped heating the water and was worried about having a leak in my attic. Rust was prevalent along the top, with rust trails going down the sides. They replaced the tank with another AO Smith, and added a TACO shutoff valve tied to a water sensor on the drip pan. The old tank was loaded with rust and sediment. If yours were 16 years old, you were right to consider replacement with this attic situation. A friend of mine had a 15 year old tank in upstate NY in a second floor condo. It let go and flooded his condo, ruining the parquet floors. It also flooded the first floor condo, doing another 60k in damage. Luckily, the estate of the owner had insurance and he was not held liable. And just the year before this, he was living in a house in Yonkers, NY where another unit let go and flooded the basement. This was less critical as we dried up the family room for the new owner, who was gutting the room for renovation anyway. But the fear of these back to back blowouts had me worried about my Texas situation.
Jay, I am a long time viewer and always enjoy your videos. A few years ago my neighbor's hot water heater failed and flooded their basement. On a positive note your video concerning three majo6
I have some rental properties and have replaced several water heaters after only a few years due to thermal couplers. I’ve stopped buying from the big box stores and haven’t had problems since.
Found your video after my expansion tank on top got a hole and sprayed water all over. 23 year old system... Luckily was home and caught it before too much water flooding happened.
Well I was one of the special people that had a small flood. Luckily my daughter was home and saw water at the bottom of the stairs. She called me at work and I told her how to turn off the water and the water heater and drain it. It didn’t gush out but it was leaking pretty fast. It did do damage to bottom of some walls and some carpet. There was a sump pump about 12 inches away but basement floor was made so the water ran to the finished part of basement! Good job cement man! Lol
Oh yikes! You are the first flood story! Sorry to hear about the damages and thank you much for sharing your experience with a leaking water heater. I should have mentioned in the video that one good tip is to make sure that everyone in the house knows where the main water shut off is.
Hi, another chosen one here. I used to live in a townhome built on a slab so the hot water tank was on the ground floor in a closet. I had just gotten home a little early from work and I sat down on the couch and right away heard bam! I rushed into the room where the tank was located and just saw the water gushing everywhere. The drain valve had completely come off like a champagne cork and the water was gushing out. Luckily, the main shut off was right next to the tank. Upon further inspection, I realized the drain valve popped off because the nylon threads on the valve had been screwed into metal threads causing a chemical reaction / mineral buildup on the nylon thread making them completely smooth like a cork! In that 30 seconds I did get a lot of water but can you imagine if I hadn't been home and it did that for a few more hours!
My gas's water heater is 30 years old, every 2 years I drain it and have replaced the analog rod once and it's still going strong. I did swap out the drain valve from the half-inch drain it came with to a three-quarter inch ball valve makes draining ridiculously easy
Thank you Harry! Haha glad you liked the jokes! 😄 I know your every weekend is amazing anyway but may this one be extra awesome for you my friend!! By the way, I was impressed to see you promoting freon theft. 😂😂 Welcome back to TH-cam!!
Great video I have a Rheem water heater, works great! But history is important, you have to look back at where you have been to know where you are going. 😊
"I am the chosen one!" My Rheem water heater leaked (did not have a drain pan) and flooded my house after about 15 years. I guess I contributed to that leak by not changing the anode rod regularly. I recently had my plumber try to replace the anode rod in my new (5 years old Rheem) water heater. Unfortunately, the rod "became one" with the heater and could not be removed. The only option I have now is wait for the water heater to "fail" and replace the whole thing. While I am waiting for it to fail I have done some safety measures to limit the damage this time by: 1. Install a drain pan so the water goes down the driveway away from the interior of the house. 2. Install multiple water leak detectors to notify me when a leak starts.
Jay, great advice as always😁! I think it’s just an old wives tale to replace your water heater every ten years, told by plumbers to put the fear of God in you!
I’m going on 25 years on my heater. 3 people in the house and had had regular annual maintenance (done my me). I expect probably another 5 years (or more). Btw it’s an AO Smith tank.
Yikes! Sorry to hear that. I can only agree, it's definitely a good idea to occasionally check the water heater and see if there is any water on the floor around it.
Ah yes, I've worked on a few of those before. Unfortunately no videos on storage tanks on the channel yet but if the opportunity presents itself hopefully we can change that. Thank you for the blessings, I receive them and may you and your family be abundantly blessed as well!
lol Jay, I always thought History was cool as it's a tool. Good one and another awesome video. How about dissecting a tankless water heater, gas, and electric? 😁
Lol, I usually don't badmouth history but couldn't resist this time as it was a pretty good dad joke. 😇😄 Thank you! And that's a great video idea! I will see if I can get my hands on some old water heaters that I can cut open. 👍👍
Bought a house in 2002. Replaced an old early 80's water heater just to be on the safe side. In 2018, mine literally exploded (or imploded depending on how you look at it) and water flooded my basement. At the time, it was an unfinished basement and didn't have much down there except some junk, which I ended up throwing away. Today, it's a fully finished basement, so hopefully that won't happen again. The plummer who replaced it said he's replaced hundreds of water heaters over his 20 year career and had never seen one blow up like mine. (It was electric, not gas.)
Comforting info ! Haven’t been able to flush for years due to the drain valve leaking when I open it. Kinda paranoid as ittl b a long job at some point doing the drainage. I have it in main floor not basement
Glad I could shine some light on this topic for you! And I totally understand! Drain valves tend to leak once disturbed. If you will feel up to the task later on, you could drain it and replace the drain valve. They are pretty easy to replace. 👍
![Why Is My Water Heater Leaking [Fix It With These 4 Easy Steps]](/img/n.gif)
THANK YOU! I'm a widow & now that I have to depend on the kindness of strangers helping me with problems that my husband could fix, I worry more. You just put my fears regarding my water heater to rest. I will now subscribe to your channel for future help. 😊
This posting was very reassuring my concerns. (I still have some though)
Our Water heater was installed 39 years ago in 1984. Hot Water has been consistently good & available.
The anode rod has long since been sacrificed and I'm not aware of any maintenance in the last decade.
I had discussed replacing it w/ my spouse but she's pretty adamant that if it’s not broke don’t fix it.
I think 80's they made much better Water heaters than the junk available today with its planned obsolescence.
Im afraid to touch it worrying that it will then there-after start misbehaving.
I setup water alarm system and the unit is mounted on a drain pad.
We will replace it someday.
This posting took away the nagging "bottom dropping out" catastrophe fear .
I would have to agree, I inherited a house from grandparents. I remember some history on the water heaters, of course they were all Sears Kenmore units up until 2012 which is the one I had put in its a GE, it has given me some trouble just recently. The history, the water heater before it Kenmore Sears, February1989- Aug 2012, and the one before it (also Sears Kenmore)I was told was older than me was put in about 1968-69’ lasted til 1989
Unbelievable
I was very young in the early 70s when our water heater "blew out" in the basement. I recall opening the door to the basement one morning and a blast of steamy air hit me. It was like a steam room. We has a small house so I guess the hot water was enough to remain fairly hot despite there being a few inches of water on the floor throughout the basement. Fast forward about 20 years and in the first house I ever bought, my wife and I were only there a few months when the exact same thing happened. So I suppose I am doubly blessed to have been chosen twice for that honor. I knew nothing about home maintenance and repair at that time (obviously), but those experiences forced me to learn a lot and I do maintain and repair all the usual stuff in my old age. Not only for my own family, but friends as well. Videos like yours are greatly appreciated.
Great info., helpful thank you.
This video was so refreshing. It is nice to see someone share an honest appraisal rather than resorting to fear tactics that are now so common on the internet. My house is 17 years old and the gas water heater continues to work fine. I replaced the pressure relief valve last year when I found evidence of some moisture coming from it periodically. Based on so many 10-12 year predictions for average service life, I started thinking about a replacement last year. I'm glad I didn't replace it prematurely, and hope it lasts another 17 years. Thanks for this helpful information.
I am so glad I bumped into your video so that I don't have to spend 14K dollars for my water heater and boiler for house heating. My system was installed about 18 years ago which is actually still working well. I was baffled as to how could a plumbing company charge over 7K for the replacement job as the equipment they would use will not cost more than 6 to 7K. You are so correct in saying that the "efficiency" gained through replacement will not be worth it. Thank you for the sound advise.
You're welcome! Yes, if the system is working well and there are no leaks, there is no need to replace it. I'm glad to hear this video came at a good time for you. 👍
I can't tell you how much I appreciate every single one of your videos, whether they apply to my stuff at the time or not. It's still learning! I've been nervous about my water heater for a while, only because it is 24 years old. It looks "brand new". Even the stickers on it look new. It's a Bradford White, and one sticker says it's equipped with "Hydrojet Total Protection System". It's natural gas fired. I see no signs of rust, or any other physical changes, and it doesn't make any weird noises. Never flushed it, never replaced or cleaned the rod. I take comfort from today's video, relieved that I can tamp down my stress about it, and not pay a fortune to replace a water heater that is working just fine. Thank you for your videos, your expertise, very clear demonstrations, pictures, and those sound files you include sometimes (like the ac fan motor video). And your sense of humor. I hope you and your family are doing wonderfully in Hawaii. Best wishes to all of you. Looking forward to your next video, and appreciating your past videos.
That's awesome! If your water heater is still looking brand new then you must have one from the half-century series. 😉 I wouldn't be surprised if it gets to 40 years before giving you any trouble. It's amazing how some of the oldest water heaters I've seen are actually the ones that never had the anode rod replaced or have been drained or flushed.
You're welcome! I am happy to know that my videos have been helpful for you! Thank you for the positive and pleasant comment! Hawaii has been treating us wonderfully and I trust your side of the world has been good to you too. May God abundantly bless you and yours!!
@@WordofAdviceTV Half-century series 😂🤣😂
@@WordofAdviceTV the chemical composition in the water is the biggest factor in corrosion and shorter lives for some heaters than others in my view. Being born and lived in the UK for 40 years our boilers and water heater systems tended to corrode more or less depending on the area or region where water was fed from in areas of hard water or limescale (calcium carbonate) more servicing and annual maintenance are needed for water heaters and tankless boilers or water filled radiators. I moved to the USA 14 years ago. Just replaced an anode rod for an old neighbor of mine the entire 5ft of rod was gone and caked in limescale deposits. Replaced it with a new anode and given the entire system had not been touched serviced or drained other parts are starting to go including the PRV which leaked a little after the replacement would you know it and the metal head PVC to copper transition fitting started to leak. In my view it’s a bit of a lottery depending on your regions water hardness. If you going to service it do it when it’s first installed and annually thereafter. With n older water heater it’s a lottery whether doing work on it is going to cause more problems than worth the issue. Not surprising the old pros often tell people to leave it well alone.
Excellent video!!!!! Those horror stories of water heaters bottoming out is a scare tactic.
Great content! We have been called to a flooded basement from a leaking heater 4 times I can remember off hand. I have been doing this more than 35 years though. We always tell our clients if you are sure it is actually the tank leaking , DO NOT WAIT to replace it. You did an outstanding job covering the most relevant information. Loved the video!
Thanks so much for this excellent video delivered in a very professional way. I will sleep easier tonight and call my plumber in the morning about the small amount of water under my 22 year old Ruud water heater. Ten years ago I was out of town for several weeks in December. When I returned to my cool home it smelled very musty like a summer basement. The water was up to an inch or so deep in spots of the uneven floor. I turned the water to the tank off and In the morning called the plumber. He said the culprit was a defective valve near the top of the tank, which he replaced. So my home wasn't flooded, but there was quite a bit of water down there. Thanks again for your lesson.
I am a retired plumber. Your videos are fantastic !!!
Thank you Ron! That means a lot coming from a veteran plumber!
Have a fantastic weekend good sir!
They are not just fantastic but Jay has the great capacity to explain even technical details which are critical to his viewers. This means he is not talking down to people his easy going friendly style pits many people at ease. I have many years of engineering and technical plumbing, HVAC/ R and especially electrical knowledge and I have said it before but it bears worth repeating he is As good as the great Craig Migliacio high praise indeed.👏🏾👌🏾
My water heater started leaking the bottom pipe a few months ago. the whole water heater started leaking badly and I don't know what caused it
Thanks for honesty and sharing your knowledge!
Home owner need more professionals like you who do the job not to rip people especially women and elderly.
Blessed your soul! Irina
You are so correct. I moved into my townhome 1983 and the water heater was still there from when it was built I kept it for like 30 years and someone said I’m living on borrowed time so that’s why I replaced it. But it was a great water heater it was built to last
Thank you for sharing that! Another example of the older water heaters lasting a very long time. I wouldn't be surprised if that water heater would have been just fine even until now if you hadn't replaced it.
@@WordofAdviceTV I think you are absolutely correct. In fact the refrigerator and dishwasher that came with the place are still running. Thank you for all the helpful information you give
Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. They are fantastic.
Awesome knowledgeable videos, I have drained my hot water tank, flushed it a little, took a good hour, but yet my tank while heating, gas; still is popping, drives me crazy, it's about 7 yrs old, and in a dry area. Crazy, no heating issues or pressure all is well except popping while heating. This is the 1st draining of this tank.
As a new HVAC service tech, I really enjoy your videos.
I have seen a few leaking water heaters , especially from flushing the tank after 6 years of not flushing it.
it's better to just let them go with a annual flush at that point.
Also changing the anode rod is a great way to get more life out of the equipment.
Glad to hear you are liking the videos!
Yes, with old sleepers like that, it's best to leave them alone. 😅 When you come out to a 30 year old water heater and they ask you to drain/flush it and test the pressure relief valve... Oh boy. 🤦♂️
just sharing my experience as a home owner . buoght this house with a 10 yrs old gas water heater. after settling in , we drain the tank and the sediment water look closer to squid ink . WHEW , took us around 20 minutes of contnous flushing to be very confident that no more resideue is left . been doing that every year, until the water heater is FORCED by AllState insurance to have it replaced . a good working heater is UNNECESSARILY filling the garbage dump , not ecology minded at all , bad for the environment from insurance big wigs decisions. sad goodbye to a gas water heater, euthanize at 28 yrs old,, was hoping to have her till 30 yrs old. .. THIS replacement,, some friends say,, will NEVER last more than 15 yrs , even with annual purging/flushing. just the quality of materials is lower quality . as they say, to keep their business continue,, plan for their product obsolescense. .
This video was super helpful!
Great video. We just bought a house with a 12 year old electric hot water heater on our well. I was planning on replacing it because i didnt know how long it would last. It works just fine
I always love watching your video. They are so full of knowledge.
Love your videos. I had a leak in my water heater and after trouble shooting it a bit found the bottom drain valve was leaking. Just replaced it and no problems since (about 5 years ago). Thx for your work at demystifying this stuff.
good advices thank you the the video.
What an excellent video! I have a really old water heater and I know nothing about water heaters yet but this video is an excellent head start. Thank you.
You seem like the nicest guy. Thank you for making such an informative video.
Thanks to your attitude (always truthfull) you have forged a strong brand. If you have a company covering the entire USA, you can rest assured you will have loyal and happy customers.
I am glad to come across a video that answered my problem. My Rheem hot water tank which I purchased in 2020 is currently leaking at the bottom, I have a plumber coming this Friday to look at it. Also it’s leaking I still need to leave it on because I need to use hot water. So happy you spoke on years of rust corrosion that would cause the bottom to fall apart and cause a flood, Now I can go to sleep. A yes you’re right about studying history I told my daughter that same thing and she didn’t listen to me😀
Great presentation and hot water tank overview, as well as, good sound and practical advice their many related issues.
Great video and very true 👍 my gas forced water heater is 19 years old.
Thank you! May your water heater last you another 19 years, problem free!
How refreshing to listen to an honest, knowledgeable expert. Thank you!!
Thanks. I have a 30 year old propane water heater. No leaks and working. Considered replacing but will wait until I see a leak.
Thanks again Jay! Your videos are addicting!
Very good, honest and objective video! Sadly, almost all plumbing contractors use fear and deception, and say you must relace it in 8 to 12 years. Of course! They want to sell you a new water heater & installation! The 1st gas water heater in my house, a Rheem, lasted 25 years, with NO maintenence whatsoever. Then just a small leak from the tank. Even with high iron & calcium water. Going on 23 years on my 2nd one, an AO Smith. Started power flushing 15 to 20 gals out once a yr, about 5 yrs ago. Only complaint is the very poor spickets, drain valves used in water heaters. If you have a water heater 20+ yrs old, replace it only if you have to! Most made now are junk in comparison to the old.
Thank you for your honesty
Excellent video… You just relieved every single fear I had about my water heater!
I had mine (gas) suddenly "bottom out" about 18 years ago. Luckily, I was home at the time. I don't know how old it was, but it was in the house when I bought the house 24 years earlier. I never saw any signs of a leak. I heard a gushing sound in my basement and immediately turned off the water supply. I watched your video today because I started hearing (for the first time) crackling like noises near the top of my now 18-year-old gas water heater and was concerned it could be signaling it's time to replace it. After hearing your advice, I guess I'll just keep my eyes and ears on it. Thanks
Would a sump pump likely keep up with the water flow, well in case something like that happens, when not at home?
I generally can hear if my sump pump turns on during a storm or something, but it is harder to hear after it has been replaced with PVC pipe rather than metal which the ancient pump had.
Great video. Loved the ending.
Good content. I’ve never had a water heater leak, but I lived in a condo complex where the unit above me leaked and caused a lot of damage in my unit. It turns out that quite a few water heaters in other units also failed around the same time and the association recommended owners replace their’s. While it’s not common, depending where it is located, a leaking water heater can cause substantial damage that can be avoided, especially if the water heater is well over the recommended replacement age. Pay me now or pay me later comes to mind.
Thank you for your honesty! Great advice
The old water heaters lasted a long time because they were glass lined and didn't corrode so much. The manufactures figured out that they could sell more heaters if they left out the lining and let them rust. State Water Heaters is the only company I know of that still has some models that are glass lined.
Not very good for sales if they last too long right? Good to know that State water heaters still make some glass lined models. Thank you for sharing!
@@WordofAdviceTV or you decide to sell more of the other parts of a water heater and create a strong maintenance schedule. If the reputation grows actually more people will buy them, insurers will recommend them and contractors will fit them. It’s a more longer term business strategy but you create a reputation for being customer focused and excel in your engineering. You can then design more products to sell. If you get a reputation for poor quality water heaters how likely is it you are going to see strong sales? Not much so if state are still glass lining kudos to them.
Bradford White does as well.
This is incorrect information. Most water heaters are glass lined today. Lack of maintenance is the reason most fail today. Somewhere along the line people forgot they have to maintenance things if they want them to last.
They all last 7 to 10 years. My last one failed at the weld seam between the sides and the bottom.. The only one I know if that is glass lined is
State Water heaters.
Thumbs up ! Our municipal water pressure is over 80psi. I installed a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) years ago to keep pressure at 50psi which reduces strain on piping, tank and water- using appliances. Our washing machine and dishwasher have lasted well past the usual lifespans. I also installed an expansion tank on the cold water inlet to the HW heater. That absorbs the pressure back flow as water heats with no faucet open ( the PRV creates a closed system so pressure can't dissipate back to water service main). I believe , but cannot prove, that reduced pressure alleviates some of the expansion/contraction of the tank interior. Also, best to place HW heater on a pan which connects to a drain. That way if it does leak you don't send water everywhere.and you have time to react., Also you will know that it is not another source of water leakage. If you have a draft induced blower, be sure condensate drain port is connected to a drain as condensate getting in the blower will kill the motor. I never flush the tank but I do drain 5-10 gallons from tank every few months and particularly after the Town flushes the water mains ( twice a year here ).
This was an incredible video to help explain many things. Yeah, my HWH started a little leak from the bottom (I think) with a little puddle, so I believe it's time to replace. It's 30/35 yr old.
Brilliant video: Great information, clear, and crisply delivered. Many thanks!
I bought a 16 year old 14x64 mobile home for a vacation home and never looked at the water heater and 8 years later the water heater leaked from inside and flooded it's closet from inside. In retrospect I should have replaced it but it was Rheem and went 24 years.... pretty amazing.
Genuinely useful video. Thanks.
Again, thank you so much for your explanation and your experience you have in your field. Your video really helped me out again and lifted a big weight off my mind and my pocket book. Thanks again and keep the great videos coming.
Missed you buddy! Hope you and the family are very well. You look GREAT! Hope you're healthy, happy and comfortable! Great seeing you again!
You are so knowledgeable! Thank you so much!
Great explanation
I found my Bradeford water heater was leaking three years ago; however, I had used it until last week and replaced it. The technician had checked the heater and told me that there are no big issues other than small leaking. For 20 years, I had no issue with it, just hope my new Rheem water heater last long without any problem.
Thank you for educating me.
Good little vid Jay and your right about living in the past , you can't move forward 🤣😂😅 Thx for sharing and Aloha from across the creek ...
Haha Eddy you are an expert in adding on to jokes. I love it! 😂 I appreciate the greetings and that you always stop by to check out the new videos. Aloha from the sunny state of Hawaii my friend!! May your weekend be a marvelous one!
Thanks for your videos my friend and yes you Allright my heater is about 20 years old and stills work happy Thanksgiving from Houston Texas
I love the advice at end. Very cool video, very thoughtful and interesting to hear about water heaters.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Dude that was as close to perfect as you can get.. Brav0👏
Lol, thank you man! Glad you thought the video was good!
I agree.
Excelente like always. Muchas gracias.
Gracias Salvador! Glad you liked the video!
great video with good explanation :)
VERY EDUCATIVE THANK YOU
Remarkably decent delivery of information. Lack of industry experience???😅😅😅😅😅 One of nicest videos on the topic.
Good information, thanks. By the way my friend History is very important.
man you are awesome! you have helped me solve a bunch of ac and heat problems. i recomend your channel to everyone! my water heater is at least 14 years old (gas) and going strong!
Thank you! I'm glad to hear that the channel has been helpful for you and I appreciate you recommending it to everyone! May your water heater last you another 14 years easy!
We replaced our water heater in 2015, 10 years after buying the house. We went with a Bradford White gas heater. I keep it flushed regularly, and just replaced the anode rod. Water in our area is a bit hard, so scale and sediment build up. On our sink faucets in change the aerator cartridges once they get clogged up, and our bathtub faucets I’ve changed out the cartridge valves.
Every so often, I’ll open a bath faucet to full hot and let it run for a few minutes just to help make sure there’s no sediment in the water lines. Little bit of maintenance goes a long way
Great info on your videos. Just FYI, The INSURANCE companies are NOW REQUIRING homeowners to REPLACE the water heater if it is 15 years old or old, REGARDLESS if there is no issue. Another RIP off for homeowners being subjected to being controlled by them. I was required to do so. Many of the companies I inquired with refused to even consider insuring my home unless I did so. Naturally, they are also sending inspectors to check out the home and require PROOF that it has been completed. Paperwork as well as pictures. Life is so exciting these days.
Add to that it MUST be serviced by their "approved" companies only or it will not be accepted. Of course, this is because they are getting kickbacks from these places to begin with. Outright fraud.
get a new insurance company. @@oldtwinsna8347
Wow! That's invasive; I guess the Ins. Co. doesn't want to pay any of "your" money back to you ever! Sounds like HOA crap!
Great advice ‼️
9/1/2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am taking notes in
Replacing/installing a direct vent side loop
Water tank-heater.
Thank you for sharing your expertise
Regarding when to replace a water heater/tank.
Your channel is amazing. Love this how to content and you do an amazing job. Simple and straight to the point.
Very good information, thank you !
Your video is beneficial and funny at the same time, thank you.
Wonderful and informative video! Thank you!!
Nice to see you again. Would you review water heater brands? Thanks
Thank you! That's a great video idea, I will add it to the list!
@@WordofAdviceTV thank you stud muffin
Thanks for this informative video and quelling our fears. I have a 40 year old Ruud electric water heater that is still working. I have never drained the unit or replaced the anode. I am assuming that if it ever starts to leak it will start off as a trickle at which time i wil start looking for a new water heater,but that hasnt happened yet.
Thank you for this video. My hot water pressure is affected with my electric water heater. I was told the corrosion on the tubes at the top was part of the problem and it could cost me well over 500.00. I know this not to be true. I had the problem 7 years ago. I am doing more research I think it's a collection of sediment in the tank. But you did ease my fears. I was about to purchase a new one and call it a day. It's 10 yrs. old.
Thank you, a nice video, I live in NSW Australia and i built my new home in October 1980 a DUX HWS was installed then, which then sprung a leak Oct 1998 after 18 yrs service, i then had a new RHEEM HWS installed which then started to leak in Febuary this year (2022) which did last 24 yrs, now i have a DUX replacement so lets see how long this one lasts. All these HWS are/were 250 litres (60 Gall) have a single bottom element,and water temp is set at 60 Deg, also our water supply here is Soft water which could also help for longer tank life 👍
very interesting comment about glass lined water heaters. We had a furnace (Trane) and water heater (40 gal, gas) installed in 2091. We're on well water with sediment filter and softener. Water heater working fine but I will be putting in a tankless heater this year.
The heater that is still plugging away is a State Water Heater. Connection to longevity....possibly! Thanx for your content.
Great video, thanks!
I knew nothing about water heater and started to think I had to change mine soon (roughly 10y old), turns out I won’t need to
You're welcome!
I love to hear that this video already saved a water heater life! 😄
great information
verywell done. thank you for sharing
WOW I love this guy. Thank you.
Gracias brother for your help an honesty ❤🎉🎉🎉
By the way I'm a huge fan. I work at apartments complex and we have to replace water heater very often. Old complex.
Good video....Thank you. Here in Texas the hot water tanks are in the attic. Why they aren't in the garage, I have no idea. Stupidest thing in my mind. Ours are 16 years old and I have flushed them regularly but the thought of a major leak in the second story ceiling makes us crazy. Replacing the originals (2) that have been trouble free except for a 1 new pressure releif valve replacement. Makes me think we could wait, but the thought of an issue at this stage has us replacing them.
Just replaced my 10-year-old AO Smith tank here in Hutto yesterday. Stopped heating the water and was worried about having a leak in my attic. Rust was prevalent along the top, with rust trails going down the sides. They replaced the tank with another AO Smith, and added a TACO shutoff valve tied to a water sensor on the drip pan. The old tank was loaded with rust and sediment. If yours were 16 years old, you were right to consider replacement with this attic situation.
A friend of mine had a 15 year old tank in upstate NY in a second floor condo. It let go and flooded his condo, ruining the parquet floors. It also flooded the first floor condo, doing another 60k in damage. Luckily, the estate of the owner had insurance and he was not held liable. And just the year before this, he was living in a house in Yonkers, NY where another unit let go and flooded the basement. This was less critical as we dried up the family room for the new owner, who was gutting the room for renovation anyway. But the fear of these back to back blowouts had me worried about my Texas situation.
Jay, I am a long time viewer and always enjoy your videos. A few years ago my neighbor's hot water heater failed and flooded their basement. On a positive note your video concerning three majo6
Whoops, I was quick on the trigger to send my compliments about yo
I have some rental properties and have replaced several water heaters after only a few years due to thermal couplers. I’ve stopped buying from the big box stores and haven’t had problems since.
Thanks for all the information!! Very helpful! Where are you located?
Found your video after my expansion tank on top got a hole and sprayed water all over. 23 year old system... Luckily was home and caught it before too much water flooding happened.
Well I was one of the special people that had a small flood. Luckily my daughter was home and saw water at the bottom of the stairs. She called me at work and I told her how to turn off the water and the water heater and drain it. It didn’t gush out but it was leaking pretty fast. It did do damage to bottom of some walls and some carpet. There was a sump pump about 12 inches away but basement floor was made so the water ran to the finished part of basement! Good job cement man! Lol
Oh yikes! You are the first flood story! Sorry to hear about the damages and thank you much for sharing your experience with a leaking water heater. I should have mentioned in the video that one good tip is to make sure that everyone in the house knows where the main water shut off is.
Hi, another chosen one here. I used to live in a townhome built on a slab so the hot water tank was on the ground floor in a closet. I had just gotten home a little early from work and I sat down on the couch and right away heard bam! I rushed into the room where the tank was located and just saw the water gushing everywhere. The drain valve had completely come off like a champagne cork and the water was gushing out. Luckily, the main shut off was right next to the tank. Upon further inspection, I realized the drain valve popped off because the nylon threads on the valve had been screwed into metal threads causing a chemical reaction / mineral buildup on the nylon thread making them completely smooth like a cork! In that 30 seconds I did get a lot of water but can you imagine if I hadn't been home and it did that for a few more hours!
Thanks for being honest. Most tech wants to replace it because it is easy to do and high pay.
My gas's water heater is 30 years old, every 2 years I drain it and have replaced the analog rod once and it's still going strong. I did swap out the drain valve from the half-inch drain it came with to a three-quarter inch ball valve makes draining ridiculously easy
Great advice 👍👍👍 lol on the end
Thank you Harry! Haha glad you liked the jokes! 😄
I know your every weekend is amazing anyway but may this one be extra awesome for you my friend!!
By the way, I was impressed to see you promoting freon theft. 😂😂 Welcome back to TH-cam!!
Love this videos , thanks J
Thank you!
Great video I have a Rheem water heater, works great! But history is important, you have to look back at where you have been to know where you are going. 😊
Are you related to Kamala ?
"I am the chosen one!"
My Rheem water heater leaked (did not have a drain pan) and flooded my house after about 15 years. I guess I contributed to that leak by not changing the anode rod regularly. I recently had my plumber try to replace the anode rod in my new (5 years old Rheem) water heater. Unfortunately, the rod "became one" with the heater and could not be removed. The only option I have now is wait for the water heater to "fail" and replace the whole thing. While I am waiting for it to fail I have done some safety measures to limit the damage this time by:
1. Install a drain pan so the water goes down the driveway away from the interior of the house.
2. Install multiple water leak detectors to notify me when a leak starts.
Jay, great advice as always😁! I think it’s just an old wives tale to replace your water heater every ten years, told by plumbers to put the fear of God in you!
Thank you Dan! I can only agree with you my friend! The average lifespan is usually brought up by people who are trying to sell a new water heater. 😄
I’m going on 25 years on my heater.
3 people in the house and had had regular annual maintenance (done my me). I expect probably another 5 years (or more).
Btw it’s an AO Smith tank.
Well I’ve had three leak = replace. No flooding but I learned to check and check.
Yikes! Sorry to hear that. I can only agree, it's definitely a good idea to occasionally check the water heater and see if there is any water on the floor around it.
Love the Last Advice as Best ! LoL
Hey jay. I have a storage tank that works off the boiler for hot water..any videos on storage tanks and maintenance... blessings my friend 🙏
Ah yes, I've worked on a few of those before. Unfortunately no videos on storage tanks on the channel yet but if the opportunity presents itself hopefully we can change that. Thank you for the blessings, I receive them and may you and your family be abundantly blessed as well!
@@WordofAdviceTV thanks jay..
lol Jay, I always thought History was cool as it's a tool. Good one and another awesome video. How about dissecting a tankless water heater, gas, and electric? 😁
Lol, I usually don't badmouth history but couldn't resist this time as it was a pretty good dad joke. 😇😄
Thank you! And that's a great video idea! I will see if I can get my hands on some old water heaters that I can cut open. 👍👍
Bought a house in 2002. Replaced an old early 80's water heater just to be on the safe side. In 2018, mine literally exploded (or imploded depending on how you look at it) and water flooded my basement. At the time, it was an unfinished basement and didn't have much down there except some junk, which I ended up throwing away. Today, it's a fully finished basement, so hopefully that won't happen again. The plummer who replaced it said he's replaced hundreds of water heaters over his 20 year career and had never seen one blow up like mine. (It was electric, not gas.)
You probably don't have an expansion tank but need one.
thanks for all you save me a lot of cash happy thanksgiving
How about if you have a small amount of rust on one edge of the bottom ? Or rust anywhere ?
Very instructional video !
If there is no water leaking, then it's okay.
Glad you liked the video, thank you!
Comforting info ! Haven’t been able to flush for years due to the drain valve leaking when I open it. Kinda paranoid as ittl b a long job at some point doing the drainage. I have it in main floor not basement
Glad I could shine some light on this topic for you! And I totally understand! Drain valves tend to leak once disturbed. If you will feel up to the task later on, you could drain it and replace the drain valve. They are pretty easy to replace. 👍
A very informative video for some of us gullible homeowners.