Glenda, you need to put that one in the Smithsonian. They normally don't last that long. I've had to replace one in every home I've live in - many, many, and more many. When I saw your post I cringed because I really don't want to have to replace mine and thinking about it makes me nervous - it's about 12 years old.

Have no idea why the one at son's is still living and working, but it is!

Asked workman, what neighbors looked like when he took it out, and all he said was OLD!

Maybe back THEN they built things to last!

Mine is electric and maybe 5 or 6 years old.

Sue

Yeah, we all know old things were built better, and to last. How do you buld in a lifespan on something???

Mine's brand new. The one before was 13 years old.

Not sure I understand: How do you buld in a lifespan on something???

Must be my nap time.

We have two, it's a tandem system. One heats then fills the other, where it is kept hot and sent to the house. That is the system that was here when we moved in. It's good b/c we can have both showers and the dishwasher going at the same time and not run out of hot water. With a family of 6, that is an issue. Plus I can fill my garden tub as hot and full as I want. (Could not do that in previous house with one tank.)

Anyhow, one tank is original to the house, 15 years old, and still going. The other had to be replaced a year ago. I think it's possible it was nudged with a car, which cracked it inside and allowed it to rust out and develop first a slow leak, then a fast one. It did not just burst one day, it went slowly. (It's not on my side of the garage, it would have had to be DH! Back when we could still get a car in the garage.)

Mine says 1985 on it. The plumber always puts a date on things when he installs them around here.

It is gas - and so far it is working great.

We had to replace our 27 year old hot water heater 2 years ago. The bottom was filled with rust. We are so fortunate it did not rust through. I am sure this one will not last half the time the original one did.

Not positive but this house was built in 1996, so I figure it's the original heater. It is not an energy efficient unit according to the info on the heater. If it goes, I'd look into the waterless heater that gives hot water on demand. Big investment, but supposedly would save big bucks in the long run.

I keep my manuals, etc, mine was purchased at Lowes in Oct 2003. How's that for giving a detailed answer? lol

Shirley

Thanks for reminding me that I really should replace mine this summer. It's well over 20 years old (gas), and I don't want to wait till it causes a problem.

I wonder if I should get electric this time.....? I like the fact that with gas I don't have to worry about burned-out elements. But it seems to me I'm paying an awful lot for propane these days.

My present water heater is approx. five years old.

The first one lasted 15 years.

Both electric.

If I were you, I would replace that 26 year old heater as soon as you can!

Take it from me, it's a mess when they expire and water leaks out fast.

Carol

I would replace it. They can fail catastrophically (meaning: flood). At that age you are putting it out of it's misery pretty close to the end of it's life (so to speak). Plus, a new one would be more energy efficient. Hot water heaters are cheat. We bought MIL a new one last year.

glenda - if you live in a condo and your water heater is 26 years old, you should seriously consider replacing it. I live in a condominium, and our Declaration states that it is the owner's responsibility for upkeep on their water heater and any damage caused by its leaking is the responsibility of the owner, not the condominium master insurance policy. If your water heater explodes and damages the unit below you, you would be responsible for not only your unit but the neighbor beneath you as well. My neighbor's exploded and damaged the unit below, the the owners below sued the neighbor for damages and the cost to put them up while their unit was being rennovated.

Replacing a water heater is cheaper than paying for the damage they cause if they leak.

I know. We are required to have homeowners insurance, which I do.

Think it was mighty thoughtful of Warren, who lives over me, to have his replaced.

He just did not want what happened in the next building to happen to us. We were standing outside last week, and asking neighbor gal how long she was OUT of her condo.

Told him I'd follow suit. Have name of guy that installed his and will get the same Warren bought.

Glenda we had to have ours replaced 2 years ago. It was almost 30 years old. Gas, and we have really hard iron water. We even had to get an ionizer for our water a while back because it's so hard. The plumber did say it had been a good one when it was new. Guess so, lol. It didn't leak all over or anything, just gently oozed enough to let us know it was time. Lucky us, sounds like.

Glenda,
We replaced our gas water heater about two years ago; it was the original one that came with the house which was built in 1989. We weren't having any problems with it but were just trying to avoid a potential PIA if it went out. Unfortunately, the new one, while the same size, just does not seem to be as efficient and we run out of hot water sooner than we used to. We were told after we'd put the new one in that it's best to purchase through a plumber or a dealer rather than through HD or Lowe's-type places as you get better quality.....got ours at HD.

We have 2 in this house and I have no idea how old they are...since our ch/air units are going out fast.....(so far still cheaper to reapir as long as we can get parts) I am thinking the hot water units are the same age...will look tomorrow as the orginial buukders if this house kept everything and then 2 owners before us stil kept it all..I will be able to find out.......Stacy

Thanks!
That's what I was looking for, the age difference.

Oh, now I'm nervous about mine.....it was here in the house when we bought it in 1977, so that's OLD! I'd better check into getting a new one....flooding does not thrill me!

Ours was replaced in Sept. 2001 (we have natural gas) and every year I turn it off, close cold water faucet (inlet) & hookup heavy duty water house to faucet at the bottom, run other end of hose outside & then the facuet to drain it. Let 5-7 gallons run out. Too frugal to let hot water go to waste, I wash out garbage can, flower pots or kill weeds in driveway cracks, etc.

My Dad taught me to do it many years ago; said it helps wash out sedimentations that settle in the bottom & cause rust. The first few gallons of water that come out are really gunky looking.

grittymitts, my friend does that with her clothes washer water to water her plants in the back of her home.

We never get more than 5 years out of one. I think it has something to do with hard water and using a water softener.

In fact I was thinking about getting one of those water sensor things they advertise on the TV. It could save some ruined carpet.

How do you buld in a lifespan on something???

You use higher quality parts; and take more care in building/putting together whatever it is - whether it's a water heater, automobile, clothes washer, etc.

Glenda, you should consider yourself very lucky that your water heater has lasted this long. Even with the higher quality that it undoubtedly has, you're pushing your luck unless you have done regular maintenance on it, as GrittyMitts described.

I'm going to add a link to a web site that has a wealth of useful information on water heaters -- what to look for when you're purchasing a new one, and how to take care of the one you have (or will have).

One thing to keep in mind... all of us are (or should be) more aware of a disaster recovery plan. That is, how will you take care of yourself and your home if a disaster happens? With the severe weather that your area experiences, you should be prepared to do without electricity, gas, or running water. A water heater is a good source of uncontaminated water -- that is, IF you take regular care of it. You wouldn't want to drink the water out of it if the darn thing has six or seven inches of rust and sediment at the bottom of it (although you could use it to flush the toilet!).

Here is a link that might be useful: All You Need to Know About Water Heaters

Was a major disaster in condo next to us.
Thankfully I have a mighty considerate upstairs neighbor.
I'll do the same as he did, today. Off to Lowe's tomorrow!

I also believe that you can claim a new water heater as a deduction if it's an energy efficient model.

I had to replace my water heater (gas) at 26 yrs. Despite using a water softner, it had become caked with deposits and was making cracking noises, and then it began to show signs of a leak. It was replaced with a better insulated one for improved efficiency.

I have 2 and they are both gas & 7 years old.

Mine was about 18 years old when I bought this house so now it's....23 years old. I don't believe in replacing things that aren't broke, seems wasteful to me.

We switched from oil heat to natural gas last September and got a 40 gallon hot water tank. Should last a good long time.

I posted on the Plumbing Forum, asking about hot water heaters, and they recommended something new: a tankless, wall-mounted model that provides hot water on demand. They're supposed to be highly efficient, and I guess they must be because if you buy one you get a tax credit. They save a chunk of your gas bill. The purchase price is considerably more than the tank models, though.

Mine is electric and 20 years old and going strong. I think I replaced an element one time, and have no concern for leakage as it is in the unfinished basement.

They save a chunk of your gas bill.
There are sure a lot of pros and cons and things to take into consideration in choosing a tankess over a conventional heater. My main concern would be whether or not parts would be readily available for a tankless ones it, if they were ever needed, unlike being able to get thermostats and elements for the tanked ones. It seems there is less actual saving for those in colder climates.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tankless Water Heater system-a good debate

I just could not believe this post would come on the day ours is being replaced. We have had the same one for 41 years and I noticed it had started to leak this morning, it has been a good one and the next one will not last that long. Hated to give it up, but it must go.

Oh wow.....yours lasted 41 years? Hope ours does too. Ours is gas and is 20 years old.

"it's....23 years old. I don't believe in replacing things that aren't broke, seems wasteful to me.

Normally I'd agree with you, but a water heater isn't like a stove, or toaster, or coffeepot... If those break down, you just go without cooked food, toast, or coffee until the appliance is repaired or replaced. But when a water heater breaks down, you suddenly and often without any warning such as a small leak, end up with gallons and gallons and gallons of water all over the place. And if you have anything at all stored within about 50 yards of the water heater, that stuff will be damaged or destroyed by the water. The water will soak through walls and damage what's on the other side.

So, if you have a water heater that's as old as yours, you should at the very least, have it inspected and flushed out unless you know with absolute certainty that regular annual maintenance has been done on it since it was first installed.

Ours is not but a couple of years old, Glenda. The last one before this was but a couple of months old. We got it at Lowe's. Come to find out it had a leak in it, or something to that effect, maybe a crack. I am not sure, but they gave us a new one at no charge as it was still under warranty. The problem is, you still have to pay someone to install it. You don't get you money back for that. (sigh) They were and are both electric - same model and make.

Glenda, ours is 2 years old, the one it replaced was 22 years old. We kept saying that we needed to replace our old one before it 'went'. Wish we had done it!

My ex and I moved into the house I'm in now just after T-giving, 1993. At that time I knew the water heater was original (1979) to the house and would need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

I had to work a half day Christmas Eve.

Wife calls me and says "why is there no hot water."

I go "CRAP! CRAPCRAPCRAPCRAPCRAP!!!" after which I tell her the heater has probably finally failed and I'll replace it when I get home.

My Christmas Eve candlelight services consisted of the blowtorch I was using to solder pipes.

Did I mention that my Mother-in-law was visiting, and we were due a house full of family and friends for Christmas dinner?

I get everything hooked up, throw the breakers, and nothing. No hot water even though I have power to the unit.

I call my Dad and we try to noodle it through. No solutions. They're coming the next day (Christmas Day) so he brings a bunch of testing equipment and figure out that when the heater sprung a leak, it caused a short that didn't just trip the breaker, it burned it out.

Where to get a breaker on Christmas Day, with Home Depot closed?

Why, the dryer, of course, which used the same size and rating breaker.

Made the swap and had hot water an hour later.

I replaced the heater that came with the house when it was about 25 years old, and last summer I just replaced the replacement one. I was a bit annoyed that it only lasted about 10 years or so. I remember the folks had heaters last 20+ years. But yes, that was years ago. Plus my "replacement" one was covered by the recall on the diptube and all seemed well. He showed me about flushing it and I did it quite a bit, slacked off and started noticing more rust in the water. I was a bit concerned but wrote it off as lowered maintenance. Well last summer it started leaking. The one cat came screaming at me and wouldn't leave me alone. I started following him thinking the food dish was empty and he promptly went down the basement. I stopped and when he got to the bottom of the steps, he turned and screamed at me again. I followed him down thinking he was mad about the litter box but he walked past them and into the laundry room. I hesitated, he screamed and I followed. He walked around the furnace, screamed and I finally came around and he looked at me then walked over to the trail of water heading to the floor drain. He stopped, looked at me rather proud of himself, I swore, swore again, swore louder, then he walked over and took a lick of the rusty water!

But this time I decided to have it done rather than do it myself. I asked the plumber about how long they should last and he said that getting 10+ years I did real well. He said in this area 5-7 years is pretty common and I groaned.

I had a 30 gallon natural gas when I moved in, replaced it with a 40 gallon (gas) and this time replaced it with a low profile 40 gallon gas unit. I only wanted to get a 30 gal to save gas cost but it was more expensive so I figured nope. Wouldn't be prudent. But the new one is supposed to be self cleaning. No idea how that works and the plumber didn't know either!

I had looked into the tankless units but after doing some research and thinking about it, they don't save the megabucks that they'd like you to believe. Essentially you'll save the heat loss from the tank which isn't that much. However they should last longer than the tank units so there's a potential savings there. But you have to size it properly. So do a lot of research and get a variety of unbiased opinions on it. Don't forget hidden costs.

Great comments about the tankless, Cynic. Another thing to keep in mind, expanding on something you said ("they don't save the megabucks that they'd like you to believe"), is that because of the much higher initial cost of a tankless, "you" are going to need to stay in the house quite a while before you start saving any money.

We've lived here 16 years and are getting ready to put in our third heater. The first was defective and didn't last long, the second is now starting to leak slowly. We already have a new one just waiting for our nephew plumber to come and install it.