water heater

[atcjorg]

Well here we are 20yrs on a water heater and looking to replace, looking for advice from the collective ( I am sure we have some experts here) house is 2500 sq ft 2 story 3 ba and gas appliances, plan to stay here forever.

[sammyg2]

If you go with nat gas, about 1/3 of the cost will go directly to the AQMD coffers.
My advice? go buy one in Arid-zona and bring it back.

[atcjorg]

I think the mileage in my 454 suburban would eat the difference

[Scott R]

I learned the hard way that the ones sold at Lowes and Home Depot are junk. Should have bought one from a plumbing supply house.

[targa911S]

20 years??? Wow. I average about 10 on them. Almost like clock work. I date them when I put them in and then buy insurance on them at about 7-8 years with my gas company. I get a free one about every 8-10 years.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by targa911S

20 years??? Wow. I average about 10 on them. Almost like clock work. I date them when I put them in and then buy insurance on them at about 7-8 years with my gas company. I get a free one about every 8-10 years.

Are you on city water or do you have a well?

[M.D. Holloway]

Thats a long time, it will fail shortly. I just changed mine. They only last 12-15 years max. Your heating water on borrowed time.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Are you on city water or do you have a well?

City, although I live in a township.

[Dantilla]

Rheem & A O Smith are both excellent quality.

In my opinion, stay away from Reliance brand. I used to have some apartments, and the Reliance water heaters were rusting through before the warrenty was up. I started exchanging them (No questions asked, no cost to me) but decided its stupid to put in another Reliance. Switched to Rheem, and quit having problems.

[atcjorg]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Are you on city water or do you have a well?

city water

[atcjorg]

any thoughts on tank vs tankless

[dan88911]

There is a nice little article on this subject in the Finehomebuilding june/july issue.
"The Water Heater Payoff"

[fintstone]

I replaced one this year in my Grandmothers house (electric/city water). Had a small seeping leak. It was over 35 years old.

[look 171]

2500 sq's is too large for tank less. it will work, but you will wait for a bit to get hot water. Ideally, you should have two small heaters, same for the tank less, but most homes are build or designed that way. If energy saving is what you are after, forget about tank less. there is a hefty entrance fee and the catch up time will be a long wait.

Do you have a recirc. pump and how far apart are the baths and kitchen? All that will affect the delivery of hot water from the tank less heater. Then, there's the scale filter and an expansion tank if you have recirc. pump (timer and thermo. switch is necessary to avoid continue running of heater).

Life span of new heaters are about 10 years. Now they are twice as much, just like Sammy mentioned. 20 years life span is the great heater of the old. AO smith makes good heaters.

[Evans, Marv]

I agree with those advising to get your heater from a plumbing supply. I had a Rheem in an apartment building that lasted 17 years, so I would recommend it. At the end of the 17 years, I was bragging to someone about the water heater and sure enough, the next week it needed replacement. I have two tankless water heaters in my house. I like them, but it's true it takes a while for the hot water to arrive depending on how far the faucet is from the water heater. I have a circulation pump for the one that supplies the bathrooms, and the faucets in the front of the house aren't too far from the heater. If you don't have complaints about your tank heater, I would just replace it with a good quality one.

[atcjorg]

Originally Posted by look 171

2500 sq's is too large for tank less. it will work, but you will wait for a bit to get hot water. Ideally, you should have two small heaters, same for the tank less, but most homes are build or designed that way. If energy saving is what you are after, forget about tank less. there is a hefty entrance fee and the catch up time will be a long wait.

Do you have a recirc. pump and how far apart are the baths and kitchen? All that will affect the delivery of hot water from the tank less heater. Then, there's the scale filter and an expansion tank if you have recirc. pump (timer and thermo. switch is necessary to avoid continue running of heater).

Life span of new heaters are about 10 years. Now they are twice as much, just like Sammy mentioned. 20 years life span is the great heater of the old. AO smith makes good heaters.

no reciRc pump and the water heater is in the garage master bath is second story in the back a long run...takes a little while for hot water to get there,

[look 171]

is there room to add a smaller heater there? cut down on water and heating bill. Its much more efficient too. I suppose the most economical way is just to replace with a new heater.

[recycled sixtie]

We had our water tank/heater(nat. gas) replaced in June. Our insurance co. said that it being over 15 years old they could not insure the basement/contents any more. Guessing it was about 17 years old. We got a good plumber to recommend one. He said to avoid Chinese water tanks. Presumably they don't last. We got a John Wood one made in Canada.

As regards the tankless I believe they are expensive to buy initially.

[NY65912]

AO Smith, Rheem/Rudd, Lochinvar.

I'd go for a tankless, more $ and install costs BUT endless HW and should last forever.

Navien, Tagaki, Bosch etc.

[Lothar]

Since I'm the only male in the house with three females, I always got the cold shower. So, I was big on the idea of tankless when our old heater quit.

We got a Noritz and have been very happy with endless hot water. The downside is that my daughters now think they can take all day in the shower.