I've been here 15 years and i know the previous owners, of two years, didn't replace it. Guess I've been lucky.

Anybody with some good lessons learned?

I know how to solder (98 percent prep, 2 percent heat) - anything else? (I got the code thing too, so no worries about that)

1. Ice down cold ones
2. Call Plumber
3. Enjoy cold ones

I install ball valves on the hot and cold with unions right below them. Next I need a.water heater, I just close the valves and unscrew the unscrew the unions then replace the heater.

quote:

Originally posted by HayesGreener:
1. Ice down cold ones
2. Call Plumber
3. Enjoy cold ones

No matter if it is gas or electric, I always make sure there is water in it before making the final connection.

Had my start weeping night before a week long trip. Started a week after I replaced my parents unit - same age both electric. Nope...not rolling dice.

Called plumber who also had to install expansion tank and pressure reducing valve on house supply.All told cost me a $1000 (heater alone was $600).

Use a new T&P valve and the hot/cold block valves that come with it to prevent thermosiphon.

If yours is gas...may need to call a plumber.

Oh....get hepl to haul the old one out...despite flushing sediment still weighed alot.

Save money on a 10yr warranty....heater is same as a lesser year unit...you're paying for the warranty.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:

Anybody with some good lessons learned?

Gas or electric?
#1 Bradford White
#2 State/A. O. Smith

**Shut the water off before cutting the water lines.

Just replaced ours - it was leaking. Rheem unit lasted 12 years. Gas.

New 75 gal unit was ~$1,250 installed - our neighbor is a commercial plumbing contractor so she had one of her crews do it.

Just one of the many joys of home ownership.

-----------------------------------

I replace about two a year between my rentals. I never solder anything anymore. I'm a PEX man now. Easy, fast, and electrically isolated.

Hot's on the left, colds on the right.

why do they call it a hot water heater? if the water is hot why would you want to heat it?

quote:

if the water is hot why would you want to heat it?

Every one I've ever owned heated hot water. Has absolutely nothing to do with me wanting to. It's the way they're designed, it's the way they're built, it's the way they work.
Odds are pretty high that yours does, also.

Replaced gas unit last month. I have no shame, Plumber did it...

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:
why do they call it a hot water heater? if the water is hot why would you want to heat it?

Yeah, can someone 'splain that?

quote:

Originally posted by toms:

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:
why do they call it a hot water heater? if the water is hot why would you want to heat it?

Yeah, can someone 'splain that?

LOL!
goes back a ways...
George Carlin...
skip to ~1 min. mark.

https://youtu.be/k4tPsUTxZd8

Just call the man!

A TRUE CLASSIC right there! I think I saw it first run.

A drain pan and drain if you do not have one.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
I've been here 15 years and i know the previous owners, of two years, didn't replace it. Guess I've been lucky.

Anybody with some good lessons learned?

I know how to solder (98 percent prep, 2 percent heat) - anything else? (I got the code thing too, so no worries about that)

Forget solder. Use Sharkbite connections and save tons of time.

Also, if you got more than 15 years out of it, I assume you're either doing proper maintenance (flushing it every 3 to 6 months) and replacing the sacrificial anode every 12 to 18 months, or you got very lucky.

I had mine replaced last Thursday. My old one was 16 years old, and was starting to make the gurgling noises when heating the water. I decided that I was going to replace it on MY terms rather than IT'S terms.

So it's in. Everything which screwed in was able to unscrew.

Pressure relief was hard soldered, now there's an 18" piece of steel there connecting the tank to newly installed threaded fitting.

And the wife's idea of helping - sitting inside and complaining there's no hot water.

I'm a gonna go shooting alone today.

Congrats on making it a DIY project.

I've replaced more than a few in my lifetime. It's not to bad if you have an inkling of plumber's skills, and a strong back to get the old one out of the basement.

When my current WH goes, I will be hiring it out.