Domestic Tank Hot Water Heater Trouble

[ray66v]

My daughter just had a tank replaced and the plumber used the "ProPress" crimp-on copper fittings. Of course he said the tool to crimp was $3,000. But before he bought, he asked how popular they were with others, and the supplier indicated they sell more of those fittings then sweat fittings. The one advantage they have, is pipe can be wet during installation. ??

Yes, plumbers love Pro Presses.

I have used one. Each Pro Press fitting has an o-ring inside at each joint. I am told that should be of no concern in the long haul, because, supposedly they crimp so well, they don't need the o-rings. Curiously though, the o-rings are still in there.

I like being able to press in a valve, when you can't get the water to stop dripping. Or, being able to work in very tight spaces, without a flame. But, that convenience, comes at a cost.

In addition to the cost of the press, the fittings are much more expensive.

 

[CurlyDave]

If OP is going through all the trouble on a 19yo tank don't forget the anode rod. I'd also replace the factory hose bib style drain with a full port ball valve.

A little-known fact about hot water heaters is that with glass-lined ones the glass is almost always cracked. Considering that the glass must be heated to above its melting point in order to line the tank, and the difference in thermal expansion between the glass and the steel tank, it would be a miracle if the glass was not cracked. The anode prevents corrosion at the cracks.

If one replaces the anode every few years the tank can last for a very long time. I had one tank last for 29 years and it was still going strong when the house burned down because a real estate agent left a candle burning.

 

[PILOON]

Condo assn mandates tank replacement at 10 years.
Our tank failed 1 month past the 5 year warranty causing much damage. *
That same tank brand also failed in 2 other units, again with short life.

Now while I have changed many tanks as a renovation contractor the condo assn mandates that only a licensed plumber can do the installation so tank change cost us $1000. ! ouch!

* leak occurred above the drain valve area so that water squirted out missing the drain pan and then spread thru the entire condo unit destroying all the flooring as well as a fair amount of plaster board wall.
Adding insult to injury a wall had to be cut open to remove the old tank.
Thank goodness for insurance.

 

[ray66v]

If one replaces the anode every few years the tank can last for a very long time. I had one tank last for 29 years and it was still going strong when the house burned down because a real estate agent left a candle burning.

Here, in northeast Ohio, an anode rod will last for 10 years. Sadly, not all tanks have anode rods.

I replace the anode rod, and the dip tube, at 10 year intervals.

The most critical aspect to long water heater life around here, in newer homes, has become the expansion tank.

When the bladder in an expansion tank equipped system quietly fails, an older water heater is usually stressed to the point of failure.

The need for testing, the maintenance of, and replacement schedule, for an expansion tank is still relatively unknown to the public.

Water heaters going past 20 years, are becoming rare. They simply aren't made to last.

 

[tmajor]

After all of this, my question is: On a water heater, does the warranty period have any meaning? In other words, is a 6 year tank different than a 12 year tank and what's the difference?

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

After all of this, my question is: On a water heater, does the warranty period have any meaning? In other words, is a 6 year tank different than a 12 year tank and what's the difference?

Usually the size of the anode tube is the only difference.

 

[ray66v]

When you buy a 10 year tank, it is exactly the same tank, as the 6 year one.

For the extra money, they give you a 10 year sticker, to put over the 6 year sticker.

For most people, it will be the most expensive sticker you buy. :laughing:

I just installed, a very expensive Bradford White 50 gallon, power vent.

The anode rod, is part of the hot water nipple. The instructions say, to check the anode rod every three years. Which is interesting, because they don't' give you a visual way of doing that. On some tanks, you can see the anode rod, if you remove the T&P valve. On this one, the valve is on the other side, so that won't work. They only way to see the anode, short of an inspection camera, is to remove it. However, the instructions say, removing the anode nipple voids the warranty! :confused3:

 

[ultrarunner]

My first home had a Hoyt 20 gallon with lifetime warranty... the tank was all copper.

I've seen some very old Rudd water heaters with Monel tanks... also 20 gallon.

At one time, back in the 1920's around here the 20 gallon water heater was the standard.

A lot of older upscale homes in the Berkeley hills had Humphery continuous flow gas water heaters... they worked well and still some in service after a 100 years.

Long lasting water heaters can certainly be made as in the past.

I've maintained some rentals long enough that I'm replacing heaters I put in as far back as the early 1980's... so far the leaks have all been caught by the pans I installed...

My brand of choice is Bradford White... never a bad one yet... can't say the same for others especially when California started with the low NOx and sealed burner units that doubled the price overnight...

 

[tmajor]

Just a little plumbing trivia ... My first house had baseboard hot water heat. After about 15 years, one of the elbows, on one element, started leaking. Upon examination, I found that one end of the elbow had never been soldered. I built the house, but didn't do the plumbing.

 

[kenmac]

I used pro press when I had my business. They are nice. First came pro press for water, next came pro press for gas. Next will be pro press for HVAC.

I have seen many gas water heater (not hot water heater) tanks will fail within the flue, due to expansion and contraction of the metal. The flue will just split.
I've seen some very old rheem water heaters from back in the 40's -50's still working fine.
I imagine they were built with some very thick steel.