Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Eagler on December 25, 2022, 11:22:29 AM
-
Time to replace the 2009 GE 40 gal hot water heater..
The reviews for the AO Smith heaters at lowes are as scary as the Rheem reviews at home depot
Any suggestions/experiences?
Eagler
-
https://www.statewaterheaters.com/
-
I bought a reliance natural gas from a local overpriced hardware store, so far its fine. The diameter of the water heater was several inches larger since that last one I bought was from sears and all the sears around here have all went out of business, so it was a tight fit in the hole where the water heater fits at. I didnt know this until went to put it in. I stayed away from lowes and home depot specifically because of the reviews online. There were too many junk ones mixed in to take a chance with it. Menards has them also and were cheaper, buy after cross referencing them they are worse then lowes, they were a value piece of crap water heater
-
Hot water heater. If the water is hot, why are you heating it?
-
My water heater just went out yesterday. Ice water showers now until I can get it replaced or fixed.
-
Check with your local hvac dealer and compare the price as well as the model numbers as many big box stores have proprietary models of the brand names only sold to them that are sometimes of less quality. With the information gathered you could make an informed decision that suits you. The dealers around here would sell you the unit only if you wanted to install it yourself.
-
Had a gas tank water heater at our old home and now have a tankless. You might want to consider the opportunity to switch as well.
-
used to do installation for home depot and Lowe. about 30% of the time they delivered the wrong merchandise or it was damaged.
semp
-
AO Smith is often rated just below Rheem, which on many charts is the number one water heater.
I have a Enviro-temp 50 gallon electric. I have had it for 6 years and no problems at all. Comes with a 9 year warranty.
-
A consideration for replacement. Do you have hard or soft water? If soft water then look for best ratings you can find locally as you will likely be keeping it a good long while. If you have hard water then look for economy because you'll be replacing it in less than 10 years due to calcification of the heating element. A warranty is also a consideration.
-
If it’s the heater element it’s an easy cheap fix.Most hi-cap water heaters have 2 elements. If you a just a bit handy you can replace both in 15 minutes for less than 30 bucks.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Water-Heater-Screw-Element/3693204
How to change the element
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UXYhfvXG9Q
-
Thats if your thermostat is still good too
-
I was able to get my water heater going again today. Turns out that there's a reset switch inside on the thermostat. So far it's been working fine. I'm just wondering what made it trip. Bit hey, I'll take it. Ice showers are not fun
-
Lowes sells a kit with 2 rods and 2 thermostats too. About $35.
Might be worth checking those out on the old one before you drop $500 on a new heater.
-
(https://www.goodshomedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/woodfired-hot-tub.jpg)
-
Mine's pretty old but I'll use it until it stops getting hot. Replaced an over pressure valve a couple of years ago because it started leaking there. No trouble after that. May consider a no tank heater when it finally gives up the ghost.
-
Use it until the tank is leaking. The elements and stats are a cheap and easy fix if you're halfway handy with a screwdriver. Just remember to kill the electric! And the water! As long as the water is shut off you should be able to change an element without draining the tank. Pull the old one out and put the new one in quickly. You may get a single burp. As long as your valves hold tight the tank will hold a vacuum. Like holding your finger on the end of a straw.
If you have hard water and can get replacement anode rods for your heater, replacing that every so many years can extend the life of the tank significantly. Check with your manufacturer. If your tank has one its attached to the nut sticking out the middle of the top of the heater. If you don't have clearance above to pull it out you're not gonna be able to do this.
Another good practice is to drain a few gallons of water out of the bottom drain every once in a while. Couple times a year. This helps remove sediment from the bottom of the tank that will attack the metal there and eventually rot it out. If you do this, get yourself a boiler drain cap. These valves are notorious for not turning off completely when you're done and will drip.
As Shuffler said, Rheem and AO Smith are better brands.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
-
Oh and the T&P (temperature and pressure) valve leak thing. That can often times be cured too. The temperature side has a fuseable link that melts when the water might get too hot. It's a one and done. No resetting it. If this has happened--check your stats. The water has gotten unsafely hot.
The pressure side uses a spring holding a seal against a seat. If you have pressure changes, like from a well system, that works in and out. Over time crud can build up on the seat. You can try pulling up slightly on the lever and flushing some water through it. The idea is to clean out the crud. It may re-seat and you're good to go. If not, replace the valve.
That valve is VERY important to the safety of your home! Never ever even think about plugging it off! The tank could explode taking off like a rocket right through your roof. Seriously.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
-
Mine's pretty old but I'll use it until it stops getting hot.
Our tank is some 28 years old and last summer we slowly started getting annoyingly cool showers. It appeared that the mixing valve had failed. As it takes care of half a dozen tasks, replacing it was more recommendable than just fixing the temperature controller. And the price was decent, the plumber came to diagnose the issue the same morning and by noon he had fetched the spare part and replaced it. Total cost was below 300, the spare is about 200. And a new similar heater is about 1500 plus at least half a day for installing, not to mention the hassle of clearing the path down to the back of the cellar!
-
On demand water heaters are not the best solution for a house full of kids doing laundry and taking showers all day. But if you're two people doing a couple loads a week it might save you a couple of bucks. Some people only know their shower is over when the hot water runs out though...
-
Oh and the T&P (temperature and pressure) valve leak thing. That can often times be cured too. The temperature side has a fuseable link that melts when the water might get too hot. It's a one and done. No resetting it. If this has happened--check your stats. The water has gotten unsafely hot.
The pressure side uses a spring holding a seal against a seat. If you have pressure changes, like from a well system, that works in and out. Over time crud can build up on the seat. You can try pulling up slightly on the lever and flushing some water through it. The idea is to clean out the crud. It may re-seat and you're good to go. If not, replace the valve.
That valve is VERY important to the safety of your home! Never ever even think about plugging it off! The tank could explode taking off like a rocket right through your roof. Seriously.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Did you see that particular mythbusters episode?
-
On demand water heaters are not the best solution for a house full of kids doing laundry and taking showers all day. But if you're two people doing a couple loads a week it might save you a couple of bucks. Some people only know their shower is over when the hot water runs out though...
:rofl Yeah, no.
-
Did you see that particular mythbusters episode?
Hehe. They thought it was so cool they did that one like 3 different times. My favorite was when they blew up the cement truck!
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
-
When they tried the first short stubby water heater and all it did was hiccup when it blew, you could see the disappointment in their faces when it happened.
Now the big one at the end....BOOOM :rofl
-
Thanks for the info and ideas guys
<S>
Eagler