Wednesday started out fine. I was supposed to do some cooking, then host two of my out-of-town sisters who were passing through. I did the cooking and was awaiting my sisters when Belle called. She was in town, hand bumped a curb, and knocked the tire of the rim.
I went to rescue her and ran into problems. The lug nut wrench didn't fit the lug nuts. Luckily, an auto parts store was just down the block and I was able to fun up the street and get a proper wrench. Changed the tire, put the donut on, and we went to our tire store to get a new time.
Sisters called. They had passed through, and were heading out. They'll try to catch up with me on the way back though town. When we got home from the tire store, we went to the shop, whee the food was, had a cocktail and supper. Belle went i the house while I cleaned the shop kitchen. She texted me, "Bring the shop vac," What the hell?
I grabbed the shop vac and went to the house. Laundry room flooded. We started vacuuming and mopping, and after an hour or so, I decided that the water heater had turned loose. Oh, joy! This will be the second I have replaced in this house. I shut the water heater down, said the hell with it, and went to bed. This morning after coffee, I'll do some more more vacuuming (it leaked during the night) and yank it out.
Exit question: Should't a water heater last longer than 12 years?
I'm on my 4th water heater in 39 years (first one was there when I bought the place). Average life is considered 8 to 12 years. I'm lucky - water heater is in the basement so it just drained away when I had a catastrophic failure and two slow failures. Sorry about the hassle. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteWhat shape is the anode in?
ReplyDeleteMy condolences for bad fortune. My 1st water heater lasted approximately 15 years, my 2nd is about 7. I guess I had better start paying closer attention if projected life is what you say it is.
ReplyDeleteIn our last house, the water heater was leaking when we look at it to buy it, so they replaced it. Bought the house, heater lasted 10 years, replaced it, preparing to see the house 10 years later and heater started leaking, so 10 years seems normal to me.
ReplyDeleteMark D
I'm convinced that the most important water heater accessory that a fella can have is a nearby floor drain.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a floor drain and a prolonged leak would mean several feet of water in the basement.
ReplyDeleteWe change the heater every ten years, and I have two different water alarm sensors near the heater.
Around twelve years seems right, I've heard that if you drain them from time to time they last longer
ReplyDeleteLubbock has such hard water anything beyond seven years is good. Ben
ReplyDeleteBeen in the same house for many years. When I replace the water heater I write the date on the tank with a black marker. I replace every 8 years. All of them have lasted that long.
ReplyDeleteSeven to ten years is the 'new' average... sigh...
ReplyDeleteReplace the anode at 5 and it'll probably extend that life. I'm almost certain one of the things they've done to cut costs is reduce the mass of the anode so it gets exhausted quicker.
ReplyDeleteMy buddy bought an anode with his last new water heater taped it to the heater and wrote a date 5 years in the future in it.
DeleteWith the water in Texas 10 years is a good lifespan!!
ReplyDeleteEvery minute past ten years is borrowed time.
ReplyDelete