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Water Heater - RIP

Discussion in 'Home Improvement & DIY Forum' started by rotocub, May 1, 2008.

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  1. May 1, 2008 at 11:46 AM #1
    rotocub

    rotocub like cool....only dorkier

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    Last night at roughly midnight we discovered we had no hot water. A quick check of our water heater (it was leaking badly) confirmed it's time for a new one.

    It was a 40-gal, gas heater, so I guess I'm looking for the same thing. Lowes has them at ~$325 for one with a 6-year warranty and ~$400 for what looks to be about the same with a 9-year warranty. Is one with the longer warranty worth paying the extra for or do they typically last considerably longer than their warranties, so it really doesn't matter? I would assume the one we had was the most basic model the builder could get nearly 16 years ago, so if the "cheap" one will last anywhere near that long, I'm thinking I should go with it.

    More questions....is there a better place besides Lowes or HD that I might find one? And do I need a professional plumber to install it?

    Thoughts?
     
  2. May 1, 2008 at 12:21 PM #2
    DaveW

    DaveW Super Moderator

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    you will need a pro unless you can weld.
     
  3. May 1, 2008 at 12:31 PM #3
    meatpile

    meatpile 7-9

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    It's not 'welding'. It's sealing copper with flux and solder and a torch. Real fucking easy.

    OF course, prolly only costs $100 or so for a plumber.
     
  4. May 1, 2008 at 12:39 PM #4
    DaveW

    DaveW Super Moderator

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    close enough to welding.
     
  5. May 1, 2008 at 12:40 PM #5
    rotocub

    rotocub like cool....only dorkier

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    Sorta figured.
     
  6. May 1, 2008 at 12:42 PM #6
    rotocub

    rotocub like cool....only dorkier

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    $100 would be a lot better than what I expected. I figured labor for a pro would double the cost of the replacement.
     
  7. May 1, 2008 at 1:04 PM #7
    Shrapnel

    Shrapnel Stinky

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    Poor dave. OWNED again
     
  8. May 1, 2008 at 1:11 PM #8
    Southern_Yankee

    Southern_Yankee Full Access Member

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    Ours is leaking too. 9 years old. Let me know how this works out for you as I will be replacing ours soon. Feel free to send me one of those internal, quick response instant e mail things.
     
  9. May 1, 2008 at 1:59 PM #9
    spud

    spud Full Access Member

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    Just get a handyman to install it. Don't need a plumber, just someone with a little know how and tools.
     
  10. May 1, 2008 at 2:34 PM #10
    rotocub

    rotocub like cool....only dorkier

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    Just got word from my FIL that he installed one when he built an addition on their house a couple years ago. He's coming over this evening to help us out. Just gotta pick up the water heater now.

    On a side note, I learned something new about water heaters. Apparently, for ~$20-$30, the anode rod (the thing that slows corrosion and rusting in the steel tank) can be replaced in order to increase the tank's life.

    I'll definitely keep this in mind for down the road.
     
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