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Started By
Message
Hot water heater recommendations
Posted on 1/21/21 at 10:12 am
Posted on 1/21/21 at 10:12 am
I did a search and didn't really see a thread specifically about this, so if I missed it and someone could link it instead of answering here that would be great, thanks.
Anyway, we built our house in 2004 and still have the original 50 Gal electric hot water heater installed in our attic that was installed by the builder. FWIW, it's a RUUD Model: PE2-52-1. No obvious issues yet, but from what I understand we are well past the typical lifespan of a hot water heater. So instead of waiting for it to fail, I'm looking to replace it.
I was intrigued by the idea of a heat pump type. Again, it's located in the attic in South Louisiana which ranges from blisteringly hot for 6 months out of the year, to hot another 4 and chilly the other 2. From what I understand about the tech, it's pulling hot air from the space and using it to heat the water, so the hotter the space the easier time it has. Also, this model has back-up heating elements for if/when it can't draw heat form the space I guess. But, I have no clue. This was the one I had been looking at.
LINK
In addition, we do have natural gas in the house, so a gas water heater is not off the table if that's a better option. And when I did search I saw a thread or two about tankless, but nothing really in depth.
I'm wide open here and am looking for some suggestions, so any help would be appreciated.
Anyway, we built our house in 2004 and still have the original 50 Gal electric hot water heater installed in our attic that was installed by the builder. FWIW, it's a RUUD Model: PE2-52-1. No obvious issues yet, but from what I understand we are well past the typical lifespan of a hot water heater. So instead of waiting for it to fail, I'm looking to replace it.
I was intrigued by the idea of a heat pump type. Again, it's located in the attic in South Louisiana which ranges from blisteringly hot for 6 months out of the year, to hot another 4 and chilly the other 2. From what I understand about the tech, it's pulling hot air from the space and using it to heat the water, so the hotter the space the easier time it has. Also, this model has back-up heating elements for if/when it can't draw heat form the space I guess. But, I have no clue. This was the one I had been looking at.
LINK
In addition, we do have natural gas in the house, so a gas water heater is not off the table if that's a better option. And when I did search I saw a thread or two about tankless, but nothing really in depth.
I'm wide open here and am looking for some suggestions, so any help would be appreciated.
5
Posted on 1/21/21 at 10:29 am to GeauxTigerTM
quote:
So instead of waiting for it to fail, I'm looking to replace it.
Why?? You could have years left on that thing and be wasting money by changing it.
Posted on 1/21/21 at 10:57 am to BallsEleven
quote:
Why?? You could have years left on that thing and be wasting money by changing it.
That's also a consideration. Like I said, this is outside of my expertise which is why I'm asking. From everything I've ever heard, most hot water heaters don't normally have a life of this long, so rather than have it fail (which could be a huge issue considering it's location in the attic) I figured I'd change it and am looking for potential recommendations.
Do they not normally have a lifespan of around this age...going on 17 years?
Posted on 1/21/21 at 11:09 am to GeauxTigerTM
The heater in my previous home was well over 17 years old. Also, the heater in my mom's house was installed after Katrina, so it's approaching 16 yrs old. If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Posted on 1/21/21 at 11:37 am to onelochevy
quote:
The heater in my previous home was well over 17 years old. Also, the heater in my mom's house was installed after Katrina, so it's approaching 16 yrs old. If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Ok...well, that's good to know. I can potentially scratch one thing off my ever expanding "shite to do this spring" list I have on my desk!
Aside from that, ARE THERE any thoughts on the heat pump water heater, or do you guys have any recs on ones if/when a new one is needed?
Posted on 1/21/21 at 11:45 am to GeauxTigerTM
One downside of the heat pump water heater is no hot water during a power failure. Same holds for gas water heaters with blowers or exhaust fans.
I was without power for 11 days after Gustav, and taking a hot shower was awfully nice.
Also, my gas water is 25 years old, still works and looks like new. I did replace the sacrificial anode once, something that very few people do.
I was without power for 11 days after Gustav, and taking a hot shower was awfully nice.
Also, my gas water is 25 years old, still works and looks like new. I did replace the sacrificial anode once, something that very few people do.
Posted on 1/21/21 at 11:50 am to GeauxTigerTM
quote:
Hot water heater
NB4....why do you want to heat up hot water
Posted on 1/21/21 at 12:19 pm to GeauxTigerTM
quote:
FWIW, it's a RUUD
I have a 1983 RUUD in my house right now. Zero issues. It’s gas though.
Posted on 1/21/21 at 12:32 pm to Unobtanium
quote:
One downside of the heat pump water heater is no hot water during a power failure. Same holds for gas water heaters with blowers or exhaust fans.
I was without power for 11 days after Gustav, and taking a hot shower was awfully nice.
Also, my gas water is 25 years old, still works and looks like new. I did replace the sacrificial anode once, something that very few people do.
Same boat here. We don't lose power all that often, but having hot water when we do is nice with the old gas water heater. Ours was installed in 2006. At least that is what year model it is, and we bought the place in 2007, so I'm assuming it either failed and they replaced it, or upgraded before putting the house on the market. I'm guessing it failed, because some of the DIY stuff I saw the previous owners did was pretty bad.
We replaced the anodes a few years ago. It had developed a little bit of a leak, and wasn't heating like it was before. Also replaced the pressure reducing valve in the house, which is what I think was causing the leak at the Pressure/Temp overflow pipe. I'm going to keep using it until it fails. I've got a pretty good plumber we've used several times, and he said he could pretty much be out the next day any time I need him, as long as it isn't some major job. Typical repair/replace work he can usually knock out in an hour or two.
Posted on 1/21/21 at 12:33 pm to GeauxTigerTM
It just depends on the brand and how well it was made.
I think the one in my parents house is 30 years old.
If I was you, I would just ride with what you have until it goes out. Maybe pick out what you want so you spend less time trying to decide down the road.
I would opt for gas 100%. Tank vs tankless is another decision. If you have really hard water in your area, I would go with a tank.
I think the one in my parents house is 30 years old.
If I was you, I would just ride with what you have until it goes out. Maybe pick out what you want so you spend less time trying to decide down the road.
I would opt for gas 100%. Tank vs tankless is another decision. If you have really hard water in your area, I would go with a tank.
Posted on 1/21/21 at 12:57 pm to Unobtanium
quote:
One downside of the heat pump water heater is no hot water during a power failure. Same holds for gas water heaters with blowers or exhaust fans.
This would be the case with any electric water heater as well, right?
quote:
Also, my gas water is 25 years old, still works and looks like new. I did replace the sacrificial anode once, something that very few people do.
Isn't that a metal rod that's in there to specifically corrode rather than the tank lining?
Posted on 1/21/21 at 1:01 pm to BallsEleven
quote:
I would opt for gas 100%. Tank vs tankless is another decision. If you have really hard water in your area, I would go with a tank.
Yeah, the water is hard. And I'm not opposed to gas. thinking back, I'm not sure we even considered that when we built, though that would have likely been something I'd have had to approach my builder with.
quote:
If I was you, I would just ride with what you have until it goes out. Maybe pick out what you want so you spend less time trying to decide down the road.
Any recs on gas water heaters?
Posted on 1/21/21 at 3:12 pm to GeauxTigerTM
Yeah, what little research I've done in the past, I seem to remember hard water being a no-no for the tankless.
I wish, that would mean gas was an option for me!
My biggest regret was not getting a propane tank put in while I was building my house. So stupid
For the size I wanted, to bury it, and run all the lines I wanted, it may have been $3500...less than $10 tacked on to my monthly note.
Lesson learned.
quote:
Any recs on gas water heaters?
I wish, that would mean gas was an option for me!
My biggest regret was not getting a propane tank put in while I was building my house. So stupid
For the size I wanted, to bury it, and run all the lines I wanted, it may have been $3500...less than $10 tacked on to my monthly note.
Lesson learned.
This post was edited on 1/21/21 at 3:14 pm
Posted on 1/21/21 at 4:54 pm to GeauxTigerTM
Thankless
/thread
/thread
Posted on 1/21/21 at 7:28 pm to GeauxTigerTM
quote:
quote:
One downside of the heat pump water heater is no hot water during a power failure. Same holds for gas water heaters with blowers or exhaust fans.
This would be the case with any electric water heater as well, right?
That is correct.
quote:
quote:
Also, my gas water is 25 years old, still works and looks like new. I did replace the sacrificial anode once, something that very few people do.
Isn't that a metal rod that's in there to specifically corrode rather than the tank lining?
That is also correct. Mine was 15 years old when I changed it, had maybe another year or two left.
One other thing to note - the heat pump water heater in your original post is listed as having 3X the efficiency of a standard electric heater. Depending on your utility rates I'd be surprised if it comes close to a gas water heater in terms of $ per gallon of hot water.
Posted on 1/21/21 at 7:45 pm to Unobtanium
I'd lean to replacing it for the piece of mind.
In the attic - 17 years old - right time of year at the present time. You don't want that thing to blow up there!
In the attic - 17 years old - right time of year at the present time. You don't want that thing to blow up there!
Posted on 1/22/21 at 9:30 pm to Bayou
quote:
I'd lean to replacing it for the piece of mind.
In the attic - 17 years old - right time of year at the present time. You don't want that thing to blow up there!
Yep. Lifespan is 10-12 or so years. If you don’t flush them about once a year they get sediment buildup and if you don’t change the anode rod about every 3-4 years it will corrode enough to not be able to protect the lining and your heater will then corrode.
If these things haven’t been done and it is in the attic I would consider replacing. I replaced two 50 gallon gas that were 13 years old in my attic a year ago and I used AO Smith-they are good heaters. The linings were rusting and the sediment was pretty bad. It’s cheaper than the alternative-leaks or exploding water heater in second story attic.
If you haven’t done any maintenance you should at least flush it and change anode. Those two things will pretty much tell you the shape it is in.
Posted on 1/24/21 at 7:41 am to Martini
A water heater can fail in at least 2 ways. 1. The element or electronic component can go out. 2. The heater can fail at a seam causing a leak.
I have two and one failed at a seam but its on the ground floor in a mud room with concrete floors with an exterior door. All I had to do was replace the heater. If it had been the other one damages would have been 50 to 75k just in floors.
I know of at least 12 people whos heater burst at a seam, several being in the attic. Damage was to ceiling, floor and walls often in several rooms.
The failed seams seem to happen on average around the 10 to 11 year mark. I have two heaters and replace every 8 years.
I have two and one failed at a seam but its on the ground floor in a mud room with concrete floors with an exterior door. All I had to do was replace the heater. If it had been the other one damages would have been 50 to 75k just in floors.
I know of at least 12 people whos heater burst at a seam, several being in the attic. Damage was to ceiling, floor and walls often in several rooms.
The failed seams seem to happen on average around the 10 to 11 year mark. I have two heaters and replace every 8 years.
Posted on 1/24/21 at 7:55 pm to GeauxTigerTM
Trust me, leave it alone. Do not replace unless you have to.
Also, heat pump units are larger then normal units. Make sure you can for the new unit through the article opening AND make sure you have enough height.
Also, heat pump units are larger then normal units. Make sure you can for the new unit through the article opening AND make sure you have enough height.
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