Water heater craps out less than 3 years old

[Mixolydian]

10:30 PM last night...I was watching TV when I heard a strange hissing noise coming from the basement. I went to go check it out and discovered that the water heater is leaking all over the floor. The piece of shit is not even 3 years old. How the hell do water heaters start leaking after only 3 years? The last one lasted nearly 15 years. Anyways, I shut off the gas and water supply and went to bed. Fortunately since it's so new it's still covered by manufacturer's warranty. However I still have to shell out $400 for the installation.

I guess they don't make 'em like they used to, though I hardly consider a water heater to be a disposable item.

Son of a bitch!

[sdifox]

That is really fucked up. Maybe ask them if you can get a better model and you pay the diff?

[bignateyk]

That sucks. We just moved into our house a year ago, but ours has an install date of 2001 on it. I replaced the elements a few months ago which might keep it going a little longer.

The sediment is over a foot deep in the bottom of it. Its about an inch below the first element I tried draining it out but its so packed in there none will come out.

[LuckyTaxi]

I feel ya man. Our furnace had to be replaced earlier this week. $5600 and Christmas is next month. I miss my apartment!

[highland145]

Any idea if a seam failed?

[mrrman]

I just removed my 6 y/o hw tank and tossed it and installed a Navien 240a tankless unit...it works great

[mvbighead]

If it's leaking, then the tank is shot. I'd guess there must be something with your water that requires more frequent replacement of the anode rod. The sacrificial rod is in place so that it gets attacked before the tank, which promotes tank longevity. I'd also guess if you pull that out, it is going to be pretty much completely gone. I may be wrong though.

[PottedMeat]

Originally Posted by bignateyk

The sediment is over a foot deep in the bottom of it. Its about an inch below the first element I tried draining it out but its so packed in there none will come out.

i had a similar problem. i took out the bottom element and used a shop vac with a ~2' piece of radiator hose extension so i could snake it in the hole. it took ~5+ trips outside to clean the thing out but it works perfectly now. the sediment was made up of little ~1/8"-1" pieces in the shape of the element.

[skimple]

$400 to install a gas water heater?

Get another quote. That's absurd.

[highland145]

Originally Posted by skimple

$400 to install a gas water heater?

Get another quote. That's absurd.

Agree but that's probably normal. Time for some DIY but the manufacturer won't let him, I'm sure.

[Mixolydian]

Yeah I'm not sure what the deal is, we don't have hard water here (city water from Lake Michigan). When the last water heater died, it had the same issue - leaking from the bottom. Undoubtedly from rust, but that unit was 15 years old. I just find it hard to believe that a water heater would rust out after just 3 years.

I'd love to get a tankless one, but its cost prohibitive at this point.

[mrrman]

I'd love to get a tankless one, but its cost prohibitive at this point.[/QUOTE]


Mine was $1375 plus $650 for the install...IMO it was well worth. I actually audit companies that produce products and one of the products is the hot water tank. Believe me they are not made to last at all...that's the intent of mass producing these items.

[BoomerD]

Originally Posted by skimple

$400 to install a gas water heater?

Get another quote. That's absurd.

No, that's pretty normal...

OP, have you checked to see if maybe it's leaking from one of the water inlet/outlet connections at the top of the tank?

HOPEFULLY, that's all it is.

(but it's not unheard of for a new tank to fail)

[imagoon]

Originally Posted by bignateyk

That sucks. We just moved into our house a year ago, but ours has an install date of 2001 on it. I replaced the elements a few months ago which might keep it going a little longer.

The sediment is over a foot deep in the bottom of it. Its about an inch below the first element I tried draining it out but its so packed in there none will come out.

For me: Attach the hose, drain the tank. Close the hot valve and with the pressure valve closed, run the cold side and rap the side of the tank. I think the water stream and the banging on the tank via a 2x4 and mallet (IE sticking the 2x4 past the insulation to actually reach the metal tank and just rapping the board with the mallet) seemed to agitate the junk enough to dislodge it and go out the hose. On the other end I had old pair of panty hose on the end of the tank hose so the floor trap wouldn't get filled with trash.

Mine is gas, otherwise removing the element / shop vac thing mentioned above might have been easier.

[jayzds]

Originally Posted by skimple

$400 to install a gas water heater?

Get another quote. That's absurd.

I agree...no way it should cost that much. They are not the hard to put in :/

Yeah it takes some work but, if you have some buddies that have done it before and buy them some lunch is the way to go IMO.

[Brovane]

I got a new one about 5+ years ago. Replaced one that was 20+ years old. In the 14 month I owned it the Thermostat went out on it and of course that part was only covered by 12 month warranty. Was not happy.

[Mixolydian]

Well the water heater was replaced. Took them only about 30 minutes to do it.

[DAGTA]

I replaced one Wednesday that was only 5.5 years old. it was leaking through the control panel.

Mine is 13 years old and still going, though I'm wondering for how long.

[mmntech]

This is why we rent ours. They don't seem to last very long. You do end up spending more in the long run but if it goes, they'll just come and replace it at no extra cost.

[The_Dude8]

what brand and model was your water heater op?

[Vdubchaos]

Originally Posted by mrrman

I'd love to get a tankless one, but its cost prohibitive at this point.

Mine was $1375 plus $650 for the install...IMO it was well worth. I actually audit companies that produce products and one of the products is the hot water tank. Believe me they are not made to last at all...that's the intent of mass producing these items.[/QUOTE]

What is this day and age?

Worst part is, more you pay, more useless crap things have and less reliable they are/cost more to replace/fix.

I guess the trick is to finding the "sweet spot"

[nickbits]

Originally Posted by mmntech

This is why we rent ours. They don't seem to last very long. You do end up spending more in the long run but if it goes, they'll just come and replace it at no extra cost.

I don't think that is common outside of Ontario

[Genx87]

Are you sure it is leaking and not overheating causing the pressure valve to release? My Fiances water heater was turned up too much and it would release pressure by design.

[DrPizza]

$400 for an install?! Emergency hours or something? That's absurd.

[CPA]

Install it yourself. should take no longer than 30 minutes.