What Water Heater Type To Replace With?

[Torn Mind]

Oh - one other thing he mentioned - he said he runs into a lot more of a "Man, I flushed this thing every year like I'm supposed to" replacements more often than the "I didn't do shit to mine" haha.

Sounds like hes suggesting there isn't anything proven that getting rid of the sediment is of any help to the longevity.

Since I have a water softener, I might just not flush it yearly then if it makes no difference. I've read articles suggesting this as well - but ultimately... I don't know what to believe =/

The sediment is probably minerals that have calcium or magnesium. This of course, depends on locality. To dissolve them requires an acid treatment.

It is possible the sediment coats the steel, thereby slowing down the process of corrosion at the expense of heat transfer.

 

[Greenman]

The point of flushing is to remove sediment in the bottom of the tank. I've seen pictures of water heaters cut open with a couple of inches of crap in the bottom. I've never personally seen anything other water come out of a water heaters bottom drain. I've pulled out water heaters that were somewhere around 16 years old, worked fine, and had never been drained.
I think it's entirely based on water quality and the supply system. Corroding pipes are going to dump crap into the water heater that should be purged now and then.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

-Current water heaters are 2x 50gallon tanks. They are located in the 2nd-story attic.

There is NO way in the world I would have that. Not a single chance. Main floor or basement if there is one.

My electric is going on 30 years old (at least). I've been expecting to start having trouble, but none so far. I don't use a lot of hot water though.

I've just started looking at tankless, but I can't see the prices for them as compared to traditional. I plan on switching to LP whichever type I go to when the time comes. I just need to allow for it to be where I can vent it.