Quaker water heater 1970s

[toploader1984]

So i just bought a house and it has this water heater, gas 40 gallon, i'm guessing from the early to mid 70s still works! I am thinking about replacing it soon though because of it's age, although all the new tanks are garbage compared to this.

 

[gusherb]

I'm surprised it's lasted so long given that it's glass lined steel and not copper. If you're up for an adventure and don't mind not having hot water one day as well as your basement getting wet, I'd keep it and see how long it lasts!

 

[toploader1984]

Wh

The woman that i bought the house from was the daughter of the original owner who had the house built in 51, she said every year she had them come and clean/check the furnace and flush the wayer heater.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I might contact her, get the contact info for 'them', and continue the practice. I'd also ask if they urged her to get a new one. That way if they try to sell you one you can respond with, "Well, it didn't need replacement last year and nothing's changed." and dump them.

I'm with Gusherb. I'd keep the contact info for a lightning fast, instant replacement service and make sure I had the funds for replacement available. Then I'd keep it to see how long it lasts.

Jim

 

[alr2903]

I also would keep it for as long as it works.   When I moved here the date on the poorly working heater was 1985.  My purchase offer included  a new water heater  and  furnace.  If it you have adequate hot water, leave well enough alone.   The old one here weighed a ton after it was drained, it had not been maintained and must of had lime buildup in it the size of a huge boulder.

 

[abcomatic]

HI,See how long this will go. I just put in a new water heater last wed; the old one was 6 1/2 years old. I have lived in this house since 1980 and have replaced 6 water heaters. When I moved in, there was a 1950's Toastmaster water heater and it was still going strong. The sure don't make um like they used to. Gary

 

[askolover]

same here

1985 on the heater when I bought my house in 1998.  That thing popped and sizzled every time hot water was used due to poor maintenance and hard water...I replaced it in 2007 due to leaking.  The new one is quiet,  it gets maintenance and flushed, and has had softened water it's whole life thus far.  Wish I had a Monel tank!

 

[davey7]

My boss just lost a 50 year old water heater when his basement flooded (his own fault for messing with the flood control standpipe)! Hopefully you get a few years service out of yours (and sufficient hot water - nothing is worse than not being able to get a shower out of one, like a friend of mine's apartment which couldn't provide enough for one shower!).

 

[whirlcool]

There are moisture sensing devices you can put on the floor around the heater or in the pan the heater sits in. If moisture hits them they let out a sound similar to a car alarm. We have those in our a/c drip pan as well as our hot water tank pan. Any moisture gets in there and we know about it before it becomes a problem! I think the sensors were around $12.00 each. Cheap flood insurance.

 

[kb0nes]

The last water heater replacement I had I was anticipating. I had to borrow a truck to bring home a new water softener so I grabbed a new Whirlpool branded water heater at the same time. The water heater sat in the garage for about a year as I procrastinated doing the swap.

One morning I was in the basement doing laundry and I heard the water heater fire. Then I heard the sizzle and saw the puddle start... Now it's time to do the work! Glad I was home to catch it.

Just like seeing when Empty on the gas gage in your car is really EMPTY, its good to have a gas can in the trunk. Or in this case a new water heater ready to go!

 

[fan-of-fans]

My biggest fear would be flooding. Our house was built in 1976 and still had the original Jackson electric water heater with a date of 1973 on it. It still worked fine, but had not been flushed in at least 20 years that we had been here. Decided to replace it in 2012 just because of the leak risk. It still worked fine, who knows how long it would have lasted. We also had to replace the well tank in 2012, it was actually newer (dated 1991) because it sprang a leak and have replaced the water pump twice because of leaks. I think the first pump had a date of 1991 on the motor, but pump looked original, second was an 2002 and lasted until 2013. Fortunately no floods in the house!