passatdoc
Well-known member
My home, built 1988, is on its third natural gas water heater. The one that came with the house lasted only six years, though admittedly I knew nothing about maintenance in those days. The replacement, which my plumber obtained via the wholesale house, cost about $300 back then and probably was of low quality. I don't recall the brand. It too died within seven years. My current heater, a Bradford White, was installed in March 2003 and hence turns nine years old in a few months. The longest-lived heater I've owned!!
I knew I was supposed to drain the heater once a year, but when I did so, water return out of the drain was sluggish. The TPR valve was leaking as well, so I called the plumber to make sure it was done right. My neighbors had had to pay $1200 (full service plumber, they are elderly and cannot install themselves) for a 40 gallon gas heater, so the days of regarding these as throwaway devices are over. Now, they cost more than most washers.
He replaced the TPR valve and I told him about my difficulties in draining the tank, despite following the suggested procedure. The problem lay in the cheap PVC plastic drain valve: the outlet was very narrow, too narrow for sediment to pass through.
He replaced it with a 3/4" brass valve, and when we drained the tank, so much sediment came out that it looked like someone dumped an aquarium on the driveway. Of course, this was six years or so of accumulation. If/when this heater dies, the valve can be removed and installed on a new heater.
Now I drain it every six months. The sediment is no longer very impressive because it hasn't had six years to accumulate behind a narrow outlet valve. He also recommended changing the anode rod every two years, which I do myself. He said with proper care it's not uncommon to see gas heaters last for 20-30 years.
What maintenance do you gas water heater owners follow? How long do your heaters typically last? When they cost $300, I admittedly paid scant attention to maintenance, but now I do.
I knew I was supposed to drain the heater once a year, but when I did so, water return out of the drain was sluggish. The TPR valve was leaking as well, so I called the plumber to make sure it was done right. My neighbors had had to pay $1200 (full service plumber, they are elderly and cannot install themselves) for a 40 gallon gas heater, so the days of regarding these as throwaway devices are over. Now, they cost more than most washers.
He replaced the TPR valve and I told him about my difficulties in draining the tank, despite following the suggested procedure. The problem lay in the cheap PVC plastic drain valve: the outlet was very narrow, too narrow for sediment to pass through.
He replaced it with a 3/4" brass valve, and when we drained the tank, so much sediment came out that it looked like someone dumped an aquarium on the driveway. Of course, this was six years or so of accumulation. If/when this heater dies, the valve can be removed and installed on a new heater.
Now I drain it every six months. The sediment is no longer very impressive because it hasn't had six years to accumulate behind a narrow outlet valve. He also recommended changing the anode rod every two years, which I do myself. He said with proper care it's not uncommon to see gas heaters last for 20-30 years.
What maintenance do you gas water heater owners follow? How long do your heaters typically last? When they cost $300, I admittedly paid scant attention to maintenance, but now I do.
