My neighbor in the North Valley swears by a 20-year-old water heater, but I think he's playing with fire.

He argued that the sediment buildup acts as extra insulation, but after seeing a unit fail and flood a house in Corrales three years ago, I'm firmly in the 'replace it before it's a problem' camp, so what's your take on pushing old appliances past their expected life?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordang322d ago

How many water heaters actually fail that way though... seems rare.

oscar6662d ago

Ever wonder if it's really that rare? My buddy's 18 year old heater went last winter, not a slow drip but a full split. It flooded his entire utility room and the finished part next to it. Ruined the new laminate, soaked the drywall, warped the cabinet bases. @jordang32, seeing his place after was a real wake up call. The cleanup and repairs took weeks and his insurance deductible was no joke.

the_hugo2d ago

Ever see what a failed water heater does to a finished basement? I have. It's not just a little leak, it's thousands in damage. Sediment doesn't insulate, it makes the tank work harder and corrode faster. That Corrales story is more common than people think. Waiting for a 20 year old one to burst is a really bad bet.