Gas Water Heater Replacement

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

My original Bradford White is 28* years old. Have not done anything to it. It works flawlessly. Makes the same noises it did when new. It sounds a lot like the noises the Maverick's hybrid makes after you shut it down but not as loud.

LoL. My Rheem natural gas water heater seems very similar. Never touched it but one time since after the first year it was installed. I did flush and drain it well after maybe the first 12-18 months, and then never again. It has been running fine (noisy as heck at times) in the garage since it was installed over 17 years ago. I keep telling the wife "maybe I ought to just go ahead and get a new one _____ but this one is still chugging along so...?" I am willing to guess this story would be different if we had a "house full" and used it a lot. Here , we have been the "empty nest" since at least 2006 when our last/youngest son went off to college and got married.

 

[alarmguy]

LoL. My Rheem natural gas water heater seems very similar. Never touched it but one time since after the first year it was installed. I did flush and drain it well after maybe the first 12-18 months, and then never again. It has been running fine (noisy as heck at times) in the garage since it was installed over 17 years ago. I keep telling the wife "maybe I ought to just go ahead and get a new one _____ but this one is still chugging along so...?" I am willing to guess this story would be different if we had a "house full" and used it a lot. Here , we have been the "empty nest" since at least 2006 when our last/youngest son went off to college and got married.

Sounds familiar ours gave out at 12 or 13 years. Those noises? most likely due to sediment buildup.
Yeah, ours started making them and if I remember correctly it was a few years later that it started leaking. Common cause for the noise is due to sediment buildup. Possibly the only thing holding yours together now. *LOL* (though I have no idea)
17 years, that's a long life, impressive really. I would start planning for one.

 

[SumGuy]

I'm reading this thread and seeing the term "anode" being mentioned - for a gas water heater. Hmm. Does my water heater have an anode?

I installed my heater likely in 2005. It's a GE "Smartwater" 40 gallon unit, gas, made under license by Rheem Canada (made in Canada). I see 2004 on the name plate sticker, so yea this heater has been in operation for 20 years now.

And yes, there is a large bronze bolt-thing at the top of the heater labelled "anode". Should I do anything with it?

 

[Lubener]

I'm reading this thread and seeing the term "anode" being mentioned - for a gas water heater. Hmm. Does my water heater have an anode?

I installed my heater likely in 2005. It's a GE "Smartwater" 40 gallon unit, gas, made under license by Rheem Canada (made in Canada). I see 2004 on the name plate sticker, so yea this heater has been in operation for 20 years now.

And yes, there is a large bronze bolt-thing at the top of the heater labelled "anode". Should I do anything with it?

Yours is 21 years old and I would not worry about it at this point as you can do more harm trying to remove it after 21 years. Many installations do not have the headroom to remove and reinstall. You must have very good water quality. It is said that the anode rod be inspected every 3-5 years and replaced if necessary.

Personally, I do not have much overhead clearance and have never dealt with the anode rod. I still have gotten atleast 16 years from my tanks, past and present.

 

[billt460]

Yours is 21 years old and I would not worry about it at this point as you can do more harm trying to remove it after 21 years. Many installations do not have the headroom to remove and reinstall. You must have very good water quality. It is said that the anode rod be inspected every 3-5 years and replaced if necessary.

Personally, I do not have much overhead clearance and have never dealt with the anode rod. I still have gotten atleast 16 years from my tanks, past and present.

This is important to note. Very few water heaters have enough headroom to remove the anode rod..... Assuming you can get it out without moving your water heater. They are heavily torqued in place, and may have some type of sealant that has been baking on for the last several years.

I wouldn't even attempt it without a high torque impact gun and socket. This is why you see several anode rods sold that are in sections. But that's not going to make removal any easier.

 

[billt460]

I would also add, that if you are intending to change your anode rod, and flush your water heater in the course of its lifetime, there are a couple of things I would do after removing it from the box, BEFORE you install it.

First would be to purchase and install a segmented anode rod, like the type shown in the link below. (They have them for virtually every water heater sold today. Just get the proper length and thread size). And install it with ONLY Teflon tape. This will make it far easier to remove and replace when the time comes.

Second would be to remove the drain valve at the bottom that it comes with, and install a full, quarter turn, port ball drain valve in its place. Again, like the one shown in the link below. You can use Teflon tape and pipe dope if you wish. Because it's doubtful you'll ever be replacing it in the course of the heaters lifetime.

This isn't that expensive to do right off the bat, and you will be rewarded with much easier replacement of the anode rod when the time comes. And the full port ball valve will assure much better, and more positive flushing. With less chance of sediment clogging the valve, and hampering the flushing process.

Water heaters should come with both of these. It wouldn't raise the price all that much. But companies want to sell water heaters. And by offering these that would cause them to sell fewer.

(P.S. If someone can edit this to shorten the links, please do).

https://www.amazon.com/House-Mods-HMP011-Heater-Replacement/dp/B07XZG7SQN/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=Y7f4A&content-id=amzn1.sym.a602a706-e4fe-481e-98c3-9b75060fd322:amzn1.symc.abfa8731-fff2-4177-9d31-bf48857c2263&pf_rd_p=a602a706-e4fe-481e-98c3-9b75060fd322&pf_rd_r=029PSH2CDSJNVATA5YEN&pd_rd_wg=xuonO&pd_rd_r=04331841-6022-408e-a6ce-eccd60f65e68&ref_=pd_hp_d_btf_ci_mcx_mr_ca_id_hp_d

https://www.amazon.com/Inches-Aluminum-Zinc-Anode-Rod-Eau-Diameter/dp/B07TT663SP/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=196JTD3VHKFS3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FVOjsrkikl0ZutXYH4Da-Hf8rHnBJm4Izg2AMFtYd7sANLR--Nk6Ms38KkE8MqMTGGapQi5sjzi3DhBUCX5k_d33xQkeOj1i_14-2FFlFZ1MKW3jFerjzj_nupjqvUIa-aAPbX0SZ4vm_wCcAoEiEIkyWPhWc0pxahjkJJHZyt_xLNwzMrUgfVhmiNKyq2InYX9xWX2Fu7s5MrbHeptP49IupylJ3b7j68oyyDkj-pwxX4wMoHkXihNUZtEwOSz23SiHs32mWoGO4mWhAUsNodbsfdhE9j0Y-GFSglNGNio.NvtzZ4ZKig9zM9UD0VXRBDFikeEH65l7FtpYRCJFRIs&dib_tag=se&keywords=sectional+anode+rod+for+water+heater&qid=1747737138&s=hi&sprefix=sectional+anode+rod+for+water+heater,tools,143&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

[SumGuy]

Yours is 21 years old and I would not worry about it at this point as you can do more harm trying to remove it after 21 years. Many installations do not have the headroom to remove and reinstall. You must have very good water quality. It is said that the anode rod be inspected every 3-5 years and replaced if necessary.

Personally, I do not have much overhead clearance and have never dealt with the anode rod. I still have gotten atleast 16 years from my tanks, past and present.

My municipal water comes from Lake Huron. It does have calcium in it - I see it in my humidifier drum.

My water heater is 50 inches tall, but I do have 55 inches of clear headroom above it.

 

[The Critic]

I would buy the "fast recovery" model over the "standard" models every time because if you have a family member taking a shower right after you, that reduces the likelihood of the second shower taker running out of hot water. Get the longest warranty water heater they sell, they won't warranty longer than they will last, you will generally get a couple years or more out of a water heater than the warranty period. Buy from a reputable local dealer-plumber-installer and keep all your paperwork and receipts. Be sure to get online and register your water heater, no matter what brand you buy. Also, I would go with the A.O. Smith brand. I have used A.O. Smith water heaters in my homes for years without much trouble, the only trouble was to be expected, like rusting out and starting to leak once they got really old. Now you have my .05 cents of opinion.

Purchased two of the Bradford White URG250T6N units today. Added the 4-yr warranty upgrade (it's just a warranty, no parts are upgraded) for an extremely low price.

I tried to find a High Input Model but they have been on b/o since last summer. Maybe the Ultra Low Nox versions are hard to come by?

Still researching the expansion tank matter. More to come.

 

[walterjay]

Purchased two of the Bradford White URG250T6N units today. Added the 4-yr warranty upgrade (it's just a warranty, no parts are upgraded) for an extremely low price.

I tried to find a High Input Model but they have been on b/o since last summer. Maybe the Ultra Low Nox versions are hard to come by?

Still researching the expansion tank matter. More to come.

If you plan on getting an expansion tank I recommend only Amtrol tanks. The rest are junk.