Below the floor is not an option on a house built on a slab . Most here are . I guess that would take a lot of skill ...
Tank Water heater in the attic.
- Thread starter parshisa
- Start date
If it's a 2-story on a slab, then you can run them between the floors. I lived in a house like that.
None of the houses around here I've seen with HVAC equipment or ducts (in the attic) actually needed to have them there except that it made the install easier and cheaper.
And I know that in some places they do in fact put the ductwork in the slab, though I'm not sure that's any better than putting it in the attic.
I have many water heaters and each time they fail, they cost me anywhere from $600-$1000 to replace, basically the cost of the water heater, labor and parts. I figured if it blew up, I'd be replacing it anyway but so far none of them have blown up yet. I usually give them a blast of Kroil first. I would normally only get 6-10 years out of water heater so get 20 years on one saves you the cost of one water heater which more than covers the cost of the 2767 and I've used it on 10+ water heaters.
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Why would you replace them?
They are only 7 years old.
They could last anywhere from 4 to 12 more years. I would almost bet that they will last you eight more years.
If it made you feel better and you want to do something then sure get them flushed.
I'm trying to figure whether having someone to come out for 500$ to do the "Flush" is even worth it. Not that I want/need to replace the heaters right now, but if I was to replace them within a couple of years would it makes sense to pay that much money for someone to come drain it. Plus the confusion I've gotten on "don't touch the thing" if it hasn't been serviced regularly.
I'm sure they're in the attic. Most of the houses here in FL are built that way too, even if the water heater/AC unit is in the garage. Most, if not all are built on slab and the ductwork is in the attic.
One thing I did NOT expect is for that water heater to be gas fired. If I lived in Texas, and my water heater was in the attic, it would be an electric HEAT PUMP heater! The heat is free, so most units use about $192 a YEAR in electricity costs. That is completely off the low end of the scale on the Energy Star Guide.
Only thing you need to watch is that they are typically a little taller for their capacity, might not fit in an attic installation.
Yes I certainly understand because I am a bit of a maintenance freak and if there’s one thing that gets ignored it’s the water heater.
The quality of your heater looks better than the one that my builder supplied and mine lasted a solid 12 years with no maintenance.
Personally based on the marketing about sediment reduction that is stuck on your water heaters with the photos you supplied I think at this point I would probably just leave it alone. It’s really a personal decision.
Like I told you, change the anode rod. Call a few plumbers and ask them. Get the anode rod I mentioned earlier, the ones they bring may be thinner or shorter or segmented and not last as long. All they have to do is disconnect the hot and cold, drain some of the hot water and tip the tank over to put in the new anode rod if there's not enough ceiling height.
How to Inspect and Replace a Sacrificial Anode Rod (Every 3-5 Years)
The most important part of a water heater is the sacrificial anode rod. Protect your water heater from corrosion by learning how to replace the anode rod.
www.servicechampions.net
How to Replace an Anode Rod (6 Steps) | Water Heater Hub
Water heaters use an anode rod to attract and remove sediments from the water being heated. An anode rod will corrode and deteriorate over time until it's no longer capable of functioning and has to be replaced. This is a common problem with older water heaters and in certain parts of the country.
www.waterheaterhub.com
Why no do it yourself? It's really easy but takes time. It probably won't be too bad.
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Texas soils are generally not conducive to basements so everything is on a slab. With slab-on-grade construction mechanicals typically go in the attic. Water heaters it just depends.
Builders have gotten better over the last decade or so which means the attic is just as likely to have a radiant barrier to help reduce the amount of heat during the summer.
