Does Pro active replacement make sense for replacing a working gas WH

[Jsmallberries]

I went ahead and ordered and received my new Rheem 50 gallon energy efficient heater, going to install it tomorrow. My current Lochinvar going on 20 years, in a hard water area,is still working though.

My thinking is , since of the age and if it fails, I can be waiting up to three weeks for a replacement. Just trying to avoid that potential scenario,any thoughts on that.

 

[Jadnashua]

Two factors play into this
- when it fails, will it damage anything, and
- how willing are you to wait for a replacement when it does

At 20-years, you’re nearly three times beyond typical lifetime, so it doesn’t owe you anything.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

Twenty years? You've gotten your moneys worth. I don't see too many make it past 15 years. I like to change them out on my schedule, and not come home from a weekend with a mess to deal with.

 

[hj]

Where do you purchase your water heaters that it takes THREE weeks to get them. Around here ONE hour is a long time.

 

[Jsmallberries]

Water heater, big box orange . They don't stock much anymore, so I ordered it online, two & 1/2 weeks later get a call, your water heater has arrived but it arrived damaged, do you want to cancel the order? So re-ordered, said it would be here the 28th, but came earlier.

Nothing else nearby, next time I'll try to find a plumbing supply, would they sell to a civilian? I'm guessing that's where you go?

on wards and upwards

 

[Jsmallberries]

Here is something you want to do proactively....any CPVC pipe around the top of the water heater, replace it prior to putting the new heater in.

This type pipe gets brittle with age and worse with the heat of the flue nearby. I had to angle one supply over slightly away from the flue, so I added a new right angle and supply connector off the old stub out, I started with at cpvc cutter, it felt like it was cracking, so I stopped and cut further back with a hacksaw.

All hooked up and leaking before the right angle, pipe must have spit further down