Hot Water Heater Question - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Titan · 05-02-2007, 12:21 PM

My hwh is leaking from the bottom. On the web it says it has a 6 year warranty and it was installed in...wait for it...January 1999.

Question #1 is this fixable? I assume it is a fairly common problem but can it be fixed or is it trash?

Question #2 If it is trash should I go with a tankless? The idea of not heating water 24/7 to just sit and cool down sounds good to me. Anyone have a tankless? Do they live up to the hype?

Question #3 What is a good plumber to go with? Canyon and Pete the Plumber are the ones i would likely call.

Thanks for the help!!

Reaper · 05-02-2007, 12:33 PM

I have a Rinnai tankless water heater and it is good. It takes a couple seconds for the water to heat up (due to the cold water between the heater and the tap needing to be flushed out before the hot water flows) but it consistently gives a nice steady temperature. If you go this route, don't cheap out and get a unit without enough capacity to suit your needs. If you need to run multiple hot water sources at once then get one of the larger models to prevent people taking a shower from getting frozen because someone decided to run the dishwasher at the same time.

GoinAllTheWay · 05-02-2007, 12:35 PM

Tankless? That's new to me, what is that all about?

Don't think your current tank is fixable but don't quote me on that. I find when the leak, they need to be replaced. Their kinda disposable these days.

burn_baby_burn · 05-02-2007, 12:39 PM

Plumbers are hard to find right now. Especially for small jobs. Just be thankfull if you find one willing to come to your house.

Flames_Gimp · 05-02-2007, 12:42 PM

tankless are awesome but expensive because you buy the heater itself ($600-$1500 or so) pluse you need a special vent for $400.

Flames_Gimp · 05-02-2007, 12:43 PM

plumbers aren't that hard..last time i needed a plumber i called in the morning and had same day service.

Reaper · 05-02-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

plumbers aren't that hard..last time i needed a plumber i called in the morning and had same day service.

That's because you also offered the plumber "same day service."

FireFly · 05-02-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper

That's because you also offered the plumber "same day service."

Hmph. I didn't realize you were a plumber, Reaper.

Reaper · 05-02-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFly

Hmph. I didn't realize you were a plumber, Reaper.

FG couldn't provide me with same day service. Too much overbite.

Flames_Gimp · 05-02-2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper

FG couldn't provide me with same day service. Too much overbite.

sickkkkkkkk

GrrlGoalie33 · 05-02-2007, 01:05 PM

I think in regards to the tankless system it depends on your situation. I decided to replace with the standard tank because there are only two of us. The cost-benefit factor for us was not worth it for us to go with the tankless system.

It helps that we had a coupon to get 20% off of our purchase at Home Depot, so we got a 40 gallon 9year warranty tank for $375.

Bobblehead · 05-02-2007, 01:20 PM

So my hot water tank that was installed when the house was built in '87 is probably approaching the end of its life?

Titan · 05-02-2007, 01:33 PM

I spoke with Canyon plumbing and she said the Giant HWH that was installed had a 5 year warranty and that is pretty much their life expectancy.

She also said the tankless are pretty "buggy" right now. However, Holmes on Homes installs them in his projects. That seems to be a pretty good endorsement to me.

Prototype · 05-02-2007, 02:23 PM

To add to the thread...

Is it better to be proactive, and replace if there's no visable issues, or reactive after finding a leak. My house is about 10 years old, and most likely working on it's first water heater. I'd imagine that something's gonna happen with it this year, but I'm not a knock on wood kinda guy.

I'd rather get a new one in and not stress about it when/if something happens and try and make a rash decision to get hot water going again.

Any thoughts?

GrrlGoalie33 · 05-02-2007, 02:30 PM

Mine is 27 years old and we are just now replacing it. We haven't owned the house for quite that long though...

Slava · 05-02-2007, 02:44 PM

Can someone enlighten me on these tankless hot water heaters? I don't think I know what you're talking about, but they sound kind of interesting...

Titan · 05-02-2007, 02:49 PM

http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumb...nkless_hwh.htm

This link explains it well.

Flames_Gimp · 05-02-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

Can someone enlighten me on these tankless hot water heaters? I don't think I know what you're talking about, but they sound kind of interesting...

is a gas water heater that only kicks in when you turn on the hot water as opposed to a tank where its constantly heated.

Slava · 05-02-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumb...nkless_hwh.htm

This link explains it well.

Thanks.

CrusaderPi · 05-02-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [LEFT

Bobblehead[/LEFT];878506]So my hot water tank that was installed when the house was built in '87 is probably approaching the end of its life?

Yeah the one they installed in my house when they built it in '77 has been on life supports for a while now. Funny how the first thing we planned on replacing has been allowed to hang on for 5 years.