I've got an AO Smith water heater that's about 20 years old, which I know is well past its prime. Lately, I've noticed that the drip pan fills up, and a plumber mentioned that the interior tank might be cracked and recommended a replacement. It seems to have stopped leaking for now, but the Home Depot guy suggested that the relief valve could have tripped. I'm hesitant to spend money on a new unit if the old one is still functioning. What do you all think?
4 Answers
Yeah, I'd say it's definitely time for a new one. At this point, it's like playing with fire. Plus, if you're thinking of tankless, now's the perfect opportunity to upgrade! Just make sure you steer clear of Rheem models if you've had friends who've had issues.
Honestly, it's probably time to get a new water heater before it really fails and you end up with a flooded basement. I'd consider switching to a heat pump water heater if you can, but definitely replace it soon since 20 years is a long life for these things!
Replacing it might give you peace of mind. Plus, if you’re running out of hot water with a 50-gallon tank, a tankless might be the way to go!
That’s a tough spot. My AO Smith lasted 12 years before it gave out, and trust me, you don’t want to wait until you're out of hot water. A new one might be pricey, but it's better than dealing with leaks or worse!
Thanks for sharing! It's good to know I'm not the only one who's faced this problem. Think I might start looking into replacements soon.