I need Plumbing Help... Any plumbers out there?

[talmid chuchem]

In which city?

I'm in NY, but I assume it can be made anywhere in the continental USA, & shipped.

[ExGingi]

I have two 13 year old 50 gallon hot water heaters. One started leaking, so it needs to be replaced. Thankfully I have a second one, so I have hot water. I was never told about regular maintenance of annual draining and replacing anode rod. Now that one has gone, I asked the plumber to replace the anode rod. Plumber says that at this age it is better not to touch it, because just trying to remove the existing anode rod can cause everything to break.

Is he right? What is the best plan of action at this point?

[DealJew]

I have two 13 year old 50 gallon hot water heaters. One started leaking, so it needs to be replaced. Thankfully I have a second one, so I have hot water. I was never told about regular maintenance of annual draining and replacing anode rod. Now that one has gone, I asked the plumber to replace the anode rod. Plumber says that at this age it is better not to touch it, because just trying to remove the existing anode rod can cause everything to break.

Is he right? What is the best plan of action at this point?

Depending on the condition. 13 years is the average life span of a water heater

[skyguy918]

I have two 13 year old 50 gallon hot water heaters. One started leaking, so it needs to be replaced. Thankfully I have a second one, so I have hot water. I was never told about regular maintenance of annual draining and replacing anode rod. Now that one has gone, I asked the plumber to replace the anode rod. Plumber says that at this age it is better not to touch it, because just trying to remove the existing anode rod can cause everything to break.

Is he right? What is the best plan of action at this point?

Some relevant entries here:
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4463533&sid=6ed3bcc58daa38e990e38f46ac4d1b35#p4463533

I would think that beyond any possibility of making things worse, the damage is done already so to speak, so better to just wait for it to fail (especially for you with redundancy in place) and spend the money for a new one then.

[ExGingi]

Some relevant entries here:
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4463533&sid=6ed3bcc58daa38e990e38f46ac4d1b35#p4463533

I would think that beyond any possibility of making things worse, the damage is done already so to speak, so better to just wait for it to fail (especially for you with redundancy in place) and spend the money for a new one then.

This kind of concurs with what my plumber said.

My existing heaters are High Recovery versions. Plubmer is offering to replace the damaged one for a regular version for $1,650 or high recovery for $2,100 (including labor). Any thoughts?

[CountValentine]

Is he right? What is the best plan of action at this point?

After your post yesterday I was going to check my anode rod. Our resident neighborhood expert told me to leave it only.

[CountValentine]

My existing heaters are High Recovery versions. Plubmer is offering to replace the damaged one for a regular version for $1,650 or high recovery for $2,100 (including labor). Any thoughts?

Depends on the one you are getting. Regular version can mean a lot of things. A regular version with a 6-year or 10-year warranty? How many BTU's?

[ExGingi]

Depends on the one you are getting. Regular version can mean a lot of things. A regular version with a 6-year or 10-year warranty? How many BTU's?

Either way would get a 10 year warranty version. I think it's 50,000BTU for the high recovery vs 40,000BTU for the regular.

[CountValentine]

Either way would get a 10 year warranty version. I think it's 50,000BTU for the high recovery vs 40,000BTU for the regular.

40k/10 year should be around 700/800 for the tank.

[ExGingi]

40k/10 year should be around 700/800 for the tank.

+ same amount for labor to remove the old one and install the new one?

[CountValentine]

+ same amount for labor to remove the old one and install the new one?

Have no idea on labor. I do it myself.

[ExGingi]

Have no idea on labor. I do it myself.

Plumbing, including soldering, etc.? I don't even have all the necessary tools.

Do you have an assistant? I would guess one needs more than one pair of hands to do this.

Looks like the high recovery unit is about $1,250 for the tank.

[CountValentine]

Plumbing, including soldering, etc.? I don't even have all the necessary tools.

Do you have an assistant? I would guess one needs more than one pair of hands to do this.

Looks like the high recovery unit is about $1,250 for the tank.

Two people to carry in/out. Rest is a one-man job. Done several of them.

[ExGingi]

Two people to carry in/out. Rest is a one-man job. Done several of them.

When are you in Brooklyn next time?

[CountValentine]

When are you in Brooklyn next time?

NYC probably right before Christmas. That is 12/25 

[yitzgar]

Upstairs bathroom sink hot water just trickles, problem has been getting consistently worse. Other faucets in the house hot water is slightly lower pressure than cold, but nowhere near the difference as with this sink. (I recently changed the faucet if that makes any difference).

[CountValentine]

Maybe try turning off the hot shutoff and then back on?
If the lines off the faucet are copper any chance there is a kink?

[yesitsme]

[yesitsme]

NYC probably right before Christmas. That is 12/25 

Your shver is from crown heights?

[yesitsme]

Another reason to change it is to save on the water damage