21 year old Electric water heater

It is to me. I installed a new rheem gas water heater and it's rated at $236 a year. Perks of gas I guess.

 

Wish I had gas option.

 

The one that came with my house built in 2005 started leaking steam and hot water all over my garage a couple years ago. I had to replace it even though it was less than 10 years old.

This house has had so many problems. The first week we moved in after the house was built, we turned on the shower in the bathroom above the kitchen and it started dripping from the ceiling drywall and pouring from the pot lights. Turns out that someone nailed directly into the shower main. Glad the house had a warranty still. They had to replace the ceiling joists and the drywall from the water damage.

 

Propane is also an option.

 

Add propane

 

I'm in the same boat right now.


If I read the serial # right. Mine is about 50years old (20th week of 1967). Its been there for at least the past 22 years I've lived in this house and it just started to leak at the bottom.

I'm considering getting one of the tankless ones but don't know which brand to get. Ive looked at rinnai ($900) and rheem($1200) at Lowe's and Home depot. I can handle wiring and plumbing, its the exhaust issue that is my concern. I have a 5 year old condensing Goodman 95% HE furnace that is concentricly exhausted out the side of the house, right where I want to exhaust my heater. (I want to take the chimney off the house so I can put a new roof on).


I don't know if I could run both out of the same pipe or if I'd have to run a second exhaust.

(My furnace has the coils but no condenser for the a/c. It used to sit where the bird feeder is, but my dads furnace guy never put it in; but that is another story.)

 

Don't even think of rheem for tankless. Trust me, tankless are what I do for a living, go Rinnai and never look back.

 

Rinnai's customer service is amazing. No questions asked overnight parts shipped for stuff that's 10 years old.

 

That would be a lot more $, I have oil heat. I'm fine with electric, my bill is only $115-$130 a month.

 

I just preemptively replaced my electric heater as well with the same heater. Ive saved about $15-$20 a month so far. Old heater as working fine, but i knew it was a matter of time. I would have gone hybrid, but i have no drain, and dont want to pump outside with risk of freezing. Pondered adding propane, but it was just easier, out with the old, in with the new. We weren't sure how much longer we would be in this house.

 

Thanks for the info, looking forward to some savings. Looks like 3-4 years to get my money back then, while having more hot water.

 

My customers typically have a propane tankless pay for itself within 3 years here. That includes the w/h, gas line, install, and tank.

I've had most tell me that it paid for itself within 2 years and a few with in 1.

I've never had anyone call me up and tell me it took longer than 3 which I was I usually promise them.

Typical install runs someone about $2000-$3000 and that's on our secluded "island" town.
Not sure what lower 48 pricing runs.

 

That heater is far newer than 50 years old.

I'm certain you'd need to run a second intake and exhaust. I would be against code to join the two into one.

 

Its from 1985.

 

Thanks guys, still around 30 year old heater when they usually only last 8-12 years.

I live in NW Pennsylvania, anyone know how far away would I have to be from the furnace intake/exhaust?

 

Get a heater with a stainless steel tank, they usually have a lifetime warranty if they're stainless s.

I'd check with a plumber or your plumbing inspector for minimum spacing between power-vented units with intakes.

 

Rinnai all the way.... I threw out the "lectric" and went propane cuz...got no NG in the area...!! I'm saving $ every day..