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| Joined: | Sat Sep 11th, 2004 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 2116 |
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What I always tell everybody who asks this question is, go to The Basics section, click on Know-How, and do the external inspection. If that looks good, pull the anode. If there is still some metal left on it, then putting in a new anode and possibly a flush kit could give the heater many more years of service.
There are reasons why you might consider that. You might get 50 percent off the heater, but you're not going to get 50 percent off the installation cost (unless you do it yourself), so it could cost you a lot more up front than what you'll save in energy costs for a long time.
Also heaters of this decade have had a lot of problems with FVIR systems. The Tank is full of posts from people talking about that. There is evidence the makers are starting to engineer past these problems, though, so that may clear up. Bradford White has a good system, but they're only sold through plumbers.
If you do decide to buy new, then read the rest of The Basics so you can make an informed choice and know how to service the next heater so that it can become the last you ever buy. My own has been serviced regularly and is not 29 years old. How bout that?
Randy Schuyler