[VAL] Bill Jacobs re:water heater - tankless

["Tom" <thomm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bill,

Hooked up the new tankless water heater today, have it running at less than 
50% of "full speed" and the temp upstairs is almost 120 degrees F. 
Downstairs the dishwasher machine will do a fine job at that temp.  The 
whole house hot water is now almost 120 degrees F.

I'm SO GLAD ! that I took that old water heater out -- it was STILL full of 
water, some of it was rusty and I just emptied it the other day but it 
back-filled out of all the hot water faucets and baths.  What did I find 
underneath?  LOTS more water and stains on the linoleum floor -- this tank 
had been leaking for a while BUT I never knew it until the water came out 
from underneath where I could see it.

I would advise anyone to do this before you have an unpleasant surprise one 
day -- replace your water heater BEFORE it leaks on your floor and is able 
to cause untold thousands of dollars worth of damage.  That didn't happen to 
me -- I was lucky this time!

I really believe that water heaters should be viewed as needing replacement 
at the end of their warranted life if not just before.  ALL water tanks WILL 
eventually leak and THAT is the time that people usually end up replacing 
the tank AND any subsequent damage caused by all that water (which is why 
you end up replacing it!).  I will do this from now on as preventative 
maintenance.

Tom Meeker
WBCCI 5303