They don't make 'em like that anymore!

1983 was when they made some really great stuff. Like me!
 
Man, you youngins'.

Technically, if you use good rods in a WH and change them out on a regular basis (like every 4-5 years) you can make the tank last a looooong time.
Problem is, nobody ever remembers to do it, or the fittings get too rusted to pull em. Or the cheap ones aren't even really changeable.
 
Sometime back in January I ran across a Carrier gas furnace in an old house I was sent to do a duct cleaning on. When I opened the closet door and saw it I thought, "there's no way it still works". My coworker walked over and spun the thermostat dial and sure as shit, fired right up. I pulled the door off and saw the mfg model/serial number and called it in to find out it was made in 1968. Blew my mind.
 
VortecJeep said:
It's on a well, I'm curious if that is easier on the tank than city water.
Click to expand...

Always

Municipalities alter the PH so that the water scales their pipes. Scale=coating the inside of their aging bridle pipes helping prevent winter breaks

Scale is the #1 enemy of a heat exchanger
 
with good maintenance most will last incredibly long. Change out the anodes and drain them regularly. Unfortunately HWH are ususally stuck in a small space and are forgotten about until something goes wrong. I replaced one for a friend of mine that was 25+ years old they never did anything to it till the cold water input started leaking...
 
When mine quit working a couple months ago, I pulled the elements out. Our water is acidic and has high iron content, so I figured after 6 years they would be junk. Turns out the thermostsat was bad and the elements looked like this after being rinsed off:
20170625_223023.jpg
 
After the first one started leaking [it came with the house], once I had it out, I looked into getting the anode out. I had previously tried that before, but the access hole for it wasn't Enough access! I would had to cut a larger hole or remove the top cover. Trying to do an inspection once out, plus finding the leaking hole, I got the top off, & about 1/2 the outside wrap. The foam insulation, Glued Every thing together. I gave up going any farther; Too much effort! Never got the rod out either. The 11 yr old heater probably would have been easier, as it used a 2 ply mat, similar to fiberglass. But as I needed to return it, I didn't tear into it either. My New one has a nice hole in the top, with a rubber plug. I haven't pulled it yet, to see what material is under it.
 
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