topic Re: Water heater in Community Chat

Water heater

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:06:27 GMT

I noticed last night I had trouble getting hot water upstairs, which usually takes longer, but I never got hot water..even when I washed dishes yesterday, I had to microwave water for enough heat.

This is a battle with my husband, I want the water heater to put out hotter water, he does not. He said it is not recommended (says the manual) and will shorten the life of the heater. When it was installed years ago the service man would not increase the heat either!

This morning when I get in the shower, I will know if the water heater is at its end...the question is....can they be repaired or should we just buy new?

I have the manual for our exisitng waterheater, I need to see how old it is...it is old enough to not be under warranty.

Re: Water heater

SoCal Bred — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:24:19 GMT

I would call a local plumber to check out your water heater and determine what is needed.

Re: Water heater

Carolina925 — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:03:24 GMT

Might just need a new element. The problem with so many things now is that they're all made to be dispendable. It may be more cost effective, as well as more energy efficient, to just get a new one. I think the going price for a service call in my area is $200 now. I replaced a 3 year old dishwasher after paying $300 for each visit for two times when it stopped working right, I realized I just needed a replacement. Good luck. Cold showers aren't fun!

Re: Water heater

CelticCrafter — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:06:01 GMT

@Mom2Dogs they usually have to be replaced. How old is it, they don't last much past the original warranty.

Re: Water heater

SilleeMee — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:12:57 GMT

Very hot water can damage some appliances that use hot water like a clothes washer and some dishwashers that aren't designed for really hot water. I would take a temperature reading of the hot water coming out the tap and it shouldn't be hotter than 120'. If it is then turn it down.

If your hot water heater is around 10yo then consider replacing it. New water heaters are more efficient anyways and it will save you money in the long haul.

Re: Water heater

haddon9 — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:23:13 GMT

I can understand not wanting to take a cold or even lukewarm shower particularly as we are going into the cold weather!

My hot water heater had to be replaced two summers ago. We had replaced it only two years before and we suddenly had a flood in the basement. Called the plumber and the heater was under warrenty so we got a new one at no cost....but the labor wasn't under warrenty.

We had to pay almost a thousand for the labor! He was there for hours replacing and there was a lot of labor involved but it was very annoying having to pay for something that we shouldn't have had to do.

I would have your heater checked out before you get a flood which so many do when they fail.

Re: Water heater

Pecky — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:34:38 GMT

We had a flood in our basement because we waited too long. I suggest having a plumber come and check it out to avoid a disaster.

Re: Water heater

Snowpuppy — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:46:22 GMT

ITA with @SilleeMee to test the water temp coming from your faucets first.

What's the chances DH is turning down the temp to save himself a few bucks hoping you don't notice?

I'd hate to see you spend $$ on an unnecessary service call.

Re: Water heater

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:22:10 GMT

@SilleeMee Trust me the temp is not to hot....sometines I boil water when I have a lot of greasy, dirfty dishes to clean.

Originally the water heater was in my laundry room, and came home to a flood after being away for my mom's funeral..just what I needed.

We decided at that time to have the plumbing and the unit put in the garage, so if there is a flood, it will be in the garage, but so far no water.

I have called the plumber.

Re: Water heater

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:23:12 GMT

@Snowpuppy He would not do that..it is set were the installer put it years ago..he does not like hot water, like I do....

Re: Water heater

hopi — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:39:52 GMT

@Mom2Dogs 32 years in my home and on my 3 water heater. The life of these is about 10 years. If it can be fixed do it and then the next issue is leaking, water, gas or something else. That being said a cool shower or bath is not pleasant wiith this cold weather coming in. If you have the means probably needs to be replaced. Turning that notch up one should not ruin the heater.

Re: Water heater

We rescue cats — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:51:01 GMT

You are smart consumer-smarter than I! Replace it before another meltdown! LOL! We were not that smart, we knew it was coming because it was 20+ years old. Got up one morning and the basement level (where my office was located) was flooded. We now have it on the calendar to replace it, I think next year is the target!

Re: Water heater

SilleeMee — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:53:22 GMT

Some heaters are rated to last less than 10 years, most like 6 to 8 years. The lifespan rating varies and usually the longer it is the higher the price tag. If I had a heater that was close to or past the end of the lifespan rating, I would replace it just to avoid breaking down or flooding. I realize that it it's an investment but having to call a plumber for repairs on an old one can cost a lot, too. Plus if there is a flood...well you know.

Re: Water heater

Mary Bailey — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:07:10 GMT

Our water heaters usually last around 5 years. We're on year 3 with this one. We have a 40 gallon.

There is a knob or lever to switch it from very hot to hot or medium setting. You can do it.

When this one need to replace I want to get a tankless one. DH just roles his eyes. LOL. My BIL has a tankless water heater and likes it. They have a family of four.

Re: Water heater

SilleeMee — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:13:49 GMT

@Mary Bailey wrote:
Our water heaters usually last around 5 years. We're on year 3 with this one. We have a 40 gallon.

There is a knob or lever to switch it from very hot to hot or medium setting. You can do it.

When this one need to replace I want to get a tankless one. DH just roles his eyes. LOL. My BIL has a tankless water heater and likes it. They have a family of four.

@Mary Bailey

I looked into getting a tankless one but I would need an electrical box upgrade and a water-softener system installed. Hard water is a big no for tankless heaters and they require a huge upfront cost for intallation. Energy savings takes years to recoup and with the cost of electricity that could be a while.

Re: Water heater

gardenman — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:24:43 GMT

A properly installed water heater can be replaced in about an hour as long as the replacement is a similar size. I know because I've done it. It's not a horrible job. Flip the circuit breaker to the water heater. Shut off the water supply to the heater (typically a valve right above it.) Drain the water heater, and while draining, disconnect the wiring. Loosen the connections to the house water and haul out the old tank. Drop in the new one. Reconnect the water connections. Reinstall the wiring. Open the valves and reset the circuit breaker after you know the tank is now full. (An empty tank will burn out the electrodes in a flash.)

It's not a bad job. If the installer hard-plumbs it using rigid connectors instead of flexible connectors, it takes longer, but not a lot. I've probably done six or seven of them between my old house and my grandparents' houses. The flexible connectors simplify installation and removal a ton. They're like $20 each retail, but are well worth the money.

There are units now with a lifetime warranty that are nonmetallic and the tank should last forever. You might still need an occasional electrode or thermostat replaced, but very little chance of a flood with one of those. They are pricier, at $1500+ retail, and you need to be comfortable with a lot of hot water sitting in a plastic/resin/fiberglass container and any possible leaching of chemicals into the water. (Although most people don't drink hot tap water, so there's that.)

Re: Water heater

SilleeMee — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:33:54 GMT

@gardenman

When I got my last heater it took several hours to install. Same size tank but the new one has totally different exhaust and a 'pressure cooker' energy saver on top which was an additional complication for the install. It was not an easy job for the installer.

Re: Water heater

Mary Bailey — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:44:49 GMT

@SilleeMee

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Mary Bailey wrote:
Our water heaters usually last around 5 years. We're on year 3 with this one. We have a 40 gallon.

There is a knob or lever to switch it from very hot to hot or medium setting. You can do it.

When this one need to replace I want to get a tankless one. DH just roles his eyes. LOL. My BIL has a tankless water heater and likes it. They have a family of four.

@Mary Bailey
I looked into getting a tankless one but I would need an electrical box upgrade and a water-softener system installed. Hard water is a big no for tankless heaters and they require a huge upfront cost for intallation. Energy savings takes years to recoup and with the cost of electricity that could be a while.

Thanks for the info. I'll have to keep that in mind. BIL didn't mention that he needed any upgrades. We do have hard water. That's why our water heaters only last 5 years vs the manufacturer's life expectancy.

Re: Water heater

foxywoods — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:10:03 GMT

A side tank was needed after a having few years of tankless water heat. because the heated water is on demand, the water would take forever to heat up for a nice warm shower. and then a water conditioning system had to be added due to minerals from the well water. works ok now.

Re: Water heater

haddon9 — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:11:26 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@gardenman
When I got my last heater it took several hours to install. Same size tank but the new one has totally different exhaust and a 'pressure cooker' energy saver on top which was an additional complication for the install. It was not an easy job for the installer.

@SilleeMee Same here! As I mentioned up in this thread we had replaced the water heater at no cost because the unit was still under warranty but it took the plumber hours....good part of an afternoon to do the job. Plus it's a big unit and he had to bring the old one up out of the basement and the new downstairs. The labor is what cost us.