Buy or Rent Water Heater?
- Thread starter Brookstone
- Start date
You're talking about them sacrificial anode Tiny. It corrodes 'so others don't have to'. This Old House and other DiY sites can help with how-tos. It's not meant to be a hard task, plumbers' jobs are tough enough. But you'll have to look at it now and then to see how much is left. You'll have time, eating a hot water tank is a slow business.
Nice work, I thought someone would have the answer! Sometimes the knowledge on this forum really impresses me (and some other times the ignorance has me laughing or shaking my head)
Keep helping me save money at home, and I'll have more to spend at the massage spa
Reliance keeps showing me what a bunch of idiots/crooks they are. I had a situation with their home security trying to rip me off due to moving. Now this. I sent in my move request Aug 17. Email says someone will contact me in 3 days. Just realized this weekend no one did. Called them this morning and guy says they did receive and I will be getting a final bill through email. Also emailed them over the weekend and now I get a reply back saying it has Not been processed. What a joke
Seems the waterless tank is the best choice? Think I will need 60gal. I would go with home depot just because I do not want to deal with Reliance at all.
Does it matter what brand? GE , and I also see Rheem a lot. I see 6,9 and 12 year warranties. That seems pretty good no, even at 6 years
Seems the waterless tank is the best choice? Think I will need 60gal. I would go with home depot just because I do not want to deal with Reliance at all.
Does it matter what brand? GE , and I also see Rheem a lot. I see 6,9 and 12 year warranties. That seems pretty good no, even at 6 years
The tank-less units are also fairly exotic. Always go with the tried and true models that you can easily find replacement parts at Home Depot.
I rent. They service and fix it if needed.
How much money are you really going to save over 15 years assuming there are no issues for which you have to pay for service? $1000? That's pennies in the scheme of things and isn't going to make or break you.
How much money are you really going to save over 15 years assuming there are no issues for which you have to pay for service? $1000? That's pennies in the scheme of things and isn't going to make or break you.
I moved into my house in 2001 (new) and have rented my hwt from day one. In 2007 I was having a no hot water issue. Apparently the dip tube (tube that sends incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank away from the hot outlet pipe beside it) broke so basically the hot pipe was just drawing the cold water being feed inside. Anyway it's non repairable Direct Energy replaced the tank with a brand new one.
This past winter I had another no hot water issue. Called Direct Energy to fix their tank and to my pleasant suprise a guy in my area was at my house in one hour. This time it was a problem with the electronic gas control valve. The brain box that you set the temp with and controls electronic ignition. He replaced the entire gas valve assembly with a new one which again took him around an hour.
Even with these two service calls (one being a tank replacement) I'm sure Direct Energy is still ahread of the game but the less than a buck a day I pay to rent it is worth it to me for the convenience of making one call and telling them to come fix their tank.
This past winter I had another no hot water issue. Called Direct Energy to fix their tank and to my pleasant suprise a guy in my area was at my house in one hour. This time it was a problem with the electronic gas control valve. The brain box that you set the temp with and controls electronic ignition. He replaced the entire gas valve assembly with a new one which again took him around an hour.
Even with these two service calls (one being a tank replacement) I'm sure Direct Energy is still ahread of the game but the less than a buck a day I pay to rent it is worth it to me for the convenience of making one call and telling them to come fix their tank.
Buy.
Especially if it's just the old conventional gas hot water tank type. (They are a joy. No complicated anything, no blower making a ton of noise.)
They are very reliable and easy to fix if they break.
Renting - you are just a victim.
Especially if it's just the old conventional gas hot water tank type. (They are a joy. No complicated anything, no blower making a ton of noise.)
They are very reliable and easy to fix if they break.
Renting - you are just a victim.
I've paid out for the cost of the tank and one repair in 7 years $1050 total.
7years times 30 bucks a month is $2520.
Now double that again. Its worth it. A repair guy for a rental isn't going to get out to your place any faster than a repair guy on the clock.
For $3000 is savings it adds up.
If these guys are now charging $30.00 per month, it's criminal. If you can own your own rank for $1,000.00 over 7 years, and they take in $2,520.00, I'd say the conversation is settled. Not to mention that the monthly rate will increase on a regular basis. I'm sure glad that I made the switch!
The consumer has a choice, he can pay all up front labor and tank or he can pay a little every month. In the long run rental will cost more than the price of the tank and installation. I have a tank in a rental property that is 14 years old and still going. If I were to rent one today and pay for $30 x 12 months x 14 years = $5040. If I buy one today it would cost me ( electric ) $450 - 600. I can put it in myself . I installed one a few months ago. To minimize the work, buy the exact same replacement tank. The water heater rental companies would not be in business if it was not profitable for them. They have a recurring revenue in each customer and they amortize the risk over many customers if there is a repair needed on a water heater.
I was told by a plumber that the difference between the electric water heaters that have a 6 - 8 - 10 year warranty is that there is a better sacrificial rod inside the more expensive tanks to minimize the electrolysis that takes place in the tank and rusts it out. So if you buy a water heater with a 6 year warranty, it should last a minimum of 6 years and maybe 10 or 12 because in Canada we do not have a hard water problem that speeds up water heater rusting. If you were to change only the sacrificial rod after 8 - 10 years your tank should last 20 years. Some will last that long even without changing of the sacrificial rod.
I was told by a plumber that the difference between the electric water heaters that have a 6 - 8 - 10 year warranty is that there is a better sacrificial rod inside the more expensive tanks to minimize the electrolysis that takes place in the tank and rusts it out. So if you buy a water heater with a 6 year warranty, it should last a minimum of 6 years and maybe 10 or 12 because in Canada we do not have a hard water problem that speeds up water heater rusting. If you were to change only the sacrificial rod after 8 - 10 years your tank should last 20 years. Some will last that long even without changing of the sacrificial rod.
Hard water retards rusting instead of speeding it up. Living on the escarpment water is as hard as it comes.
Hey, you go argue with Alphonso and risk getting wacked in the crotch with a pipe wrench.
I hope you are not offended but I prefer plumbing advice from a plumber, if I want advice on open faced herring sandwiches I will call you.
Hard water does not retard rusting of your water heater. Hard water contain iron. Iron deposits rust, which causes a catalytic reaction for the metals in the water heater to rust and deteriorate.
I pay 13 bucks a month for 60 gallon electric. i rent so i don't need to think about it. if there's a leak, they send 3 guys who replace it, and take the old one away. my wife can call them. one less thing for me to worry about. if i could rent my fridge, i would do that too. nothing up front, no worries.
Thanks to all, very informative. I am definitely leaning towards buying. But I will have to wait til I move iin so I can get them to come take a look and be sure what I need etc. Probably going with home depot.
Question. Found the current owner is with National Home services. I think that is the one that goes door to door or specifically new owners and lie, mislead to steal customers.
I find it weird as new owner you just take over whichever the previous owner is with. I would rather not ddeal with them at all. Is this possible? Can/should I just buy the current one or better to go with new?
Question. Found the current owner is with National Home services. I think that is the one that goes door to door or specifically new owners and lie, mislead to steal customers.
I find it weird as new owner you just take over whichever the previous owner is with. I would rather not ddeal with them at all. Is this possible? Can/should I just buy the current one or better to go with new?
Maybe, but buying a natural gas one would save you more in energy costs and save you money that way.
Electric water heaters with big tanks are expensive.
I would only buy the current one if it's fairly new and a discount price. Otherwise buy a new one. It comes with warranty.
