Water Heater Question

[msd58]

My water heater outer casing is severly rusted at the bottom. I mean like its crumbling. Although I will say the water is alway very hot. Do I need to replace this? Its about 15 years old.

 

[QC]

Re: Water Heater Question

Moving to non-boating tech. This may be in your boat, but we'll get you more action over there . . .

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Water Heater Question

Fifteen years is about the expected and safe service life of a water heater.
Unless it is in a damp location, the rusting-out at the bottom may indicate leakage already.
They can fail catastrophically and cause a lot of water damage.
My advice would be to change it out soon.

 

[msd58]

Re: Water Heater Question

Oh yea its in damp spot alright

 

[rbh]

Re: Water Heater Question

you may want to get a dehumidifier, and dry out the area in question. If this is your basement, not only will you dry it out but the decay on the framing, foundation, electrical, plumbing etc will slow down or stop.
rob

 

[msd58]

Re: Water Heater Question

NOTE: this is a 6 gallon marine water heater mounted in the bilge area of a boat. Perhaps its was made by Attwood I am not sure.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Water Heater Question

Well, now that we've figured out what it is and where it is, I can tell you the actual water tank is more than likely aluminum. But they can also rot out,but I guess since it only holds 10 gal at most it can't do much damage in a boat bilge.
Mike

 

[msd58]

Re: Water Heater Question

Its a 6 gallon tank. Works great right now -always has. Water is almost scolding hot. Just wondering if its just gonna crap out one day without warning.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Water Heater Question

Its a 6 gallon tank. Works great right now -always has. Water is almost scolding hot. Just wondering if its just gonna crap out one day without warning.

Yep! Most likely!

 

[jackangel]

Re: Water Heater Question

Yep! Most likely!

on a day when you need it the most, and as far from a new one as possiable

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Water Heater Question

At my uncles cabin we had an OLD electric water heater. It was located underneath the cabin which was basically outside. It was dented, rusted all over, and generally looked like something that had fallen off a truck into a garbage dump 50 years ago. And the darn thing still worked great. So basically outward appearance my not have too much effect on the inner workings.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Water Heater Question

NOTE: this is a 6 gallon marine water heater mounted in the bilge area of a boat. Perhaps its was made by Attwood I am not sure.

That would have been a useful bit of information....

I am not familiar enough with marine water heaters to know whether they share most properties with their domestic cousins.
My earlier comments about life span etc. may well be inaccurate.

 

[rbh]

Re: Water Heater Question

I will follow suite on this one.
rob

 

[msd58]

Re: Water Heater Question

with all that being said what's the typical life expectancy some one said 15 years?

 

[aspeck]

Re: Water Heater Question

I am NOT an expert on marine water heaters, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once ...

With that said, most of the marine domestic hot water heaters I have seen really vary as to the amount of use they recieve. I have some friends with 20 year heaters still going strong, but they use them very little. Have had some that lasted about 5 years - used hard on a daily basis almost all year round.

With that said, based on the outward condition, I would replace it when I could afford to replace it. There is one thing I know about appliances, they will break at the most inconvenient time. A new one should not cost you too much cash and it should be a pretty easy R&R. Good luck with it!