It's the opposite in the winter depending on geography. Depending on access to the attic, it makes monitoring for leaks/failures a little more difficult.
Water Heater Drain Pan Drain completely cloged
- Thread starter Fried Chicken
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
It's the opposite in the winter depending on geography. Depending on access to the attic, it makes monitoring for leaks/failures a little more difficult.
True, In Ohio an uninsulated water heater in an uninsulated attic would a popsicle in winter.... All mine have failed by leaking, I'd rather have them do that in the basement then in the attic.
Fried Chicken
ArboristSite Member
The water heater currently in the attic truly is a 10-year maintenance free unit. I really believe water heaters have finally been perfected... just in time for everyone to decide they want to go with totally new bluetooth wifi "smart" tankless water heaters lol.
When I checked the anode after about 3 or 4 years it still had 70% life left in it as it came with some "long life anode" and like I said, completely sediment free. You can quickly tell if a water heater is leaking by checking the outside drain. If water is coming out, it's leaking.
Yeah winter doesn't exist here. The attic is as a rule almost always warmer than the house.
I don't know that such a thing as an uninsulated water heater exists
I didn't know there was such a thing as a "maintenence free" water heater. It would've been nice to know when I had to replace mine a couple years ago. If water heaters were perfected, there'd be no reason to replace them.
Tankless just saves space.
Once again, why did you need to check the anode or check the outside drain for leaks if it is maintenance free?
By outside drain, are you referring to the TPRV? Depending on the attic access, it's more difficult to check for leaks. A failing TPRV is often undetectable without feeling for moisture (other than one that has already failed due to visible leaks).
My water heater was leaking at the base and not the drain or TPRV.
That's why I mentioned depending on geography. My attic gets colder during the winter than the inside of the house (thankfully).
I think he meant insulated wrap. I have inspected many homes with additionally insulation around the water heater. This is most common in an unfinished basement and some mobile/modular homes. A tankless water heater is generally also uninsulated except around the heating elements/burners inside the unit.
Fried Chicken
ArboristSite Member
re @Section VIII
I wasn't quoting marketing, I was looking at the thing and determined that it is indeed "maintenance free".
I did the anode b/c I wasn't sure the age of the unit or the last time the anode had been replaced, and when I opened it, determined it still had 70% life left. I should have just put the anode back in, but figured I'd install a new one anyway.
I wasn't quoting marketing, I was looking at the thing and determined that it is indeed "maintenance free".
I did the anode b/c I wasn't sure the age of the unit or the last time the anode had been replaced, and when I opened it, determined it still had 70% life left. I should have just put the anode back in, but figured I'd install a new one anyway.
Fried Chicken
ArboristSite Member
What maintenance would I need to do?
It's self-desedimenting, the "extended life" anode lasts 10 years afaik... what does the water heater want for maintenance?
Well, I'm almost as emotionally exhausted reading this thread as I was waiting for the election results.
I was trying to help you figure out the age of your water heater. See your post below:
Fried Chicken
ArboristSite Member
Oh I gotcha. Appreciate it!
I figured out it was manufactured in 2019 according to the sticker, so in and around that time it would have been installed presumably. The other unit has a manufacturing date of like 2014 or something and was full of sediment. It does not have the magic de-sedimenting technology.
