School me on water heaters.

[ray1970]

Water heaters are super easy if you can deal with the copper pipe work that is usually involved. Woke up to ours leaking years ago. Called into work, went and picked up a replacement unit and swapped it out and went in to work around noon.

I think our old one was a 45 gallon and when I replaced it I went to a 55 gallon and it was amazing how much longer you could take a hot shower before the water got cold. I had plenty of space to go bigger. Your mileage may vary.

Good luck.

[Irving]

Earlier this year I flushed mine for the first time in about five years. I planned on doing it every six months, but it never happened. I had a difficult time getting it to drain consistently, and I didn't really notice any heavy sediment coming out, but I felt like I really noticed a difference in how long we could take hot showers.

[Wulf202]

Water heaters are super easy if you can deal with the copper pipe work that is usually involved. Woke up to ours leaking years ago. Called into work, went and picked up a replacement unit and swapped it out and went in to work around noon.

I think our old one was a 45 gallon and when I replaced it I went to a 55 gallon and it was amazing how much longer you could take a hot shower before the water got cold. I had plenty of space to go bigger. Your mileage may vary.

Good luck.

This could have also been a deteriorating dip tube. If you ever suddenly have 5 minutes maximum of hot water and your water heater is working otherwise you can bet it broke off most of the way up. They cost about 12$

[ChadAmberg]

So my current house was plumbed in an interesting way, half the house is hooked up to the water heater in the normal way. However, the feed that handles one small bathroom and out to the garage is hooked up to the flush drain spout at the bottom. I guess I'm just always making sure there's no sediment!

[whitewalrus]

So, the water heater in my house was installed around 1997 or so, and it's been slowly but surely getting worse at staying hot over the years, and I think it's time for a new one.

I know basically zero about these things, and would appreciate any recommendations on brands for natural gas water heaters.

I'm fairly certain I want to stick with a 40 or 50 gallon tank-based water heater, as the tankless models all seem to be quite expensive and would require professional installation.

If anyone has recommendations on which brands to buy, or which to avoid, that would be great. Also, is this something I can do myself as a weekend project?

Thanks!

Yes you can do it yourself, its easiest if you are replacing like size (external measurements). In COS, you should get a permit if you do it yourself.

[MrPrena]

Picking a right water heater+pickup+hauling it to basement+Installation was much easier than trying to find out how to get a permit.

Water heater should not even require a permit.

eta: I bought one with closest size to what I originally had. I had to go with 40gallon version. It actually heats up faster and don't need to wait longer due to higher btu.
Mine was Lowes version of the AO Smith power vent.

[eddiememphis]

Depending on your budget, the size of the system and how long you intend to live there, a tankless system may save you money long term.

It is more expensive to purchase and have installed. It will last through 3 or 4 standard water heaters. It only runs when it is in use, unlike a big tank that is always trying to maintain a high temperature.

I regret not getting one sooner.

As an aside, I have heard through somewhat trustworthy sources that the manufacturers, in trying to comply with the 2015 regulations and I think 2008 or so, have used thinner gauge metal for the tanks. Instead of lasting ten years or longer, there have been a lot more failures at the 5-8 year range. Totally anecdotal and I don't find any evidence to support it, only tales from the trades.

[Gman]

I think the long-term viability of tankless has a lot do do with the mineral content of your water.

[eddiememphis]

I think the long-term viability of tankless has a lot do do with the mineral content of your water.

Holds true for all water systems. Where tankless systems blow tanks out of the water, so to speak, is that there is seldom standing water and to a much lesser volume. Tankless systems need flushing once a year. It's a bigger pain than changing your anode rod but no one ever does that either.

If you have a whole house filter system, it's possible for either system to outlive the owner.

[Skywalker]

Just wanted to put this out there. I like these guys and bought my last water heater here. Nice place with plenty of knowledge and selection. https://www.rampartsupply.com/heatin...storage-tanks/