Hot Water Heater Redux
The hot water that was in my house when I bought it started to die back in March 2011. When I replaced it in April 2011 I was told that it would last about ten years. It died last night after 9 years and 4 months, so I should have taken the under.
Fortunately, I have a good plumber and they were able to get out today. A quick inspect showed that I could buy a new hot water heater for just under $1000 (including installation) or I could replace the broken parts for about $300 plus installation, but given the age of the hot water heater other parts might well break in the next year. Fortunately, I'm in a position to pay up front so I just went with the new hot water heater. If I own this house another fifty years and replace it five more times it might merit a LiveJournal tag just for hot water heaters!
This makes me uncomfortably aware that several of the other things I replaced in the house when I acquired it are now more than ten years old, including the fridge, the microwave and the dishwasher. I don't specifically remember a time frame being mentioned for any of those, but I have to assume they won't last forever. On the other hand, my circa mid 1980s washer and dryer continue to roll along. I was told by a repair guy not to replace those until I had no choice, because I'd never find ones that would last as long as them.
In any event, this was the first time that anybody was in my house besides M, Tulip and I since (checks notes) February? Granted, they were only in the basement and wore masks inside the house (as did we), but it still counts as inside the house. That's a six month or so streak broken.
Fortunately, I have a good plumber and they were able to get out today. A quick inspect showed that I could buy a new hot water heater for just under $1000 (including installation) or I could replace the broken parts for about $300 plus installation, but given the age of the hot water heater other parts might well break in the next year. Fortunately, I'm in a position to pay up front so I just went with the new hot water heater. If I own this house another fifty years and replace it five more times it might merit a LiveJournal tag just for hot water heaters!
This makes me uncomfortably aware that several of the other things I replaced in the house when I acquired it are now more than ten years old, including the fridge, the microwave and the dishwasher. I don't specifically remember a time frame being mentioned for any of those, but I have to assume they won't last forever. On the other hand, my circa mid 1980s washer and dryer continue to roll along. I was told by a repair guy not to replace those until I had no choice, because I'd never find ones that would last as long as them.
In any event, this was the first time that anybody was in my house besides M, Tulip and I since (checks notes) February? Granted, they were only in the basement and wore masks inside the house (as did we), but it still counts as inside the house. That's a six month or so streak broken.