Had a similar issue last spring and ended up swapping mine out for a tankless unit. Honestly, best decision I've made in a while. No more worrying about rust buildup or flushing tanks regularly. Plus, the energy savings are noticeable on my bills each month—good for the wallet and better for the planet. If replacement is on your radar anyway, might be worth checking out tankless options...
"Honestly, best decision I've made in a while. No more worrying about rust buildup or flushing tanks regularly."
Couldn't agree more—tankless units are a game changer. Installed plenty for customers who've never looked back. Initial cost might seem steep, but the long-term savings and convenience really pay off...
Tankless definitely has perks, but I'm still a bit hesitant about jumping on board. Had a friend who installed one last year, and while he loves the endless hot water, he mentioned some unexpected maintenance—like needing regular descaling if your water's hard. Plus, during power outages, you're pretty much stuck without hot water unless you've got backup power.
Personally, I went with a high-quality tank model that's well-insulated and corrosion-resistant. It's been reliable so far, and I don't mind flushing it occasionally to keep things safe and running smoothly. Tankless might be great for some folks, but it's worth considering your local water quality and reliability of electricity before making the switch...
You're spot-on about the water quality thing. I've got a couple rentals in an area with pretty hard water, and tankless units there have been a bit of a headache—constant descaling gets old fast. But in another property with softer water, it's been smooth sailing. Sounds like you made a solid choice going with a quality insulated tank model. Honestly, reliability and ease of maintenance are worth their weight in gold when you're dealing with tenants...or even just your own sanity.
Good points on the hard water issue. I've had similar experiences—tankless sounded fantastic on paper, but in reality, dealing with hard water buildup was a bigger hassle than expected.
What ended up working for me was installing a decent whole-house water softener upstream of the heater. Yeah, it's an upfront cost, but it dramatically reduced maintenance headaches. Haven't had to descale anything in over two years now, which is a huge relief.
But I agree that quality insulated tank models are underrated. They're straightforward and predictable. And honestly, when you're juggling multiple properties or just trying to keep your own place running smoothly, predictability is a lifesaver.
Out of curiosity though, have you ever tried those powered anode rods to prevent rust? I've heard mixed reviews—some swear by them and others say they're just not worth it. I'm considering giving one a shot in my next replacement cycle but still on the fence...
