Good points overall, but just to play devil's advocate here:
- A pinhole leak doesn't always mean the entire tank's toast. Had one a couple years ago, sealed it up with JB Weld and it held fine until I eventually replaced it for other reasons.
- If budget's tight, patching could buy you some time—especially if it's just minor surface rust or condensation.
- Definitely agree on checking carefully though... nothing worse than patching something only to find another leak two weeks later.
"A pinhole leak doesn't always mean the entire tank's toast."
True, I've seen JB Weld hold up temporarily, but I'd be cautious. Usually, pinholes indicate corrosion from the inside out—meaning more leaks are likely on the way. If you're patching to buy time, keep a close eye on it. And definitely consider the age of the heater; anything over 10-12 years is probably nearing end-of-life anyway. Better safe than sorry with water damage...
Had a similar situation last year—tried patching it up, thinking I'd bought myself a few months at least. Nope. Two weeks later, another leak popped up. Like you said:
"Usually, pinholes indicate corrosion from the inside out."
Ended up replacing the whole thing just for peace of mind...
Been there myself—patching a water heater is usually just delaying the inevitable. Couple thoughts from experience:
- Pinholes mean the tank's integrity is compromised from the inside. Once you see one, there are probably more forming that you can't even spot yet.
- Patching might buy you a bit of time, but honestly, it's a gamble. You might get lucky for a few months, or you might wake up to a flooded basement next week.
- Replacing it outright is definitely the safer bet. I know it's a pain to shell out for a new unit when the old one still kinda works, but the peace of mind is worth it.
- Plus, newer models are usually more efficient, so you'll probably save a bit on your energy bills down the road.
I had a similar scenario two winters ago. Patched it once, thought I'd dodged a bullet, and then bam—another leak popped up at the worst possible time (middle of January, freezing cold basement, you get the picture...). Ended up biting the bullet and replacing the whole thing. Honestly, wish I'd done it sooner.
Anyway, sounds like you made the right call. Better to deal with it now than have it become an emergency later.
You're spot-on about the gamble. Had a similar issue last spring—tried patching, thought I'd save some cash... nope, ended up replacing anyway. Good call biting the bullet now, you'll thank yourself later.
