Yeah, gotta agree with you there—rust is usually the kiss of death. I've had a few heaters limp along past the 12-year mark, but honestly, once rust pops up, it's just a matter of time before you're dealing with leaks and bigger headaches. You might squeeze another year out if you're lucky, but personally I'd rather replace it on my schedule than wait for it to flood the basement at 2 AM... learned that lesson the hard way!
I see your point about rust being a serious red flag, but I'd suggest considering the environmental angle too. When my heater started showing rust spots around year 11, I initially thought replacement was inevitable. But after some research, I found that regular maintenance—like flushing sediment annually and replacing the anode rod—can extend heater life significantly. Mine lasted another three years without leaks. Eventually replaced it proactively with a tankless model... more efficient and less wasteful overall. Just something else to factor into your decision.
"Eventually replaced it proactively with a tankless model... more efficient and less wasteful overall."
That's a great point about the tankless option—I hadn't really considered the environmental angle before. As a first-time homeowner, I'm still figuring out what's worth repairing versus replacing. My water heater is around 9 years old and just started showing some minor rust spots. I've been debating whether to try maintenance or just bite the bullet and upgrade early.
Did you notice a significant difference in your energy bills after switching to tankless? I've heard mixed things about upfront costs versus long-term savings, so I'm curious if it's really worth the investment. Also, was installation complicated or pretty straightforward? I'm not exactly handy, so that's another factor weighing on my mind...
Tankless definitely has its perks, but honestly, at just 9 years old with minor rust, your current heater might still have some life left. I've seen plenty of heaters last 12-15 years with proper maintenance. Tankless units can save energy, sure, but the upfront cost and installation complexity (especially if you're not handy) can offset those savings for a while. Maybe get a pro to check it out first—could buy you a few more years before making the leap.
I'm kind of wondering though—is it really worth waiting until the heater completely gives out? Sure, it might last a few more years, but couldn't the rust issue mean it's already losing efficiency or causing water quality problems? Also, wouldn't replacing it before a total breakdown save you from an emergency situation later on...like a flooded basement on a weekend? Maybe getting ahead of it isn't such a bad idea, even with the upfront cost. Curious what others think about this.
