Honestly, I get why you'd want to jump straight to replacing it after that experience, but sometimes rust isn't always a death sentence for a water heater. Had a similar issue myself about two years ago—noticed some rust spots and minor leaking. Instead of immediately replacing it, I drained the tank completely, flushed out all the sediment (there was a ton), and replaced the anode rod. Surprisingly, that bought me another solid year and a half before I finally had to bite the bullet and replace it.
Not saying your approach wasn't valid—especially if your tank was already compromised—but sometimes a thorough flush and anode replacement can extend its life significantly. Also, about the water softener... they're great for reducing scale buildup, but keep in mind they can speed up anode rod corrosion too. Just something to consider if you're going down that route.
Had a similar experience myself—did the flush and anode replacement trick, and it bought me some extra time too. But honestly, once rust starts showing up, isn't it usually just delaying the inevitable? Curious if anyone's had long-term success with repairs alone...
I'm with you—did the flush and anode swap myself, and it worked...for a while. But honestly, it's like putting duct tape on a sinking boat. Anyone here actually beat the rust long-term, or am I dreaming?
Had the same issue a couple years back—did the flush, swapped the anode, even tried some fancy rust inhibitor stuff. Worked great...for about six months. Eventually bit the bullet and replaced the whole heater. Honestly, haven't seen rust since. Makes me wonder if anyone's ever truly won the rust battle long-term without just replacing the whole thing?
Once rust sets in, it's usually a losing battle. Temporary fixes like flushing or anode swaps can buy you some time, but they're rarely permanent solutions. Rust inside the tank means corrosion has already started weakening the metal—eventually, leaks become a real risk. Personally, I'd rather replace early than deal with potential flooding or water damage later on. Better safe than sorry...
