Yeah, once rust starts eating away at the tank itself, you're pretty much on borrowed time. I've seen plenty of cases where folks try to squeeze extra life out of a rusty heater, and it almost always ends badly. Your story about the anode rod is spot-on—those rods are great for prevention, but once corrosion has set in deep, they're basically just delaying the inevitable.
About the energy savings though, I get your skepticism. Manufacturers love to hype up efficiency ratings, and sure, real-world savings might not match the marketing brochures exactly. But from what I've seen, newer models do tend to be noticeably better insulated and have improved burner designs. Even if your monthly bill doesn't drop dramatically, you'll probably see some modest improvement over time. Plus, newer tanks usually heat water quicker and maintain temperature more consistently, which is a nice bonus.
One thing I'd add is that newer heaters often come with better safety features too—like improved pressure relief valves and leak detection sensors. Those can save you from a nasty surprise down the road. And honestly, peace of mind alone is worth something. Nobody wants to wake up to a flooded basement or garage... been there, done that, not fun.
Bottom line: replacing it now is probably your best bet. Rusty tanks rarely get better on their own, and patching them up usually just kicks the can down the road a bit. Better to bite the bullet now than deal with a bigger headache later. Good luck with it—hopefully your next heater gives you fewer headaches!
Yeah, totally agree about the peace of mind factor. Had a rusty tank give out on me once—trust me, cleanup was no joke. Replacing sooner rather than later is definitely the smarter move here. Good luck with it!
Been there myself—nothing like waking up to a mini indoor lake to make you rethink your life choices, haha. Honestly, patching it up might buy you some time, but it's like putting a band-aid on a sinking boat. Replacing it now saves headaches later. Plus, think of the bragging rights when you DIY install a shiny new heater... instant home hero status. You've got this!
Been through this scenario a few times myself, and here's what I've learned:
- How old is your current heater? Usually, once they hit around 8-10 years, patching becomes less practical.
- Have you checked if the rust is just surface-level or deeper corrosion? Sometimes minor rust spots can be cleaned off and treated temporarily.
- DIY replacement is totally doable, but make sure your local code allows it. Had a tenant once who tried without checking—ended up costing more in fines than hiring a pro would've been...
- Also, consider tankless if you're replacing anyway; higher upfront cost but energy savings add up over time.
Good luck either way.
Good points, especially about checking local codes—learned that one the hard way myself. Tankless is nice, but honestly, if budget's tight, a decent mid-range tank heater still does the job just fine...and leaves cash for pizza afterward.
