Yeah, rust patches are tricky—especially when you're dealing with something as critical as a water heater. I've found that corrosion usually means there's deeper structural weakness you can't fully see. From a safety standpoint, I'd be pretty cautious about relying on temporary fixes. Plus, newer models are often more energy-efficient, so replacing sooner might actually save money (and headaches) in the long run. Sounds like your advice was spot-on.
"I've found that corrosion usually means there's deeper structural weakness you can't fully see."
Yeah, that's exactly the tricky part. Even if you manage to patch up the visible rust, how confident can you really be about what's happening inside the tank walls? I've seen cases where a heater looked decent on the outside but was pretty much toast internally. Have you checked if your anode rod is still intact? Sometimes replacing that early enough can slow down corrosion significantly... might buy you some extra time if budget's tight.
Had a similar issue a couple years back—thought I'd caught it early enough, replaced the anode rod, flushed the tank, the whole nine yards. But honestly, once rust starts showing up, it's usually a sign the tank's days are numbered. You might squeeze another year or two out of it, but personally, I'd start budgeting for a replacement sooner rather than later. Have you noticed any weird noises or temperature fluctuations yet? Those were my first clues something was seriously off...
Had rust creeping into mine last year and figured it was time to go tankless—honestly, best decision ever. No more rusty surprises or weird rumbling noises in the basement. Plus, the eco-geek in me loves the lower energy bills. Have you considered tankless at all, or are you set on sticking with a traditional tank?
"Had rust creeping into mine last year and figured it was time to go tankless—honestly, best decision ever."
Interesting take. I've installed and serviced both tankless and traditional heaters over the years, and honestly, I've seen mixed results. Tankless can be great—especially if you're tight on space or really into the energy-saving angle—but they're not always the perfect solution for everyone. Had a customer last winter who switched to tankless and ended up frustrated because their water pressure wasn't consistent enough to trigger the heater reliably. Took a few visits and some tweaking to get it right.
Personally, I'm still running a traditional tank at home. It's older, sure, but with regular maintenance (flushing it out once a year, checking the anode rod), it's been pretty reliable. I guess my question would be: have you noticed any issues with water pressure or temperature fluctuations since going tankless? Curious how it's holding up long-term...
