If you’re already seeing rust, that’s a warning sign.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve replaced too many tanks after folks ignored the rust. One guy waited until his tank literally split—water everywhere, ruined drywall, total mess. Upfront cost hurts, but cleanup costs more.
Had a customer last winter who thought he could just slap some sealant over the rusty patch on his heater and call it a day. The thing limped along for about a month, then gave up in the middle of a snowstorm. Not only did he lose hot water, but the leak soaked his basement carpet and they had to bring in fans for days. I get it, nobody wants to shell out for a new tank if they don’t have to, but rust is basically your water heater’s way of waving a white flag.
I will add, though—sometimes folks mistake surface rust for something more serious. If it’s just on the outside and the tank isn’t old, it *might* be from condensation or a leaky valve above dripping down. I’ve seen people replace perfectly good heaters just because of a bit of cosmetic rust. But if you’re seeing rust around the fittings on top, or worse, coming out with the water itself? That’s when you’re playing with fire (well, water, but you get what I mean).
Curious—has anyone here tried those so-called “rust converter” sprays or epoxy patches on a tank? I’ve never seen them hold up long-term, but maybe I’m missing something. Or is it just wishful thinking to avoid replacement?
- Tried a rust converter once—looked fine for about two weeks, then the patch started weeping again. Not worth it if you ask me.
- Epoxy patches are just a band-aid. If the tank’s already rusting through, it’s probably toast.
- I get not wanting to toss something that still works, but water heaters aren’t exactly eco-friendly when they leak all over and waste energy.
- Has anyone here gone with a tankless system after their old one rusted out? Wondering if it’s actually more efficient in real-world use or just marketing hype...
Epoxy patches are just a band-aid. If the tank’s already rusting through, it’s probably toast.
Yeah, I tried the “band-aid” route once—ended up with a puddle and a grumpy spouse. Tankless sounds tempting, but I’ve heard mixed things about the hot water “lag” and installation costs. Anyone actually regret switching, or is it mostly smooth sailing after the jump?
Had the same debate last year. My old tank was leaking, tried patching, but it just kept getting worse. Switched to tankless—yeah, there’s a bit of a wait for hot water at the tap, but honestly, it’s not a dealbreaker. Install cost was higher than a regular tank, but I haven’t looked back. No regrets here, just wish I’d done it before the basement got soaked.
