RIP My First American Water Heater (2001-2023)

RIP to my water heater (2001-2023). Thank you in advance for your condolences.
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[@AllFirstHand]

Two words, "anode rod". The inexpensive secret thing you replace that can vastly extend the life of your tank.

[@skidmark316]

Also, if you set the water temp back quite a bit, it will last much longer. Unless you have a need for scalding hot water, back off the target water temperature.

[@RobinBaich]

I read about replacing the anode rod years ago but forgot about it until now. Thanks for the reminder!

[@patmac47]

That is a gas water heater so an anode rod replacement wouldn't have done much good since it doesn't have one. Edit: I am wrong, they all have them and I was thinking of the elements.

[@blackmetalpaganbushcraft9542]

​@patmac47 i was looking for this comment before I posted and here it is :)

[@dru2506]

​@@patmac47But they do have them?

[@karlmann2047]

Had ours go out recently. A little tip: if the plumbing company did not put their name on the water heater, tape their card to the side, and also the date it was installed. It took us some time to find the name of the company that installed our water heater and then we found out that it was still within the five year warranty.

[@mjlvnv]

Great advice 😀

[@MERollered]

This is brilliant. I have it in the "emergency binder" which is a list of all contact numbers and providers of our house, dmv, creditors, state stuff, pictures of our family in photo, and their medical information. I have a pocket folder with cards of people who've installed appliances and our fence and while I hate to drag it out I always forget where I put that damn number years down the line

[@karenstein8261]

22 years? You're doing pretty good. My last heater lasted five years; the replacement is at seven and going strong.

[@samanthab1923]

Was told my last one was only 7. Have lots of Lime in my well water. Reason I’m always replacing them.

[@whitediggity]

Mine was installed in 1995 and going strong. Probably should replace the anode rod though.

[@authenticpoppy]

​@@whitediggity Ours was installed in 1996. We lost it this year. They can last a long time.

[@TheStitchingSpinster]

13 years. 4 water heaters. All corroded. Well water is Satan’s Champagne.

[@ShastaOrange]

You need to drain it once a year to let out the sediment build-up. Otherwise it just keeps building up until it fills the tank, and your water heater stops working. If you buy a good model in the first place (this is important), and maintain it, you can get 30 years out of it.

[@cwolfpack3]

I love how the house is becoming one of the characters in your stories, Lawrence. You have a gift of bringing all these things to life through your storytelling.

[@ScotttheCyborg]

And it doesn't seem to be a complete money pit. Many of the issues come from simply being different than how he was raised.

[@Rocket_Man232]

🔔 FUN FRAKKIN' FAKE FACT: A new Netflix Series was in development but it ran into some legal issues, it was called "House"... 😁

[@EricMcLuen]

As my dad said - Never start a home project you won't finish before the hardware store closes.

[@carladelagnomes]

And expect at least four trips to the hardware store per each project. :D

[@crusinscamp]

A wise man. If I can plan it, it starts early Saturday morning.

[@theboyisnotright6312]

Wise man😂😂😂. For sure, you WILL be going to the hardware store

[@Torrentialdownpurr]

Great advice lol!

[@suem6004]

As a basement flood veteran here are some tips. Put a water catch tray under water heater. No carpeting in basements. Tile floors. All crap gets stored in plastic totes and off the ground like on wire shelving. Invest in a wet/dry vac 5 gallon. The vacuum will suck up water magically. You cleaned your carpets. Those carpets will mold and mildew. Textiles never survive floods. You will regret not pitching the carpets. Simply not worth it. Insurance rarely pays for basement floods. Check your policy and maybe add. Sorry about all the problems.

[@MsRedsphere]

I'm not sure why plumbers do not recommend the tray under the heater when installing- I had to request one. It seems it would help with smaller leaks but, not a full bottom blow out.

[@janethernandez724]

Excellent tips. we'll keep that in mind, especially flood insurance policy.

[@jadeh2699]

Exactly! I was shocked to see things sitting directly on the basement floor. Poor Lawrence, nobody warned him.

[@mercster]

Yeah I commented... why is he cleaning a waterlogged rug. No point putting soapy water in the machine... he needs to vac the liquid first and set up some huge fans to dry it first and, yeah... just rip out that carpet, it's done for. I'm not even much of a handy guy myself, but when *my* alarm bells are going off, something's wrong. 😂

[@cindyknudson2715]

They never tell you that you are supposed to flush out your hot water heater once or twice a year to minimize hard water scale build-up inside. There is a hose hookup near the bottom of the tank. It helps if the tank is raised a bit from the floor to facilitate this maintenance that can prolong the life and efficiency of the unit.

[@jeannie457]

I am glad you didn’t just throw that notebook away. I was a public librarian for 25 years, so I know a little bit about how to deal with wet books. If you want to dry it correctly, what we are taught in the library school is to wrap it in butcher paper and put it in your freezer, for about two months. Some miraculous way the freezer dries out the book. I didn’t believe it when I first heard it, but I have done it and it does work. Thanks for your videos, they always give me a chuckle.

[@privatelyprivate3285]

Wow! Thx for that! I remember googling this very issue and even in the current “life hack” frenzy, I never came upon THIS gem!

[@johnhaller5851]

It’s the self-defrost feature. Ice builds up on the coils, so once or twice a day, turns on a heater and melts the ice on the coil, which drips to a pan at the bottom of the refrigerator. It also blows warm air through the freezer, which melts all the ice cubes in the ice dispenser together. In general, ice in the freezer slowly sublimes, where ice turns directly to water vapor, which then deposits on the evaporator coil, necessitating another defrost cycle. Dedicated freezers can be bought without a self-defrost cycle. They don’t dry out the food as much, but have to be manually defrosted periodically. But, those dedicated freezers won’t dry out your book, at least not quickly. These freezers are usually chest freezers to prevent warm, humid air from entering the freezer, as cold air drops, and is trapped in the freezer. Some water vapor will still enter while the door is open, but not as much as in an upright.

[@aaronpalmer7425]

It freeze dried your books, freezer burn is that process on meat

[@robertsitch1415]

​@johnhaller5851, it seems that it was around year 2000 that the majority of manufacturers started designing the majority of upright and fridge freezer combo units with auto defrost.

[@poolhall9632]

Sorry mate! But at least it happened now and not mid-winter. Best of luck! Your notes were “lost in the pond” 😅

[@coreyg2177]

Congratulations! Welcome to home-ownership. It’s a wonderful club that you’ve joined. In the past 6 months of living in our new home I’ve replaced the water heater, the fridge, and the dishwasher twice! I’ve had to sit down with the rest of my major household appliances and given them a stern talking-to about supporting the family better.

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

This is why I'm hanging on to my washer from the early 90s and my dryer from the mid 80s for dear life. You are lucky to get 5 years out of new appliances. That's sad.

[@davidcosta2244]

You never had to replace your roof? I did, and there was so much wood damage that I had to cut out, and replace with new.

[@mournblade1066]

Wait--you've replaced you dishwasher TWICE in six months?!? I certainly hope you had a warranty on that. They should last AT LEAST ten years or more.

[@coreyg2177]

@@mournblade1066 first one leaked out the door.

[@robertsitch1415]

​@@coreyg2177those appear to be about the most problematic kind of appliance.

[@MichaelGalletly]

23 years is a REALLY good run for a water heater. The new one should be a LOT less expensive to operate.

[@ferengiprofiteer9145]

And last up to 7 years

[@MisterWinkie01]

Just had my water heater in my home inspected professionally, and despite a little hard water it's still going strong (it's original to the house when it was built in '79). The guy inspecting it said if I ever change it the new unit probably won't last a long as this one did 🤣. Certainly don't build 'em like they used to...

[@judyyavello9666]

I’ve got you beat. Mine was installed in 1954!! Just had the thermal couple replaced and it’s still cranking away.

[@MsRedsphere]

Unfortunately, all appliances are built now with planned obsolescence. I recently had every replaceable part done on my old gas dryer. I also have an old commercial washing machine.

[@chriscohlmeyer4735]

@@judyyavello9666 had one from that era just like in my best friends house in 1960 with exterior heating elements. The bottom element gave out in 1990, father-in-law searched and did find an unused element but it was for a larger tank 🤷. Three young children so replaced with a new one, the "five year warranty had a specific disclaimer reducing it to six months for the region I lived in" (actually due to high risk of internal glass breakage) - it did last eleven years until I had to replace it again for the tenant - and yes we now get the full five year warranty (larger ferry boats and generally better road conditions 👍). Current house had to replace a fairly new one in the same year, 22 years and going strong.

[@privatelyprivate3285]

@@judyyavello9666holy hell!!! Good on you!!!! You must have the softest water EVER! I think our 15yo 30gal was down to holding about 10gal (and NOT keep crap hot, obviously) by the time I finally won the war on replacing it - previous owners had never flushed it or changed the anode, but our hard water DID kill 4 modern dishwashers in 8 yrs, so maybe they’d surrendered from the start 😂

[@davidmarquardt9034]

@@judyyavello9666 Some of those heaters from that time had copper or even sometimes monel (a nickle alloy) tanks. As long as the burner doesn't rust out, it's virtually immortal!

[@lyndarina9839]

Always a good idea not to store anything on the floor in a basement. Too many opportunities for leaks. Invest in shelves or plastic tables to keep all your basement items up out of the “flood zone”. This simple precaution will save you lots of money in the long run. Also not a good idea to have carpet in the basement to prevent mold. Spoken by someone who used to live in a basement apartment. Love your channel.

[@privatelyprivate3285]

Or set up a nice 6” platform floor

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

We used cheap area rugs in our basement for the areas we could actually use. My dad was a bit of a pack rat, lol.

[@jmcg6189]

You remind me of multiple floods in my basement apartment (also my first apartment) when I was in college. Usually in the middle of the night.

[@hamsterama]

This is good advice, and something I learned the hard way years ago. Before I bought my house, I was renting a townhouse. I was storing a lot of stuff in boxes on the basement floor. The townhouse's basement was dry with no humidity or spiders, so it was great for storage. In 2015, we had heavy rain here in Ohio that went non-stop for several days. The basement flooded, with the water reaching to my knees. Water was coming in through the basement walls, as well as through the floor drain where the washing machine emptied into. I had tons of German language VHS tapes which I lost, most of which were dubs of the Simpsons and Disney movies. I also lost a ton of German language books, most of which were out-of-print, so I couldn't replace them. At one point in my life I did a study abroad year in Germany, so that's where I got all those VHS tapes and books. I still feel the loss of those items to this day.

[@safaiaryu12]

​@@hamsteramaOhh, I feel that. I also had boxes of books that got caught in a flood once from the washing machine. I lost so many precious, irreplaceable books that I still miss. 😭 Never again!!

[@WHix-om4yo]

Thanks Lawrence! That was good as always. As it happens, I work for a restoration company and dry out homes after water losses for a living. Turns out that you were pretty fortunate in this disaster. About 20 years or so ago, builders thought that it might be a good idea to put water heaters in the attics of new construction. NOT so good: major water damage to all floors below if plumbing fails (water heaters only last about 10 years on average). Also, its very fortunate that your electronics escaped damage. Really good. However, that being said, if you ever have a major water loss bad enough to file an insurance claim, call your carrier and ask them to recommend a company to dry things up asap. They have drying and extraction equipment that dwarf anything that you can rent. And the insurance company pays for it willingly since their actions keep things from getting worse. Meanwhile, you did the right thing and reacted in the correct way. Find the source and get rid of as much standing water as you can. And, if you are worried about mold formation, spray everything affected down with an approved antimicrobial product. NEVER use chlorine bleach! Good luck with the American Dream.

[@mrgunn2726]

@WHix-om4yo Great advice, had a flooded floor from an overflowing washing machine, had to get the whole water remediation, ripped carpet and hardwood floor cost USD 20+K.

[@RRaquello]

A couple of years back I had my hot water heater replaced and was talking to the plumber and he mentioned about how in some houses they don't have the hot water heater in the basement (I do). He told me about a job he had just worked where the hot water heater was in a room that was a combination kitchen/washing machine room and the hot water heater was in there. It busted open and all the water came out and the whole thing went through the floor and into the basement where it should have been in the first place. Hot water heaters have a homing instinct and if you don't put them where they belong, they'll find their way down there on their own.

[@WHix-om4yo]

Absolutely right. Also, warm water will cause mold formation in half the time that cold water will, especially in the summer months. Keep alert and stay safe! @@RRaquello

[@safaiaryu12]

Yep, grew up in a house with the water heater in the attic... we had at least two floods that we discovered by finding the carpets on the bottom floor wet. VERY poor design choice. Hope that isn't happening any more!!

[@acatnamedm4529]

The water heater in the attic always baffled me. Garage, basement or next to an outside exit is the only place where water heaters and washing machines should go.

[@cindyllax]

Within the first two months I took over the family home. The water heater, the washing machine and the microwave gave out 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ it was s rough start. Welcome to homeownership! 😂 😂 😂

[@hurgcat]

the machine spirit was not with you.

[@2006klaus]

Lawrence, very longtime fan. Love them all! I realize home ownership can and will be expensive at times. My domicile husbandry began 11 years ago, and have had a few necessary repairs/upgrades. I could not help but notice your electrical panel in the background. I am not an electrician however being in residential construction for over 25 years i would have to say you are in need of an electrical upgrade. Yes, could be a bit expensive but it would be a one time upgrade, never having to worry about it again. Actually even make your home safer, up to date and more valuable. Please have it looked at sir.

[@Fridge56Vet]

Was wondering if that was the water source.... Ours blew about a year ago. Water pressure died while I was in the shower 6:30am. Went downstairs to find water spraying out of the pressure tank and a 15-foot diameter puddle around, which had destroyed the heater's ignition & snuffed the flame. At least it wasn't as expensive as it could've been. Living at the hardware store is just part of home ownership...welcome to the club. 😂

[@cshubs]

20 years ago I lived in an apt. One eve, water was coming out from under the dishwater, slow but steady. I soaked up the water and looked all over and couldn't find leaks anywhere. After I saw that the water wasn't stopping I called maintenance, who wasn't happy to come out after dinner, but it was a plumbing emergency! He comes, soaks up the water, doesn't find anything, and leaves. A bit later, the floor is covered in water again. I call again, and he comes. Hmm. What's going on. He went next door. The 90yo man who lived next door had started to fill his sink to wash dishes, but he sat down and fell asleep. Turns out, the carpet of my dining area was saturated over the hours, but I was wearing shoes and hadn't noticed til after we knew what the problem was. The floor was soaked.

[@tomallred9735]

Lawrence, I'm glad you didn't get lost in the pond of your basement.

[@dennisbishop3842]

This happens to everyone at some point. One bit of luck is that it's still warm outside. Get some big fans (you can rent them) and open all your downstairs windows and keep the air moving. You'll be surprised how fast things dry out.

[@uncletoby-]

If only you’d had your Uncle Toby there to help. I’m experienced at fixing all those those things. Except the radiator on the car.

[@cindystrachan8566]

To save your notebook: sandwich it between two thicker books and tie it up tightly and put in the freezer for several weeks. The freezer will dry up the liquid and the pressure will keep the pages flat. Welcome to the joys of home ownership. A house is a hole in the ground you throw money into.

[@muggins9389]

Laurence you really should get your drivers license, if there is ever an emergency, and your wife cannot drive, it will come in handy... Also the process of getting it will make GREAT content...

[@privatelyprivate3285]

Agreed. It’s always good to have - your wife could get sick / hurt on a remote road, her life depending on you to get to services or closer to where they can get to her faster, and there are no ambulances for pets. C’mon, dude, Illinois’ requirements/standards amount to literally NOTHING compared to the UK…and think of the CONTENT! 😅

[@jrmcferren]

Your water heater lasted an extremely long time, honestly I'm surprised that nobody told you when you bought the home that it was nearing end of life. Now imagine a water heater sitting in a dirt floor cellar and can go unnoticed for a long time, that's what would have happened with ours the other year, except, for some freak reason I had to go to the electrical panel to reset a breaker the vacuum cleaner tripped and noticed the water heater leaking.

[@kadinzaofelune]

Mr. Brown since this is the first home you have owned a helpful hint. Drain your water heater once or twice a year. Helps keep the sediment out and makes it last longer. Also if you have central air con wash your outside compressor unit once a month during the usage season. We do it every month here, but this is Texas and it feels like the surface of the sun.

[@SwearMY]

Where are there instructions on how to do this? It terrifies me.

[@kadinzaofelune]

@@SwearMY You can Google it or KZbin it. It is different if you have electricity or gas just remember if it is an older gas unit you may have to relight the pilot. If it is electric just shut off the breaker connect hose shut off the water to the highest faucet in the house. Like if you have two stories. If not the furthest one away on a single story then open the tap on that faucet and open the valve on the water heater. This will put air behind water so it drains.

[@uncletoby-]

Especially since he’s got plenty of Cottonwood trees in the area that make it look like it’s snowing in the springtime.

[@EphemeralProductions]

I’d be doing exactly that myself, only I live in an apt (on the top floor) and it’s not exactly easy to get a hose in here and then into the bathtub (once connected). I’m afraid I’ll cause a huge mess in the process. And the heater is in my bedroom CLOSET! lol

[@eclectichoosier5474]

Some Newer heaters have the cold inlet in the bottom arranged so the water swirls around and stirs the sediment. Keeps it from adhering to the walls. To get it completely clean, you have to drain it, fill it again, add citric acid or lots of vinegar, let it sit for a day or so, and drain again. Dissolve out the scale. Don't have to do it so often if you have a water softener.

[@cspat1]

A helpful hint. Mark on the side of your furnace and water heater the date of installation who did it . Keep their business card either tape it to the appliance or get yourself a plastic pouch to keep everything in it and hang it up near by. Keep your receipt of payment too for warranty purposes or just because can’t hurt to have that info. Water heaters use to last longer, but they don’t build things to last this day and age.

[@Nitehawke]

My Dad taught me the value of two things in a house: Electrical outlets and water shutoffs. While I've had some people laugh that I have "so many" of each, the fact is that I always have one where I need it when I need it. I have an outlet approximately every 6 feet and I have a water shutoff on at the main and at every spigot. I can shut off just the cold or just the hot or both at every sink, shower, the water heater, the hose outside or I can shut it off for the whole house. Adding outlets is tricky (but not impossible). Water shutoffs are a bit easier. It might be worth it to you to consider adding them if they aren't already in place.

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Recent code requires the shutoffs on water taps and gas appliances; old homes may not have them.

[@privatelyprivate3285]

Amen (well, till you realize that most spot-specific shut off valves go bad and/or fill with sediment before you finally need them and force resorting to the main water shutoff whose location in the inaccessible corner behind the water heater AND furnace was perfectly well conceived by an utter moron, that is 😭)

[@randyjohnson-ts2lk]

30 plus years in construction, absolutely agree. Maybe a little overboard on the outlets, but not much.

[@Nitehawke]

​@@randyjohnson-ts2lkwell, I've never needed an outlet and not had one available, lol.

[@johnnyphoenix1223]

A wet/dry vacuum works wonders in that situation along with a dehumidifier sometimes during heavy rain it does that to basements especially when the sump pump isn’t working

[@ehrichweiss]

Within a few months of us moving into our new place some 21 years ago, we lost our water heater too. Lost another last year(or maybe it was 2021)

[@MrDDiRusso]

ACE IS THE PLACE WITH THE HELPFUL HARDWARE MAN.

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

We have an Ace Hardware about 2 miles from us and I love going there because they are super helpful and knowledgeable, and will sharpen knives, make keys and etc.. Don't know if that is always the case, but it is here. The good thing is that the newer the water heater, the more efficient it it and the less energy it uses. We have replaced out water heaters in our house 2 times in the past 40+ years. We could always tell when things were getting bad when we would hear a popping noise. Such is the life of a homeowner. Hot water heaters, dryers, washing machines, furnace, air conditioner and the other wonderful little kinks in the plumbing system. Glad you were able to find a plumber who was reasonable and could come pretty quick.

[@pamabernathy8728]

Ooo, Laurence! We, too, had a water heater "go", several decades ago now. Good on you & Tarah that your plumbers responded so quickly, & that you got other work done at the same time. Love to you & the 4 footed fuzzy* family from an auld mum in Southern California. *does NOT include squirrels

[@GeeWillikersMan]

I replaced mine earlier this year. It was a Montgomery Ward brand, its warranty expired in 1984 so it was probably installed in the late 70s. I too am amazed it lasted that long.

[@ronhansen9408]

Just a tip that I follow religiously, keep everything off the basement floor. It is after all the lowest part of the house. If for any reason there is a plumbing failure, the water will eventually end up in the basement.

[@joannunemaker6332]

Water problems are no fun. I'm glad you were able to get your stuff fixed quickly.😊❤

[@annmcdaniel9448]

My sympathies to you for the loss of your water heater. I've always wondered why you have to have a flood to know that you have a problem. Maybe I should note the age of it, the rusty parts, etc. Thanks for calling it a water heater. My mom always said hot water heater, and we would ask if the water is hot, why are you heating it?

[@jasonhatt4295]

I know how you feel, I’ve had to bury 3 water heaters in my life…. And it takes a big hole to bury those things!!!

[@nolongeramused8135]

Getting one done in an emergency situation usually seems to cost, minimum, about $1500. There a Puget Sound company that goes by the name of "Fast Water Heaters," and they aren't kidding. They show up and everything you need just falls out of their truck and into your home.

[@jasonhatt4295]

@@nolongeramused8135 That sounds amazing!

[@lisapop5219]

Believe it or not, you can drink the water in your hot water tank if you need to in an emergency. You definitely could have handled it with a shopvac

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

A rug doctor does a real good job though. You go slow because its really doing a good job

[@RRaquello]

If you give it a bit of thought, it's obvious that the water in the hot water heater should be clean because that's the hot water you take a shower or wash your dishes with. It's just water straight from the tap.

[@russb24]

As home floods go, this one was pretty mild. I commented this before -- you should hire a good home inspector to give you a tour of your home's systems, what maintenance needs to be done, and how to cut everything off in an emergency.

[@toddmetzger]

One thing you may want to add in after this incident is an automatic shut-off for the water supply to the tank. There's a sensor that goes on the floor to detect if the tank starts leaking, it will then shut the valve to prevent more water from flooding the basement. Some have an alarm on them too. You'll still have the water leak from the volume that was in the tank, but it won't keep going and with an alarm you'll know you've got a problem.

[@julindahiggins1582]

After having a 3224 sq ft basement with 22 inches throughout (groundwater flood + sump pump failure) I've learned a lesson (too late for the two 20-yd dumpsters full of 50 yrs of family treasures hauled to the dump) ..BUY FOLDING TABLES at home depot ..put everything on top of tables.. Nothing on the floor that you don't hate of tables

[@kristybowman8731]

Agree! Four feet of groundwater flooded our basement in 2006. We had lots of stuff on shelves that made it, but had many family heirlooms, Christmas stuff, etc. were stored in totes, and it was devastating to watch the totes floating around in the basement, one by one flipping over and dumping their contents.

[@lyndarina9839]

Yes, yes, yes. Nothing on the floor in a basement and no carpet. Will ultimately save you time and money and make cleanup after a leak so much easier.

[@jadeh2699]

@@kristybowman8731 I'm so sorry that happened to you. The same thing happened to my aunt. Even the washer and dryer were floating! She sobbed for months. Even if the insurance pays, you still have lost all your treasures, decorations, etc. Heartbreaking.

[@jadeh2699]

So sorry about your flood. That's awful.

[@julindahiggins1582]

Washington state here..my first flood..yuk..

[@INOD-2]

Ooooh, Laurence! Welcome to the JOYS of home ownership, where the best motto is: "It's Always Something!" Once something is fixed, it will soon be something else. Resign yourself to it.

[@Nashvillain10SE]

"Water cylinder" got lost in the pond, Lawrence. Let's leave it there.

[@tweter2]

Also remember that the water can get into the walls and cause issues. Sometimes mold will build up inbetween the walls so you don't see it.

[@Gweeen12]

*Every good job deserve a recommendation, especially the skillful brokers that has high signal strategies..*

[@PushkarRajthalkur]

I invest with Jack Dorsey, i make about a 30,000USD every month.

[@Anastasia-ft3qw]

Same here, a Transformations of €4000 to a €15,400 in just 2 weeks, He's really the best

[@Bruce-ki5us]

when you have a good skill, it is normal that you can go global and your name is recommended to so many people and from what i've heard about Mr. Jack Dorsey, his strategies must be really good .

[@PushkarRajthalkur]

Te. Le. Gr. Am👇

[@PushkarRajthalkur]

*@Dorsey123*

[@greggi47]

Oh Laurence! There are so many reasons we love you and enjoy your demands on our attention. I know there are cynical people who suspect that the things you share are somehow contrived--but I do not share that because I have experienced some of the things myself.. Of course, there are other things beyond my ken, but you report then =m so well. /Thanks much.

[@blazingfire8794]

I feel your pain. I just had to replace my hot water tank this past summer. Nothing like getting ready to take a shower only to discover you have no hot water. My tank chose a Sunday to die. Not cheap fix either.

[@margf.6773]

The average water heater lasts 8 to 12 years; 15 or 16 if you are lucky. At 22 years, it was bound to go out any day.

[@patrickguseman5219]

As for the rod, I’ve done a couple and always came back to replace the heating element or igniter shortly after. Save time and money and just replace it. As for the sediment, install a filter. FYI, has anyone told you about when the city flush’s the fire hydrants. Ask the water department or the neighbors. Ret. Air Force 😊

[@purpleclove1929]

Just replaced ours 2 days ago...I am always grateful when they give up with a slow leak rather than losing the entire 40+ gallons at once!

[@ddavidson5]

Personally I make it a point to replace the hot water tank every 10 to 15 years regardless if the water heater is still "working fine", I use a marker to write the install date on the side of the tank to make it easily visible, a flood isn't worth trying to get every last minute of life out of it. Just to be sure I also had a pan connected to the floor drain installed under the hot water tank in case it leaks for whatever reason, once I had a pressure relief valve fail while we were away for the weekend and discovered yet another way it can cause a flood. For the cost of a water heater every decade or so, and especially if you have a finished basement, you really don't want a flood you could have prevented.

[@MissCellania]

Your experience actually sounded simple. Where I live, you have to go to a store to buy the water heater. Oh, they will deliver it, but they won't install it. You have to find a plumber for that. And if you can't schedule them on the same day, you'll have to pay extra to have your old heater hauled off, or else do without hot water for a while. But after the plumber installs it, you have to get an inspection from the city before you can use it!

[@pkmcnett5649]

It used to be like that here in Michigan.

[@charlieann456]

​@@pkmcnett5649My new water heater required a permit and a licensed plumber to install it. Michigan

[@RRaquello]

Where I live, the plumber supplies the water heater. Of course not for free. You pay the plumber for the water heater, then you pay him to install it.

[@charlieann456]

@RRaquello My plumbing company has them too or you can purchase one at Lowe's, Home Depot or Menards. I got one from my plumber. That way, I didn't have to get it home and carry it down the basement stairs.

[@johnhaller5851]

In many places, the water heater is considered an emergency, and the permit can be applied for after the water heater is installed and operating. Furnaces are treated the same way.

[@Roboto2073]

You did do a good job with the carpet cleaning.

[@peppermintmoon7354]

I'd invest in a wet/dry vacuum, they're wonderful for things just like this, and for sweeping things that you wouldn't want to go in your regular vacuum. BTW, check your washer/dryer hoses. If they're rubber, you might want to change them out for braided metal ones. My parents had theirs rupture, they came back to almost four centimeters of water after an evening out.

[@RRaquello]

I had that happen to me with the washing machines but was lucky I was home at the time, so I heard it and didn't suffer any real damage. My solution is I just leave the tap that goes into the washing machine off all the time and just turn it on when I'm actually using the washing machine.

[@mrgunn2726]

Oh Lawrence, so sorry to about your plumbing issues, frustrating. Also a lot of issues here; firstly, you need a water remediation service, if you don't dry out your basement properly, mold could settle in. Oh and yes, Ace Hardware are brilliant. Next, be sure your new 'water cylinder', which in the USA of A is called a 'freedom cylinder', nope, I meant it is called a 'water heater', has a drain pan underneath, a proper overflow pipe, pipe leading from the pan to the drain, and an and expansion tank. Good luck!

[@jamesadkins1780]

In my experience AC Smith water heaters are very good quality. 👍🏼

[@christinebutler7630]

If you're replacing a water heater, consider a tankless on-demand water heater. It will save on the power bill as you're not paying to keep 40 gallons of water hot all the time.

[@Big_Tex]

Ace Hardware IS a mom & pop, basically. It’s a franchise operation with local owners.

[@patrickguseman5219]

FYI, take a large marker and put the date of installation on it and in ten years or so you’ll know that it’s time to replace it 😊

[@duncreg]

Two pieces of advice: next time you're at the hardware store, pick up a small water monitor alarm. They're like rectangles you can stand up near your water heater or anything else that might leak and will sound an alarm if water touches them. Also, you might want to get a "wet/dry vac", a type of vacuum that can suck up either dry materials or water. The fancier models have a pump as well so you can connect a hose to the vacuum and run it to a drain and have unlimited vacuum power without having to stop and empty the vacuum. Perfect for removing a lot of water and for drying wet rugs.

[@zainab58]

Shortly after I moved into my second-floor apartment, I had to get a new water heater. Fortunately it hadn't flooded; it just died quietly. Unfortunately, this meant it had to be drained--at the coldest time of the year. Fortunately, I had recently installed a cat door, which proved to be just right for running a hose out the back door while the plumbers and I stayed nice and warm.

[@jadeh2699]

LOL! Someone upstairs was looking out for you! If the water heater had to go, at least you had that cat door! That is so funny!

[@anitapeludat256]

As homeowners through the years, my husband and I determined a trip to ACE hardware was happening so frequently, (yet had a very nice ambiance ), was our primary venue for "hot dates." 😅 I think it was the power tools, for sure.😅

[@jasonwomack4064]

Pull out that carpet as soon as it dries. (weighs less). The damge is done, it will mold and mildew underneath. All concrete emits moisture, the flood recharged the concrete, and will keep the underside of the carpet damp for a long time.

[@jadeh2699]

I agree. Mold is really difficult to get rid of once it gets started too. And will affect your health.

[@Trifler500]

- When you see leaking water, it's a good idea to shut off the water. - In your other video, you determined that thing wasn't actually a dehumidifier. You need an actual dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air and prevent mold growth. Or at least a space heater, but a dehumidifier is better.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Ace is definitely not a mom-and-pop. Historically, it was one of two major hardware store chains in North America (the other being True Value), until the nineties (when the huge ginormous warehouse-ish hardware stores that also double as lumber yards started to really catch on and take over). I'm pretty sure most small cities in America have one or the other (either an Ace Hardware or a True Value). Medium-sized cities tend to have both of them plus one or more of the aforementioned gigantic home improvement stores, and really *large* cities, of course, have multiple instances of everything.

[@michaelsherck5099]

The impression I get when I go into an Ace Hardware store is "competence". I don't often get that feeling from the big mega-everything stores.

[@nancysexton545]

As a recently widowed lady I have discovered that though Ace might be a bit more expensive they have people with expertise and are very helpful, never thought I would be replacing a flapper in my toilet, have found KZbin to be my best friend!!!

[@TheresaPowers]

Ace Hardware has the best American Made tools.

[@jenniferdyke3335]

I just replaced my water heater as well. Fortunately, the leak just started, so my basement floor did not feature a small pond. Just one of the many "perks" of home ownership!

[@topaz3468]

Gosh Lawrence... I feel your pain! Experienced something similar with our flooded basement in Michigan years ago. Now I live close to sea level where homes never have basements. Yet I find myself in a different predicament--my current home has the water heater placed inside a closet that faces the hallway leading to the bedrooms. IMO, a disaster waiting to happen. Goin to invest in a tankless water heater in the near future. Great video as always Lawrence!!

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

Reminds me of my earliest days of home-ownership! We bought a house and took it over just before we got married. One morning just after we took residence I looked down in the basement and found the floor disturbingly...shiny! There was about a half-inch of water down there from the furnace's hot water coil. This was not covered by the service contract, therefore now I was $600 in hock for something I didn't even know existed a week earlier! The repairman told me he'd never seen one fail like that before. Somehow I didn't feel honored by this distinction! (-and that was just the FIRST week! Those days we spent more time at Home Depot then at Home!)

[@tfleischhauer6114]

Lawrence, I would love it if you would make a trip to visit Williamsburg--Jamestown--Yorktown, Virginia, and give us your take on what the USA was like when Virginia was part of the British Empire! Please! Cheers!

[@aredub1847]

never store stuff on the basement floor unless you have some sort of sublevel drainage. Floods can make you very sad.

[@crimson49er]

tankless water heaters are the way to go... and you never run out of hot water.

[@Oldleftiehere]

They’ll still leak though. My son’s did and dropped the ceiling onto the guest bed.

[@stefanjones2637]

When you're all set up with a new water heater: Drain and flush it once a year! It uses up a bunch of water, but gets rid of the sediment that can chew up the insides and plug the relief valve. This is one of the things that I wish realtors would tell new home owners! (AC Smith is a good brand.)

[@bigbob7820]

My current water heater is going 5 years.(city plumbing code require a drain now unlike the previous install) but my previous water heater lasted 18 years. It started making odd noises so I replaced it before it decided to flood my basement. If you drain them about once a year it will extend the life but it depends on your water quality also.😢

[@denault3985]

Welcome to a common American problem and you solved it brilliantly!

[@IANF126]

my family had to replace the water heater a few years ago. we just weren't getting hot water, the heater didn't explode we just live with hard water and in the many years it existed both the heater got absolutely full of rocks but the pipes also calcified shut. we always knew about the hard water but never realized it could do this. suffice to say we have a softener system now as well. We also have a larger dehumidifier device from, many years ago because the basement has flooded from leaks that are now fixed by having a sump pump, and we use that when we have said water issues to help dry things up. I'm sure the technology is better but i've always been under the impression that they use a lot of electricity while running as my mom has told me that, but i'm not sure. it's an older device anyway.

[@nolongeramused8135]

Several years ago a Chinese couple moved into the house next door so I gave him a run down on all the stuff he was going to need to replace in the immediate future: water heater, heat pump, and roof. The water heater because every house in the development, except his, had the water heater replaced in the previous 24 months (the property developer went cheap on all appliances), the heat pump because the bearings were completely shot (2nd-hand heat pump the previous owner salvaged from a job site) and it made a horrible racket, and the roof because every home was covered by a class-action lawsuit for the defective shingles. Of course, he completely ignored me. Water heater went out first in spectacular fashion, and shortly afterwards the heat pump just seized up (mid winter). Fast forward to this year and he FINALLY got his roof replaced. But because he waited so long and he wasn't the original owner he didn't get a nice class-action warranty check to cover all the materials. Listen to your new neighbors when they start telling you about your home's problems, they know things you don't.

[@nolongeramused8135]

@@garyb6219 It is relevant to the story, you dipwad. They were from CHINA and had never owned a home before, much less one in America. Perhaps I should have also mentioned that the previous owners, Russian, did stereotypical things that Russians do, like salvage a nearly dead heat pump that belonged in the dump and did a crap job of installing it himself. Perhaps I should mention that across the street the Hindu owners have no clue about yard maintenance and let it turn to weeds. Ironically, it was my boss (also Hindu) who told me "they are going to be horrible neighbors, I know my people." You are what is wrong with the world.

[@memonk11]

What a completely believable and not racist at all story!

[@nolongeramused8135]

@@memonk11 You wouldn't know racism if it beat you death on the street. How long have you been a complete dullard of a SJW?

[@gl15col]

Check out Ace more thoroughly, they usually have people with much more knowledge about the things they sell than other hardware stores I won't mention. If you buy your own carpet cleaner, you can get one that's smaller, lighter, will take much more water out of the carpet for fast drying and will be cheaper in the long run.

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

As others have likely mentioned, replace the sacrificial magnesium anode rod every... 10 (? someone check me, it's either 5 or 10) years. What the DIY videos might not tell you is that you may need a nice long lever on the wrench or an impact driver to loosen the existing rod, it's going to be quite tight. Also, if your city water has a bunch of stuff like mineral salts or iron oxides in it, drain the tank every year to flush the sediment. A garden hose hooked up to the drain tap will do the job. I love Ace, except that Home Despot and Lowe Value keep out-competing them in my area, so they keep closing. Harbor Freight is my go-to these days.

[@StormWarningMom]

I call Lowes "Slowes" 😂

[@janethernandez724]

Good of you to comment with this information. We're house hunting after living in an apartment for so many years. I had no idea a water heater needed to be flushed annually and the replacement for the anode rod too. We'll have to find out what that is one day. I appreciate your comment on this episode, we'll definitely keep that in mind! Thank you. ☮

[@sewerrat7612]

​@@janethernandez724annoyed every 5. Don't flush an older heater that's never been flushed good chance it'll leak. If it's newer flush yearly for life of the heater.

[@horsepowerandtalk1033]

Maybe every 5 years, because most warranties don't go to 10 years.

[@bigplanett]

Water heaters last about 10 years. You can pretty much count on them failing around that time frame. Make sure you have a pan installed at the bottom to catch the water and a pipe or hose that goes from that pan to a drain. They will leak out the bottom like that when they fail commonly.

[@deannaschultz1814]

Oh, the joys of owning a home.

[@maidenminnesota1]

Welcome to home ownership, where by the time you're done with all the repairs and remodeling necessary just to keep your house standing, not to mention the interest payments on the mortgage, you'll have paid for your house twice.

[@garion742]

We went to Home Depot so much with our first house we seriously considered getting stock 😅 And that was a new house. Hope you guys get over the hump and start being able to just enjoy 😊

[@Dangic23]

I have only bought new houses, so thankfully never had to fix anything.longest I’ve lived in one was 5 years.

[@lostevesy]

My water heater somehow lasted 32 years ~ was installed before i was born, replaced it recently with a tankless

[@edflintlaw]

Buy house, open Lowe's account, American Dream.

[@zibbitybibbitybop]

Literally just had my old tank heater replaced two days ago with a gas tankless one. The lag before the hot water kicks in is a bit annoying, but it sure is more energy efficient. That and I don't have a basement, so a burst tank would have flooded my entire house. Minor detail. 😂

[@juzoli]

Every time I move in to a new house, water heater needs to be replaced. Every time I buy used car, the exhaust needs to be fixed. This is just the rule of life.

[@lydias2012]

RIP. He will be missed.

[@kazriko]

Technically, the water cylinder water was clean before it leaked out, it got all dirty because of the dirt in/on the flooring.

[@RobinBaich]

Thoughts and prayers for your water heater.

[@kathleencraine7335]

Ace Hardware is the best. There's a slightly larger Ace in Glenview on Waukegan Rd, north of Lake. The people who work there are fantastic. You guys passed it on one of your recent videos while driving.

[@ayrplanes]

That's something Europe does much better with the tankless water heaters. However, they require much larger circuit amperage and it is expensive to add a new high capacity circuit. It makes much more sense to install a tankless heater from the start.

[@sresnic]

He has gas so it wouldn’t be an issue.

[@diverdannavyvet9672]

I recommend finding some videos re: water heater maintenance: When and how to flush, descale snd replace the sacrificial anode. A descaling pump kit can be had for a couple of $hundred or less. Just remember to remove the anode and put a plug in it's place when descaling. Replace the anode if it is at 50% or less intact. With a bit of knowledge, effort and cost you can make your water heater last a lifetime.

[@alanrogers7090]

Our water tank burst about twenty years ago. It had to be written off and we purchased a new one. The big difference was that we live in a manufactured home where everything is on one floor. The water seeped under our bedroom carpeting, and went under the wall panels where the flooding reached out master walk-in closet, ruining several pairs of shoes and soaking some of my wife's clothes. Thirty gallons of water, one new water tank, and a good deal of money later, we actually didn't lose anything, except some books that were stored in the closet that we both forgot were there. I should explain that the water tank is kept in a hatch on the other side of the master closet. That was a time to remember as a homeowner.

[@quaintlyeccentric]

The best friend a home owner can have is a good plumber!

[@broken4096]

I replaced my last one myself, but having done electrical and plumbing before, I can see the need for professionals. It's just not cheap.

[@rhondajohnson7803]

Well on the lighter side of things you now have a new water heater which is a good brand...

[@richj120952]

Hard water scaling and sediment is the primary reason for hot water heaters failing. You can get a water softener to reduce (not eliminate) that and extend the life of the water heater. Once a year drain the sediment build up by draining a few gallons from the tank's bottom spigot. Also, you should check the relief valve to assure it is working. (Neither of which I do...but should.) I also have a descaling filter system as well. I believe you have natural gas in your home from previous posts. If I remember that correctly, you really should have looked into a tankless water heater. Too late now though. I am surprised your plumber did not recommend one.

[@balancedactguy]

OOOOoooh Laurence! I see that they installed an AO-Smith Water heater..that is a VERY GOOD BRAND...so you're in Luck Mate!!...uh..I mean Bro! Carry On!!

[@balancedactguy]

@Click_Profile_for_more._info4 GO AWAY FAKE LAURENCE. SHAME ON YOU for PRETENDING to BE the REAL LAURENCE!

[@JDoors]

An advantage of local hardware stores is they often stock items that are in common use in the neighborhood, whereas big box stores, while they have a ginormous selection, they get whatever corporate decides they get. I needed a specific gasket and while the big box stores had thousands of gaskets, they did not have the one used by the homebuilder who built all the home in my area. The local hardware store had it, because they know the neighborhood and what's in it. Of course that kind of specific stock and knowledge of local needs costs extra, and if you need to pick from a huge selection of available products, locals can't stock such a selection.

[@juliefore]

I’ve noticed that the local ACE and Sav-A-Lot grocery store stock items designed to work in the apartment complex next to them. The apartments are old enough that the built-in toilet paper holder will not hold a roll of TP larger than a double sized roll. Most of the other grocery stores around carry mostly the Mega size. The Sav-a-Lot carries mostly double and single sized rolls. The ACE Hardware carries the odd sized furnace filter that fits in our furnaces. They know their market, that’s for sure.

[@JDoors]

@@juliefore Slightly off topic: After I understood the "local" nature of local stores, I wanted under cabinet lights. The local store didn't have what I needed, the big box store had a dozen options. My point this time is, I bought the lighting from the big box store, and THEY WERE OF A TERRIBLE QUALITY. Three out of four didn't work at all, so I begrudgingly replaced them, some of THOSE didn't work, I'm stubborn and replaced those, then most burned out early. Great choice ... but total crap.