My Water Heater Is Shot

[clamjane]

I need advice please, on a new electric water heater, the old just started leaking.

We have three people in the household and I figure a 50 gallon tank should do it.

I looked at a Whirlpool at Lowe's, stainless steel tank with stainless steel elements, and one of the features is that it is self cleaning. Of course I really want one that is energy efficient, that is very important me. I looked at some of the consumer reviews on line and I now have doubts about this particular water heater. Tank less would be nice but I don't think I can afford one of those.

[highlands]

We have five people and use a 30 gallon tank. It is plenty.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by clamjane

I need advice please, on a new electric water heater, the old just started leaking.

We have three people in the household and I figure a 50 gallon tank should do it.

I looked at a Whirlpool at Lowe's, stainless steel tank with stainless steel elements, and one of the features is that it is self cleaning. Of course I really want one that is energy efficient, that is very important me. I looked at some of the consumer reviews on line and I now have doubts about this particular water heater. Tank less would be nice but I don't think I can afford one of those.

Buy the 40 gal. thats like $120.00 or So and get the fiberglass bat insulation for it. The money you save in "efficiency" will never pay for the higher cost of the unit. This is due to the fact that elec. is 100 percent efficient. When producing heat. Thus any "improvements" are just window dressing.

[perennial]

We bought a Marathon waterheater because it is made out of
high grade plastic, with batting and then an interior actual tank. It
looks like a space capsule. They are some of the most efficient, have
life time warranties and it can't leak between metals, etc. Also, it
doesn't have an anode rod to go bad on you (been there, done that).

You will have to go to a "plumbing store" to get one or we actually had
our's dropshipped because builder wouldn't open an account at the
special store.

Although it's more expensive by far, we won't ever have to pay to replace
it.

Hubby was very particular about this which drove the builder a bit crazy, but
as hubby says, he doesn't have to think about it again either.

If you like your long hot showers, i wouldn't go for a 30 gallon at all. We
had one in the rental - 4 of us and it wasn't enough - but then again, we all
like long hot showers.

You can go onto Marathon's web site and look up what you want. If you need to know where we got ours, pm me and i'll ask hubby.

[clamjane]

Thank you, I am going to check it out now.

[rwinsouthla]

Is it the tank that is leaking or is it that the heating element is not working? In my apartment years ago, we had very hard water and the element used to crap out on us. I'd change it for about $15 every 2 years or so. $15 sure beats $120 any day. I'd look into a new element. Just a thought.....