- This topic has 2 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 3 months ago by
rwabels.
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An almost 20 yr old 50 gal Ruud Ruudglas Pacemaker gas water heater has just started to leak from the top. It appears to be coming from the cold water input fitting. I have called a very reputable local plumbing company who upon hearing the age of the unit, immediately said “replace it”…and quoted an installed cost of approx $900. First question: is it stupid to even think this heater can be repaired? I was thinking maybe I could just replace the anode rod and input fitting. Second: is $900 a good price for replacing and installing a new quality heater? Thank you.
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If you did a consensus amoungst plumbers when you hear of a water heater older than 5,6,7….10 years or older, your money is best invested in the replacement of the heater.
Many external items can leak on the piping leading to the connections of the water heater, parts can become defective. But when the tank itself starts to leak, that heater is not worth the time of even considering a repair.
It is a steel tank, the anode rod disappeared years ago. From that point on the degredation of that tank continues to the point of leaking with no ability to repair.
Can’t give you guidance on pricing as it’s too unpredictable from area to area what the going rates are.
Consider 20 years of use as genuine luck that it last that long. The inefficiency of that heater right now is like a 8 cyl cadillac running on 4. Costly at best and you’ll realize this with the new heater.
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Thanks, Dunbar.
Got the same advice from a plumber friend in Australia. The plumber who arrived also said virtually the same thing. Went ahead and replaced with a Rheem 42V50-40F, $1000 poorer, but 100% peace of mind.
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