Leaking Hot water heater!

[Robert Arrowood]

This is more for the folks around Charlotte,Gastonia area. Found out yesterday my water heater is leaking. Happy New Year right. What I was wondering is if anyone has seen a 40gal. water heater at the habitat or restore. Being that it's right after Christmas funds are a little tight. Besides if they have one at least I would know the $ went for a good cause and not to some fatcat at the bigbox store! Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

[DaveO]

You could try calling the Charlotte area Reuse stores and ask if they have what you're looking for. I would bet that they do.

http://www.charlotterestore.org/shop.html


Dave

[Ozzie-x]

Originally Posted by Robert Arrowood

This is more for the folks around Charlotte,Gastonia area. Found out yesterday my water heater is leaking.

Is the tank rusted through or is it leaking around one of the tank fittings?? Might be able to fix it.

[scott hamm]

theres a place in shelby if you're willing to travel, called: salvage depot
it's located below the shelby hospital in an old dora cotton mill.
704-482-8343
704-481-9296
i don't remember which number is the right but call and they will tell you.
they have cheap prices on new stuff.
i know the feeling of short on cash, i stay there.

[Robert Arrowood]

Thanks for the response guy's! I'll try making some call's Mon. Ozzy the fitting's look good thats the first place I checked. What a bummer I've got a bucket full of new fitting's.

[junquecol]

A leaking water heater ( it's not a hot water heater, because if the water is hot there is no need to heat it) has only one solution. Replace it. The labor to replace with a "used unit" is the same as the labor for a new unit. Plus, the life of a used unit is already shortened- it is used. Both Lowes and HD offer six months free on their cards for purchases of over $299. You may have to ask for it. Be sure to have funds on hand to pay off the six months deal when it is due. If you don't, it is brutal. Interest will eat you alive. Main cause of failure in a WH is a pin hole rusting through at the seams. The sacrificial anode protects the tank from affects of corrosion and rust. Most don't realize that sac.anode can be replaced. It is that hex that sticks up through top of heater. Some of the WH we have installed can have their warrenty doubled by simply adding a second anode. Have fun replacing WH. I hope it isn't in crawl space under house. I did one once where the opening under the house was smaller than the WH. It was more than a PITA.

[Robert Arrowood]

Your right Bruce! I worked for a furniture store.Had to take down a wall to get the couch in one time. Pretty sure it's a pin hole.The reason I ask about Humanity I was hoping they might have a new one. They just opened a freight damaged appl. store in Ranlo NC last week.Thought I would check them out.Luckily it's in a closit on my back poarch. Still a tight fit for a lard @## for me..

[jeff...]

Originally Posted by Robert Arrowood

Your right Bruce! I worked for a furniture store.Had to take down a wall to get the couch in one time. Pretty sure it's a pin hole.The reason I ask about Humanity I was hoping they might have a new one. They just opened a freight damaged appl. store in Ranlo NC last week.Thought I would check them out.Luckily it's in a closit on my back poarch. Still a tight fit for a lard @## for me..

I replaced our 40 gal a few years ago with an 80 gallon one. Bought it at BORG it went downstairs in the tiny little basement we have that is only accessible from the outside. hooked the thing up, a good 1/2 day project only to find out it leaked like a siv. Called the BORG they said bring it back for a replacement. So really I installed two, if I were a betting man I would bet someone Gorilla handled it before I bought it and cracked the tank. What's funny is, guess who got stuck fixing their mess? me. What should have taken 1/2 day turned into two days without hot water. Good thing I had a pump to hook up to the water heater so I could quickly suck the water out into the yard. Else it would have been a bigger mess that it already was.

As long as I'm on a roll: I'm on my third Bobcat battery too, 3 year warranty (big brand name auto parts store BORG, yes even Orange. First one lasted a little over 3 months, second one lasted less than 3 weeks. I just put the 3rd one in yesterday, when they tested them, both came up "bad battery". Sure I just take it in for a free replacement that's not what gets me. What gets me is time not spent sawing to take something back that should not be broken. The place I bought it from is almost 30 miles away. It's odd but when they sell us dog dung, we are just supposed to eat the time / effort of replacing it? Then to top it off they won't let me trade it in for a 5 year replacement battery. The manager said I have to buy the 5 year and keep the 3 year, I told him bandsaw if I do... I hope this third one don't go bad but if it does, I'm going to take it back and tell em exactly what I think of their made in China batteries. I hope no kids are around at the time, cause it isn't going to be pretty.

Thanks

[Robert Arrowood]

Know what you mean Jeff. Replaced the drive axle in the wifes car 2wks later back to Rockhill to exchange it.Then 1mth. later back to Rockhill again. Man if I was paying for labor! Let's just say the man wouldn't be able to sit because of where I left the axle. If you know what I mean.

[jeff...]

Originally Posted by Robert Arrowood

Know what you mean Jeff. Replaced the drive axle in the wifes car 2wks later back to Rockhill to exchange it.Then 1mth. later back to Rockhill again. Man if I was paying for labor! Let's just say the man wouldn't be able to sit because of where I left the axle. If you know what I mean.

I know EXACTLY what you mean. Used to you could buy a aftermarket part and expect it to fit and last for a while, not anymore. Last brake pads I put on my truck, I actually had to grind the burrs off the plates to get them to fit into the calipers. That my friend is a dull die and and QC that don't give a rats _ _ _ nothing else.

Thanks and good luck with your hot water heater

[junquecol]

Originally Posted by Robert Arrowood

Know what you mean Jeff. Replaced the drive axle in the wifes car 2wks later back to Rockhill to exchange it.Then 1mth. later back to Rockhill again. Man if I was paying for labor! Let's just say the man wouldn't be able to sit because of where I left the axle. If you know what I mean.

I know what you mean. Replaced the left axle in my Honda this summer. Leave stop sign, with wheels to the right, hear that clicking sound that comes from bad CV joint. I know it's not the right one, as I replaced it Friday. Boots are still intact on left axle. I suspect that grease was left out at the factory. Years ago, I bought a starter and installed it. Next day, I drove to Savannah GA and starter failed. Got one replacement distributor that wouldn't even start the car. Took it to parts place where I bought it. Manager took it apart and stated that it was corroded inside. So much for QC. Needed a replacement carb. for a 1986 Chevy Nova. They came shrink wrapped, which broke off diaphram that pulls off choke. Went through four before I got one that wasn't broken

[jeff...]

Originally Posted by junquecol

I know what you mean. Replaced the left axle in my Honda this summer. Leave stop sign, with wheels to the right, hear that clicking sound that comes from bad CV joint. I know it's not the right one, as I replaced it Friday. Boots are still intact on left axle. I suspect that grease was left out at the factory. Years ago, I bought a starter and installed it. Next day, I drove to Savannah GA and starter failed. Got one replacement distributor that wouldn't even start the car. Took it to parts place where I bought it. Manager took it apart and stated that it was corroded inside. So much for QC. Needed a replacement carb. for a 1986 Chevy Nova. They came shrink wrapped, which broke off diaphram that pulls off choke. Went through four before I got one that wasn't broken

Bruce I think a MFG has to some level of quality before they can control it. What I've been seeing is far from quality. Even a freaking battery which has NO moving parts goes bad in a little over 3 weeks - I'm not understanding, really I ain't.

Wanted to add one more thing, this past summer I went to change the gear lube in the rear end of my truck. Went to the local auto parts BORG picked up some 80/90 and stood in line at the counter to get a gasket. They guy asks me for my truck make and model. It's a 98 GMC (very common) he asked me how many bolt holes are on the cover. Like I know this off the top of my head or something. So I got out to the parking lot and crawled under the truck to count the bolts. Went back in after searching in the back for about 10 mins he comes back and said they now longer carry a gasket for my truck. So I asked him for a roll of gasket material, he had no idea what I was talking about. So I asked him what I should do? he said don't change the oil, no body does anymore. I about fell in the floor laughing and asked him if was serious or not, he was serious.Although I suspect most folks use a jiffy lube or something where they suck out the gear lube from the fill plug. Like that's gonna get the sludge and fine metal shaving out of the bottom of the rear end?

I ended up getting a roll of gasket material and gear lube from the local country store. I should have known better, local country stores serve mainly farmers so of course they would carry gasket material and gear lube .

Thanks

[Dutchman]

I am assuming you will have a pan under your hot water heater. One thing I usually do is set the hot water heater up on some bricks (laid flat). This helps with any corrosion if you end up with any water in your pan.

[McRabbet]

Robert,

I did just what Bruce suggested earlier about a month ago -- got a water heater replacement from Lowe's with a 12 year warranty and have it on 6 months deferred payment with no interest if paid on time. 50 gallon model was easy enought to get down to my basement and installed under the stairs. Bigger challenge was getting the old one back up the stairs, but that's what friends are for!!