4 ms·

If they changed the anode rod on the water heater periodically it might last longer. Also the reality is that HVAC and water heater might need periodic inspecti

by pkaye 4y ago

If they changed the anode rod on the water heater periodically it might last longer. Also the reality is that HVAC and water heater might need periodic inspections.

com2kid 4y ago
I was thankful, and shocked, the one year of my life that my HVAC system didn't break down in some fashion. Hot water heaters should have leak detectors on them. They often don't. The higher end models do. Product differentiation strikes again. Last water heater I had, the anode was A-OK, I had it checked about a year prior to the water heater failing. Thermal stress destroys stuff.
- sbierwagen 4y ago
  Anode rods are consumable. Did you personally see the rod itself during the inspection? They also don't repair damage. A really mean thing to do would be to replace the anode on a nearly-dead water heater right before selling a house. The minute the anode finishes rusting away, the heater could let go.
- taeric 4y ago
  I've... Never had a problem that was catastrophic in my adult life. Only real issue we've ever had was someone hit the ac unit with their car. Curious what sort of load you put on yours to have such terrible luck.
  - zbrozek 4y ago
    I had one catastrophic failure and several minor ones. Now I have a tankless water heater.
- themitigating 4y ago
  Where I'm from mostly installations have a 2 inch deep drip pan which you place a water detector. It emits a very loud noise if the bottom of it gets wet ex. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Basement-Watchdog-Battery-Operated-Water-Alarm-BWD-HWA/100038838 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Basement-Watchdog-Battery-Operat... This doesn't help for catastrophic failures but for leaks it should.
- NavinF 4y ago
  > one year of my life that my HVAC system didn't break down in some fashion Something’s wrong here. I’ve only seen 1 partial failure (a refrigerant leak reduced efficiency by 5x, but the AC still worked) in the last 15 years across several houses. You’ve got an order of magnitude more failures. Do you live on a boat? :P
  - com2kid 4y ago
    Hydronic heating system[1] (hot water running under the floors) that was incompetently installed. No expansion tanks, wrong pipes used (no oxygen barrier so oxygen seeped in and rusted the cast iron pump), pressure wasn't balanced, just tons of issues. My current house's HVAC system was also done piss poorly in places and there can be a 15 degree difference between rooms, so that's going to be 10k+ to fix. Fun times. [1]Despite the obscene maintenance costs, the luxury is worth it. Warm floors are really nice!

by pkaye 4y ago

If they changed the anode rod on the water heater periodically it might last longer. Also the reality is that HVAC and water heater might need periodic inspections.

com2kid 4y ago

I was thankful, and shocked, the one year of my life that my HVAC system didn't break down in some fashion. Hot water heaters should have leak detectors on them. They often don't. The higher end models do. Product differentiation strikes again. Last water heater I had, the anode was A-OK, I had it checked about a year prior to the water heater failing. Thermal stress destroys stuff.

sbierwagen 4y ago
Anode rods are consumable. Did you personally see the rod itself during the inspection? They also don't repair damage. A really mean thing to do would be to replace the anode on a nearly-dead water heater right before selling a house. The minute the anode finishes rusting away, the heater could let go.
taeric 4y ago
I've... Never had a problem that was catastrophic in my adult life. Only real issue we've ever had was someone hit the ac unit with their car. Curious what sort of load you put on yours to have such terrible luck.
- zbrozek 4y ago
  I had one catastrophic failure and several minor ones. Now I have a tankless water heater.
themitigating 4y ago
Where I'm from mostly installations have a 2 inch deep drip pan which you place a water detector. It emits a very loud noise if the bottom of it gets wet ex. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Basement-Watchdog-Battery-Operated-Water-Alarm-BWD-HWA/100038838 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Basement-Watchdog-Battery-Operat... This doesn't help for catastrophic failures but for leaks it should.
NavinF 4y ago
> one year of my life that my HVAC system didn't break down in some fashion Something’s wrong here. I’ve only seen 1 partial failure (a refrigerant leak reduced efficiency by 5x, but the AC still worked) in the last 15 years across several houses. You’ve got an order of magnitude more failures. Do you live on a boat? :P
- com2kid 4y ago
  Hydronic heating system[1] (hot water running under the floors) that was incompetently installed. No expansion tanks, wrong pipes used (no oxygen barrier so oxygen seeped in and rusted the cast iron pump), pressure wasn't balanced, just tons of issues. My current house's HVAC system was also done piss poorly in places and there can be a 15 degree difference between rooms, so that's going to be 10k+ to fix. Fun times. [1]Despite the obscene maintenance costs, the luxury is worth it. Warm floors are really nice!