Hot water tank... from the 80s?

a year ago by mycatsays to c/ausrenovation

A property we looked at recently has this electric hot water tank. There's no date on it, but it's obviously quite old and the realtor says to him it looks like an 80s model.

Common wisdom and information I can find online says that you're doing really well if you get 20 years out of a hot water tank (10-15 years is a more realistic lifespan).

So... How is this tank still functioning? And if we were to buy this house, should we expect that we'd have to replace this basically right away?

Letstakealook 7 points a year ago

From my nonexpert perspective and the apparent state of that thing, I would assume you would have an amateur rocket with an unspecified launch date. Even if it's safe, you'll save money with modern efficient models.

path: 0 17154781, hotness: undefined, score: 7, children: 1
amotio 3 points a year ago

This, and also externally this heater might look ok and "works" but inside might be full of rust-mud.

We have recently removed our old heater and the insides were pretty nasty, the walls have almost rusted away just waiting to pop.

path: 0 17154781 17155064, hotness: undefined, score: 3, children: 0
maniacalmanicmania 5 points a year ago

Interesting looking basement.

path: 0 17154836, hotness: undefined, score: 5, children: 2
WaterWaiver 2 points a year ago

I'm jealous. Walking height ceilings? Arches???

path: 0 17154836 17169077, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0
No1 1 point a year ago

It puts the lotion on its skin....

path: 0 17154836 17161054, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
gazter 3 points a year ago

Those things are built, quite literally, like tanks.

It'll go at some point, so have some money put aside for a replacement, but you aren't going to save money by replacing it with a more efficient model.

If you're going to invest in a heat pump model, I believe they do better outside. So do yourself a favour and talk to a plumber about a good spot, pour a little slab for it, maybe even pre run piping.

path: 0 17190975, hotness: undefined, score: 3, children: 0
hanrahan 1 point a year ago

Zero chance of an 80s electric HWS still working.

Unless it was in a box for 30+years before being installed. Maybe the dude who owned the place bought 3 and just replaced them as they shat themselves ?

path: 0 19457232, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0
ausrenovation
ausrenovation

@aussie.zone

login for more options
254
39
1

go to feed...