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Triple master contractor Ed Del Grande
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By Ed Del Grande
Q: Ed Del Grande, I appreciate how you keep your columns current with the building industry and that you help homeowners and contractors work together to solve problems. I'm a licensed contractor, and I have a customer who is on their fourth gas water heater in 19 years! I have installed every tank to code with permits and know the installations were correct. However, after this last water heater blew out, my customer has started to blame me for all the problems! I'm to the point where I want to walk away from this whole thing. What could be causing this to happen? Bob (Wisconsin)
A: First off, Bob, I understand the sensitivity of your position. All good contractors want to keep their customers happy. and it seems that the stress of losing four water heaters in less than 20 years has pushed your contractor/homeowner relationship to the edge. For what it's worth, don't give up on each other; the fact that you both have worked together for 20 years tells me that you and the customer are probably two honest, hard-working people and neither one of you should throw away a long-term professional relationship.
As far as standard water heaters go, it's tough to figure out how long they should last. Many factors could shorten the life of a water heater: a tank that is too small for the home and thus overworked; excessive water pressure in the home; and water loaded with deposits and minerals that can affect the tank. With gas water heaters, a bad flue or poor air exchange in the utility room can also play a role in shortening the tank life.
Because there is no actual fuel burning in the tank, electric water heaters may last longer that gas or oil water heaters. With all water heaters, a regular maintenance check on anode rods and controls every two years or so by a licensed technician is a good idea. Manufacturers do sell water heaters with six- and 10- year warranties as insurance policies to help offset replacement costs. If you've been using the same water heater brand over the years, call the manufacturer for any recommendations.
Other than that, we all have to accept the fact that standard water heaters are a utility appliance in our home, and sooner or later, they will have to be replaced. And as you and your customer are finding out, sometimes it's sooner!
Ed Del Grande was born and raised in a family-owned plumbing business. With more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of construction, he holds current Master licenses in pipefitting, fire protection and plumbing. If you have a question for Ed, send him an e-mail at eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.
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