One thing leads to another.
Diane noticed we didn’t have our furnace filter changed in 2018. So I called our Heating/Cooling guys and they sent Andrew out. Andrew is a eager and friendly thirty-something. He changed the furnace filter, cleaned the HEIL 10-year-old unit, and then said, “I think your furnace motor is dying.” Sure enough, I’d heard a growing whine from the furnace over the past couple of months. “Better install a new one,” I replied. And, while I had Andrew checking things out, I asked, “Could you check my hot water tank?”
Last week I spoke with Art Scott on his Birthday. He told me his three-month old hot water tank failed and he needed to buy another one. Andrew checked our hot water tank and said, “You had this installed in 1997! These A.O. Smith hot water tanks usually only last for 10 years. You’ve on Year 22!”
A quick consultation with Diane produced the decision: let’s get a new hot water tank before this one failed. Andrew returned the next day with a Bradford White hot water tank. I had labored mightily to clear a path amid the boxes of books for Andrew and the new hot water tank. Andrew commented, “You did a lot of work!” A couple hours later, the new Bradford White hot water tank was heating up and the old A.O. Smith hot water tank was gone. I asked Andrew why they switched from A.O. Scott to Bradford White. “We had nothing but problems with A.O, Smith’s Customer Service and their policies. It was hard to get them to honor their Warranties. Bradford White, on the other hand, is easy to work with.”
I checked consumer reviews of A. O. Smith’s products online and Andrew was right: Plenty of complaints! You can check those out here.
So we started out with just having a new furnace filter installed. That led to a new furnace motor. And a new hot water tank. We stimulated the Economy to the tune of about $1,500! Have you had any hot water tank problems?
One of the reasons I’m glad I live in a apartment. I don’t have all the upkeep costs.
Steve, when you own a house, there’s always something to fix. I’m guessing our 20-year-old Panasonic microwave might be next.
We replaced our 20 year old microwave a couple of years ago. The big ones are the refrigerator and the stove, both about 30 years old!
Jeff, Diane’s 40-year-old Maytag washer still works great! But, most of our appliances are way past their shelf-life date!
George, we have hot-water geysers in our bathrooms, though I use those only during the monsoon and in the winter months. Of course, winter rarely lasts more than two or three weeks in my part of the world. Rest of the year it’s so hot that it’s possible to take a “cold” shower.
Prashant, it’s 14 degrees Fahrenheit here with windchills near zero. Hot water is a must!
That water tank looks really big!
Do you take “an hour in the shower” or is it for other purposes too? 🙂
Wolf, the new Bradford White hot water tank is a 40-gallon unit. I’m usually in and out of the shower in 17 minutes.
I must admit that since I broke my shoulder, I have been letting the hot water pour on it for several extra minutes these days. It feels good!
Jeff, exactly! My brother, the physical therapist, says that hot water and ice are the two best tools of PT!
If Art’s water heater failed after three months, I hope it was still under warranty!
Our water heater is ancient—as in, it was old when we moved into this house and we’ve lived here over 18 years now. We have money set aside to purchase a new one, but are still in the deliberation phase. Has anyone had a tankless water heater installed? What did you think? Neither John nor I are “hour shower” people, but one of our daughters will stay in the shower until the water runs cold and then complain she didn’t have enough time!
Five minutes will do me. No hour showers here. And since Jackie has gotten lazy and started getting her hair done weekly rather than washing it herself, her shower time is way down too.
Jeff, when I was working I used to take a 5-minute shower each morning. But now, with aches and pains of aging, I take a little longer shower to let the hot water ease some of my creaky joints.
Deb, I’ve heard mixed reviews about “tankless” water heaters. With just Diane and me in this house, a 40-gallon Bradford White hot water tank should be fine. When Patrick and Katie lived here, sometimes the water would go cold.
What Steve said. The joys of apartment living, at least for those of us who don’t live in city housing projects where they sometimes go months without heat or hot water.
Once again, the Kelley’s outdo Jackie! All we got lately was a very cool, futuristic Krups two-slice toaster and a soon to arrive kitchen garbage pail. Of course, there have been shoes and hoodies and sweatshirts (still to come) and other items, but nothing as big (in every way) as the hot water tank.
Enjoy!
Jeff, I feel sorry for the Federal workers caught in this stupid Government Shutdown. The unexpected costs of the furnace filter, the furnace motor, and the new hot water tank amounted to about $1,500. We have an appliance fund for occasions like this so No Problem. But a lot of these Federal workers live paycheck-to-paycheck. Expenses like these would collapse their financial House of Cards!
For years we went with Sears products because they had strong warranties and excellent customer service. Them days is gone. Last year, my 2-year-old Sears Water Heater Tank sprung a leak. The Service tech had to photograph the leak, then get a pressure reading , which he couldn’t do because the tank was leaking at the valve. So Sears would not honor the warranty. Fortunately for me, he did not charge me for the service call, and I got a tank at Lowes.
Dan, our service technician warned us that most hot water tanks manufactured today would only last 10 years at most. Quality has declined Big Time!
Our washer, dryer, furnace and hwh are all old. But the biggest problem is the 700 sq feet of stone floor, which I want to replace with a softer surface. The house is on a slab so I can;’t put in hardwood. The grout won’t come clean. Ugh.
Patti, a lot of our friends have tile floors, but I think they are hard to walk on. My knees would complain!
What kind of city boy can’t change a furnace filter? It takes me a minute to do mine! Over the years I’ve gotten a new water heater and furnace! Linda bought a swamp cooler so we have central air!
Bob, we have a Super Duper anti-allergy furnace filter. It looks like an accordion. I don’t mess with it. Let the technicians deal with the filter when they perform their yearly furnace checkup!
My brother! Synchronized hot water! Correction though, my old tank (GE) was a mere 5 years old, pilot assembly failed, then the replacement pilot failed after 3 months. My plumber recommended Bradford White also, and that’s what I’ve now got. Got to second Cap’n Bob’s incredulity re furnace filter change though; that job’s a 1 minute snap for me also. However, maybe it’s a really stupid design, like Bruce Taylor’s; it’s in a ceiling, requiring a stepladder, a nutdriver (a device unknown to Bruce), and a second set of hands with a broomstick – to keep the grill from falling on the installer’s head when unfastened. My string of holiday failures didn’t end with the hot water heater; day after it was installed the ceiling lights in the downstairs bathroom started flickering. The fluorescent bulbs are a design nobody makes or stocks any more. Will call the electrician to install a new fixture when my wallet recovers a bit from the water heater hit.
Art, a “nutdriver” is also a device unknown to me. Of course, I see a lot of nut drivers on the roads of Western New York!
Oh my. George you are a complete tool no-know.
Good for you that you have new, reliable heating and hot water. I also am amazed you didn’t change your furnace filter yourself! Takes a couple of minutes (there’s a plate that needs unscrewing/screwing).
@ Deb: Our neighbors have tankless and always say it’s the way to go, provided the plumbing is set up so it’s an easy install. They have theirs in their furnace room, where the water heater used to be. It’s small and efficient. There are three of them, and they say they don’t run out of hot water for showers, dishwasher, laundry, etc.
Rick, I only have two tools in my home: a screwdriver and a hammer. I don’t want to be tempted to “fix” something and only cause a more expensive repair!