The hot water tank gave out at 2 AM last Tuesday

I woke up to a puddle in the basement around 2 AM last Tuesday. My 12 year old Rheem finally rusted through and dumped about 30 gallons on the floor before I caught it. Had to drain it with a shop vac at 3 in the morning, then spent all Wednesday replacing it myself. Anyone else had a tank fail at the worst possible time?

2 comments

2 Comments

beth_mitchell1mo ago

Wait, isn't 12 years actually pretty good for a water heater?

jessel351mo ago

Twelve years is about average for a cheap tank, you got your money's worth. Next time put a drain pan under it with a hose to the floor drain, that'll save you the shop vac routine at 3 AM. And make sure you flush the sediment out once a year with a garden hose or you'll be doing this again in 8 years instead of 12.