HELP! Water heater is leaking

[3kids4me]

At least you don't have hot water baseboard heating! You'd be very cold tonight....

Wait...you don't, right?

[GrayFal]

Originally Posted by 3kids4me

At least you don't have hot water baseboard heating! You'd be very cold tonight....

Wait...you don't, right?

She does but the two systems operate independently.
The hot water in your baseboard/radiator heating system is heated by and circulated by your boiler.
Hot water heater is separate.

Some people do have a boiler that has a coil in it to heat the hot water but she does not - two separate systems.

so no hot water for dish washing, laundry, people washing...but heat is okay.

[Marti]

Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency

If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy
system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit.

Gas, Propane Water Heater
Requirements Energy Factor
≥ 0.82 OR a thermal efficiency
of at least 90%.

Tax Credit includes installation costs.

For products "placed in service" in 2010,
you would take the tax credit on your 2010 income taxes.

[Pat H]

Plumber is coming tomorrow to replace my 50 gal electric hot water heater that is 22 yrs old. Charge is $695 so it sounds like you got a good deal. He is actually coming because my tub drain (he thinks) is leaking. I found that out when I saw a great big water stain on my laundry room ceiling. I happened to mention that I was interested in a new water heater and the next thing you know he already bought it. I haven't even met him yet and I already owe him money. Thank goodness he takes credit cards!

[bigfrank]

If you went to a plumbing supply you can buy a new water heater for about $250 and ask them if they have someone to put it in cheap. I would guess you can get it done for about $500 total or just over that. I have a plumber that might have gone to you but I am not sure if he would have came out in a day.

[3kids4me]

Sounds like you are very lucky you caught it quickly. Our water heater also started leaking last month (it was about 20 years old) and soaked through the wall to the garage. The insulation got wet as well (flooded through the wall) as well as the carpeting in the basement, which had to be pulled up. Fortunately we have a plan with our oil company which replaces the broken boiler for free, but the rest of the damage was very costly. Our heat is tied into the same system so we couldn't turn off the water until the boiler was replaced. Homes can definitely be money pits. On a positive note, I think you can get a tax deduction for certain water heaters now.

[lawren2]

Very lucky indeed. There are some things I really love about my house. The unfinished half basement and totally separate systems and ductwork for hot water, heat and c/a work very well. In the long run it's much easier to address one system when it breaks than to address 2 or 3 at a time.

At least we are warm.

Sears will be here at noon and I can catch up on a few things, like a shower and mopping the floors, neither of which works well with ice cold water.

[GrayFal]

It must be going around - we replaced our leaking water heater about 2 months ago.

[GrayFal]

Sooooooo, how did it go????

[lawren2]

WOOHOO!

Hot water here at casa Lawren as of 5:30PM eastern.

Life is good when you can take a long hot shower and catch up on dishes, pots and pans.

The plumbers were here for all of 40 minutes for $290. I don't grudge them the $. Everyplace else wanted another $150 on top of that with no guarantee of today's install.