My old water heater started leaking heavily yesterday. So I read an article on FHB about replacing water heaters and bought a new one today (it’s a 50 gallon natural gas GE with a 12 yr. warranty).
After reading the FHB article, I got a friend to help me pick up the water heater in his truck (the article said not to lay them flat as I would have had to in my van). We were careful with it, but while we were lifting it onto its stand in the garage, my friend lost his grip as we were setting it into the drip pan.
It slipped about 8″ or so. I still had a grip on it, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. But it still got jarred pretty good. I didn’t hear anything break. Something in the flue rattled around quite a bit, but I heard that the whole time we were moving it around.
Would this concern any of you about the tank or its lining? I’m thinking these things probably get manhandled pretty regularly when transported and installed, so its probably okay. And the guy in the appliances department at Lowe’s (not where I bought it) told me that he helps plumbers load them into trucks on their sides all the time.
Still, I’d like to hear what you guys think and if there is any way for me to know for sure if damage was done.
(I haven’t finished connecting it and turned it on yet. I’ll do that tomorrow, unless a bunch of you tell me it’s likely damaged.)
Replies
>>>I'm thinking these things probably get manhandled pretty regularly when transported and installed, so its probably okay.
I think you're right.
Now if you had of moved it when it was full of water.....
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
The rattle in the flue is normal. There is a piece of metal that hangs down in the flue to slow the heat from the fire. This helps the efficencey of the heater. Some heaters have a couple notches that keep the heat dissapator in place.
Even the ones I moved around at the store made that noise, so I presumed it was normal. But thanks for the information. It's nice to know for sure and know what that is.
Would your guess be that it's okay, too? My neighbor pointed out that it's made in Mexico. I've driven from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas a couple of times. The roads are so bad that I would think even the most careful driver (and I didn't see too many of those) would jostle a load of water heaters around pretty good.
i say return it... then i can get it on clearance for 50% off...
but chances are it's fine... and how would you know if it's something you caused or a factory defect?
I have a source for returnd to lowes and HD... you'd be surprised how many people hook up th power BEFORE they fill it up.... then return em cause they don't work... go figure... but good for me... i get em 25cents on the dollar just wish they'd screw up more of the short 28 & 38 gallon units...
p
but chances are it's fine... and how would you know if it's something you caused or a factory defect?
That's true. I hadn't really thought about what I'd do if it is damaged. If it was something I caused, I couldn't see returning it.
But for the ones you're talking about that are turned on before they're filled up, what good are they to you? I'm guessing that that is a problem mainly with electric water heaters. Do you buy them and replace the elements?
yes... just replace em and they are fine... you can't put power to them until there is water in em... somehow i ended up with 100's of new elements... so it's a free fix for me... but even if you had to buy em... they are cheap vs a water heater... guess i use... 5-20 in any given year... so in a good year i can save 3k or more just in WH's
p
Thanks to everyone for the info. I hooked it up and everything seems fine.
Someone told me to turn on a hot water faucet PRIOR to filling the new water heater for the first time.I have no idea if that's helpful or just an old wive's taleThe purpose is to allow the air to escape from the tank
Not an old wives tale. Doesn't have to be before turning on the feed water , but absolutely before turning on the power or lighting a gas unit.
Run the water until it runs free of air and then turn the unit on.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
I'm guessing the worst you may have done was break the dip tube. That will be evident if you try and use hot water and all your filters get plugged up with plastic.
You should be fine though. I would think the dip tube would be more likely to break if you dropped it on its side.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.