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Re-using a water heater

Tark | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on April 23, 2004 02:08am

Hi Everyone,

I’m having some carpentry work done on an apartment building. During the course of work, it was thought that the water heater for a particular unit was leaking. Without going into the gory details, prior to them changing the water heater, but after I signed the change order, we discovered that the water heater is fine (its about 3 years old) but the rather old and original gate valve and surrounding copper fittings are in poor shape and the cause of the leak.

In any event, since the new WH was already delivered and figuring that the pipes needed to get repaired anyway, I have them continuing with changing the WH out.

The question I have is. . .since this “old” water heater is in great shape, can it be kept in storage as a spare? If so, for how long? Will it start to deterioate. Would I be better off installing immediately in another unit with a much older WH that does need replacing.

Thanks,

Tark

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  1. WayneL5 | Apr 23, 2004 03:13am | #1

    I bought a used water heater from a gas company.  It worked fine for years after I bought it.  I don't know how long it was sitting unused, though.  Since the parts that contact the water are made of corrosion resistant material, I don't see why it wouldn't be fine so long as the interior of the tank was dried out and the unit was stored in a dry location.

  2. UncleDunc | Apr 23, 2004 03:13am | #2

    >> ... can it be kept in storage as a spare?

    Yes.

    >> If so, for how long?

    Indefinitely, assuming you can keep it reasonably dry.

    >> Will it start to deterioate?

    No, assuming you can keep it reasonably dry.

    >> Would I be better off installing immediately in another unit with a much older WH that does

    >> need replacing.

    It depends. How much is it worth to you to know you can get a working WH when the stores are closed, versus how much will it cost you, in time, space, and money, to store it?

  3. Tark | Apr 23, 2004 04:30am | #3

    WAYNEL5 and Uncle Dunc,

    Thanks so much for your responses. Just what I wanted to hear.

    All the best,

    Tark

  4. DanH | Apr 23, 2004 05:43am | #4

    Ideally, you should hook up a hose to the cold water inlet, open the drain, and flush it out good before storing it. This will keep the sediment in the bottom from cracking and stressing the glass lining.

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