By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
In my home, the water heater is installed in the third-floor attic. If it should ever leak, I shutter to think of the disastrous water damage that could result. Now that it's six years old, how soon should I consider replacing it?
- Dorothy
Dear Dorothy,
Today's water heaters are manufactured for short life and frequent replacement. Unlike the fixtures of bygone days, capable of delivering 20 years of reliable service, modern water heaters are masterfully engineered to last five or more years. And to add some suspense to the inevitable dying scene, the "or more" period is entirely unpredictable: It can last 10 years or a single day.
In your home, the "cliff hanging" is magnified by the impractical water heater location, situated where damage to the building would be maximized in the event of an untimely leak. A drain pan with a discharge pipe to the exterior of the building could eliminate this risk, but, unfortunately, this kind of protection is not required in most localities. Thus, installations such as yours are common. But don't be constrained by minimum code requirements. Whether or not you replace your current water heater, the installation of a pan is highly recommended.
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