A first-time homeowner sought advice from Reddit's r/Plumbing community after noticing rust on a water heater that was still providing plenty of hot water.
But with the tank tucked inside a bedroom closet, waiting to replace it raised concerns beyond losing hot showers.
Here's what to know
The homeowner's father favored keeping the tank until a replacement became unavoidable. However, the original poster's spouse saw the rust as a reason to act. With the conflicting opinions, the OP hoped plumbing experts could settle the debate.
"Does this water heater need to be replaced? … I've been told the rust puts the water heater at risk of exploding?" they wrote.
Commenters focused on the possibility of leaks rather than an explosion. "Exploding? No. Leaking like a motherf***** at the worst f****** time possible? Absolutely," one wrote.
Another user echoed the sentiment, adding: "This. It won't explode. But if you replace it before it springs a big leak, you can take your time, get multiple bids, and schedule the work at your convenience. If you wait till it's an emergency, you'll pay the emergency tax and be without hot water at an unpredictable time."
Some people advocated for replacing the unit. "I definitely would," one user suggested. "You can see signs of leaking and it's definitely past its lifespan. Just because it 'works' now, you never really know when it could fail."
For homeowners comparing replacement options, Cala offers smart heat pump water heaters. Cala's customizable smart heat pump water heaters can help homeowners decrease their energy bills by heating water exactly when it is needed. Cala is an option to consider during the shopping process.
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The OP updated the thread to write that they would find a plumber after deciding to replace the tank.
Where can I learn more?
Rust and leaks have left other homeowners weighing whether their water heaters need replacing.
• One learned their warped water heater risked "rocket" failure after shutting off gas.
• Someone else received a $1,000 quote after a plumber warned of a potentially explosive tank failure.
• A leaking heater with rust at the base drew urgent advice to replace it.
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