I feel like we finally cross a right of passage in home ownership.
Our water heater split open in the top-floor attic, spilling water through the ceiling in the laundry room and generally inciting a frenzy of panic for 24 hours, after which we are many thousands of dollars poorer and now the owners of a new tankless water heater.
I’ve spoke to several neighbors who have had this same thing happen to them over the years, including a neighbor a few doors down just a couple months ago. I thought it wouldn’t happen to me, but what other outcome would there be really? Proactively replace the water heater, just because? BEFORE it fails? Does anyone really do that? The water heater was 9 years old. It felt like we could get a few more years about it. Seemed like it was running strong and steady. They don’t exactly give you many signals that they are about to burst.
In retrospect, it seemed like a gamble, and in gambling the house (water heater) always wins.
Regardless, I think we escaped the worst. The water damage was pretty small (we caught it just as it was starting). A quick trip to Lowes for a shop vac saved us.
In the end, I’m happy with the new unit and even happier I don’t have 40 gallons of water above my living space anymore that might someday come pouring down on me.
