LESLIE: Heading down south to sunny Florida with Eva who’s got a hot water question. What can we do for you?
EVA: Well, I’m just wondering – I live in a cul-de-sac and I’ve lived in this home since it was new – 35 years – and everybody has tossed out their water tanks but I haven’t. And I’ve – what I do is once a year I empty it out and, to save and conserve on electricity, I switch it – my hot water – not only my hot water but the electricity in the house – I switch it off to save electricity and when I need my water, I’ll turn it on.
TOM: Eva?
EVA: Yeah.
TOM: Do you buy lottery tickets? (Leslie and Eva chuckle)
EVA: Yes.
TOM: Well, you should because you’re one lucky woman.
EVA: Well, that’s what …
TOM: If your water heater is 35-years-old and it hasn’t leaked, I wouldn’t push it.
EVA: Well, that’s what I’m wondering. I hear different stories …
TOM: (overlapping voices) Yeah.
LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Eight to ten years.
EVA: … and people tell me that I should have a more efficient one.
TOM: Well, certainly you could have a more efficient one and I would recommend a tankless water heater for maximum efficiency. Does it …
LESLIE: But I mean, really, a water heater is going to last eight to ten years, correct?
TOM: A standard tank water heater is about a 10-year appliance. Yours is 35.
EVA: Yeah. (chuckles)
TOM: You’ve done very, very well. I wouldn’t push it because, believe me, when it does go, it’s going to be ugly. It’ll flood your whole house. So …
EVA: Well, that’s what I’m worried about.
TOM: Yeah. I would replace it at 35 years; I wouldn’t wait. It doesn’t make sense. I’ll tell you, a good website to look up what’s available on the market is SmarterHotWater.com. That’s the website for the Rheem company.
EVA: Oh, yeah. That’s what it is, is a Rheem.
TOM: Well, you see? Then the Rheem has lasted you …
LESLIE: So you know they make good ones.
TOM: That’s done very well for you so I would replace it and I would get another Rheem.
EVA: OK. Well, thank you very much.
TOM: You’re welcome, Eva. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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