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Inspecting the Tank and Purchasing a Replacement — Decode the Water Heater Serial Number to Determine the Manufacturing Date

Beginner1 hour

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Water Heater Replacement Guide: Age & Signs of Failure · Step 2 of 4

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In this video

Begin by making sure the water tank needs replacement due to a leak, then purchase a new one.

Goal: To identify the leak and procure a new water heater

15.0K views21330 minutes
Champion Plumbing

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FAQs

What specific tools do I need to effectively inspect my water heater for signs of failure as outlined in this guide?

You'll primarily need a good flashlight to thoroughly inspect the tank, pipes, and surrounding area for leaks, rust, or corrosion. A smartphone is useful for taking clear photos of the serial number or any damage for later reference, and for accessing the manufacturer's website to decode the serial number. No specialized tools are required for this assessment.

Are there any safety precautions I should take when inspecting my water heater for signs of failure?

Yes, always be mindful of hot surfaces and potential electrical or gas hazards. Avoid touching exposed wiring or hot pipes. If you smell a rotten egg odor, which indicates a gas leak, evacuate immediately and contact your gas company. If you see active water leaks, proceed with caution and ensure the area is safe.

How difficult is it to follow this guide and accurately assess my water heater's condition, and how long should it take?

This guide is rated as beginner-friendly and should take approximately 1 hour to complete. The main tasks involve locating and decoding a serial number and performing a visual inspection, which requires no specialized skills or heavy lifting. Most of the time is spent thoroughly looking for subtle signs of wear.

What if I can't find or decode my water heater's serial number to determine its exact age?

Serial numbers are typically on a sticker on the upper side of the tank, sometimes near the energy efficiency label. If it's faded or unclear, try taking a clear photo with good lighting. If you still can't decode it using online resources, consult the manufacturer's customer support line with the brand and as much of the serial number as you can provide.

Transcript
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today's video is going to be on signs that your water heater may be potentially failing and going bad once you've identified that you have an apparent leak on the floor where you can look for the source of the water leak either at the base of the tank or at the top and then once you've determined that the tank needs to be replaced this video is going to show you how to go ahead and remove that tank in preparation for installing your new tank so if you guys like this content give the video a thumbs up and consider subscribing and let's get into it so we've had this water heater for about eight years and there's been pooling of water on the garage for for about the last two to three months and that is signs that the tank is failing and i didn't really do a lot of the preventative maintenance as far as you know plugging a hose into this thing and draining all the calcium buildup on the inside of the tank and so i probably could have gotten a lot more life out of this but because i didn't do that i think i've only i did that twice in the last eight years and you usually put warm water in my daughter's pool when she was swimming outside in the summer so that caused premature wear and if we look here at the seam the base of the barrel you can see that that corrosion on the inside it's slowly been just causing this to leak and it's pulling up in the garage it's getting to the point where it's starting to get moldy and needs to be dealt with and so um i stopped by home depot and we picked up a new rheem water heater and this is a 50 gallon tank we're going to go with versus my old tank was 40 gallons

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