Flushing Water Heater

[hallerb]

George E. Cawthon

[e-mail] wrote:

It saves no aggravation, it just cost more and it is extremely wasteful. Most replacement auto batteries have a 72 or 84 month guarantee and have greater capacity that the OEM batteries. Occasionally a battery just goes kaput, but age has little to do with that. Ordinarily batteries just age and if you can't tell when the battery is beginning to go bad maybe you shouldn't be driving.

I have never had a battery last less than 5 years (and that was back in the 60's) and most last 7 or more years. Just replaced the original battery in my 1994 Explorer but that was a real exception. And yes I knew the capacity had diminished for over a year. And you would have been your 3rd replacement. BTW, the normal failure of a water heater is for it to leak a little, not burst and flood the place.

--------------------------------------- Well I for one dont like getting stuck somewhere when a battery dies:( Also I USED to buy more alternators. Its my theory heavy charging required when a battery gets near the end of its life contribuites to alternator failure...

I give my old battery to a buddy with a wind generator, he uses them on his system. so they arent being wasted.

Incidently the most common battery failure is on a zero day, and that sucks. They can load test a battery, it gives a idea of its condition.

yeah most hot water tanks just leak. thats minor in a basement with a floor drain, buts not necessarily the case with newer homes. besides being without hot water is inconvenient.

I look at things differently and believe in preventive maintence. I repair office machines for a living, primarily for schools. around here they all start the end of august. the time to service all those machines isnt sept 1st. better to start in early summer so they are all looked at before the first day of school.

you buy insurance in case something bad happens. with a low cost item like a hot water tank or car battery I would rather spend a little more and avoid a hassle.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

How can you say it saves no aggravation?

I agree that 4 years is too short, but don't you find it aggravating when the first sign of battery failure is when your wife calls from the supermarket parking lot. Or your car won't start when it is 5 degrees and windy? I like to change my battery when it is sunny and above 50 degrees.

My one car is 5 years old next month. Battery will be changed in October while it is still good weather. To be honest, I've not even seen in in the

5 years and 107,000 miles I've owned it. It is under the back seat. On my other car, the battery is under a shroud that is a real PITA to remove.

FWIW, the truck at work got a new batter and it was just 70 months of the expected 72 months life.

[hallerb]

batteries away from the engines heat last a lot longer. in my case I drive a lot fixing machines at one time putting over 45,000 in one year. all that traveling on pennsylvanias rough roads does vibration damage to batteries, leading to shorter life.

sometimes getting the very last bit of something is no value at all. espically on a zero nite, having to get a tow:(

[George E. Cawthon]

My wife called me only once about the car not starting. In fact, I didn't think it was the battery and even pulled the starter. Turned out the battery had shorted, first I had ever seen. Not something one can anticipate.

If the car wouldn't start I wouldn't have it outside in 5 degree weather. Actually I pride myself on auto maintenance and knowing the condition of the vehicle. So if the car won't start at 5 degrees, I would have had a good indication when it started slowly at 20 degrees.

My cars used to have high mileage on them, usually didn't buy them until they had 50,000 on them. But now I buy newer and drive less. I don't have any hint that my 2000 pickup will need a new battery anytime soon. And I sure as hell wouldn't just replace it out of the blue. There would be just as much chance that the new battery would be bad.

Yep, the battery in my 1994 Explorer had a shield and it was big enough that I also had to disconnect the air intake to get the battery out. I opted to not put the shield back in.

Happens, especially with vehicles in a pool and many drivers who aren't the owner. But I've never had a battery last shorter than it's guarantee period.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Where would millions of car owners keep them when the temperature is 5 degrees? Many don't have garages. You don't always get that warning at 20 degrees, and even if I did, I'd still rather change it at 50 degrees than 20 under the pressure of needing a car tomorrow. Or getting that 20 degree warning on a trip hundreds of miles from home. Glad your method works for you, but it does not for everyone.

[hallerb]

I use my garage for my business, and its so small my van wouldnt fit anyway. For ME the convenience of a good battery is worth the minor bucks cost.

Some people drink or smoke, I do neither.

I spend a bit keeping my old car dependable

[George E. Cawthon]

If you don't have a garage then I guess one would need to pay closer attention. And you are right, my method won't work for many. I've driven with people that could care less what the strange noises are or what they might mean. The engine has difficulty turning over and they think, "Hmm, got to get to the drugstore." Big bang under the car and they say "Wow, gotta turn the radio volume up to hear everything."

[RichK]

Happy to report I just did. The anode in my case was 34 inch. Same length as original, but did not look the same.

Original anode appears to have a center rod and two anode rods, next to it. At least in the state that it's in now. The new anode is simply a round aluminum rod of about 1 inch dia. I could bend the old anode, but no way to bend teh new one.

My tank is 48inch high (short and fat) and there was plenty of room above it. Of course you can cut the anode a bit, if need be.

Hard to tell how many anodes, unless you can call tech support at Sears. There's an 800 number and the folks who answer want to sell you parts, but they also seem halfway literate and can look up info.

In some cases the second anode can hang under the hot water outlet pipe - attached apparently to the inlet.

I did not develop any problems with the flush valve, due to dirt. Even if I did, it's easy to replace. Just screw-in a new one. Don't know why people thrash the tank for a $5 valve. To replace it, drain the water. In fact should have done it, while I had the tank empty :-((

Rich

[Robert Gammon]

Wow you get 4 years on a car battery!!!

They only seem to last about 2 years here in Houston, TX, no matter how much you pay or how long the warranty is!!!