Household Water Heater Question

[skunked again]

GE power vent - model GG40T06PVJ. The fan housing broke where it attaches to the motor. All around the hub.

- Can I replace just the fan?
- could I epoxy it back together? Until I either put on a new fan, or a whole new assembly?

I couldn't find a part number for the assembly for GE. Found one for Rheem though. #SP13416. For a cost of around $370.

This water heater was made in 2007. Would you get the replacement part for $370? Or, Since I'm 1\4 of the way to a new water heater, get a new one? Given it's age.

Gonna call\stop by local plumbing stores tomorrow, see what they say and have.

[NH_Bulldog]

First and foremost, don’t mess with the vent system, or you or someone you love could die. Second, that water heater is about 5 years beyond it’s reasonable life expectancy. If it were me (and it has been recently), I would just replace the whole thing and be done with it

[jasin1]

yes ..put the money towards a new on and don’t mess with the flue system unless you replace the entire inducer fan assembly with a oem part..or a reputable replacement part…your likely to fix it and then it starts leaking in a month or a year and you’ve wasted money…and buy yourself a co detector or three for your house.

don’t cut corners with gas appliances


…and that water heater is old …anything over 10 years on a water heater is replacement time as far as i’m concerned when the choice is repair or replace

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jasin1

yes ..put the money towards a new on and don’t mess with the flue system unless you replace the entire inducer fan assembly with a oem part..or a reputable replacement part…your likely to fix it and then it starts leaking in a month or a year and you’ve wasted money…and buy yourself a co detector or three for your house.

don’t cut corners with gas appliances


…and that water heater is old …anything over 10 years on a water heater is replacement time as far as i’m concerned when the choice is repair or replace

Come on Jasin; "back in the day, when I was a young'un" those water heaters would last 30 years!! I don't know how long this one has been in since I replaced it but it's been longer than 10 years...or 15. I intend to get my moneys worth....just keep flushing the rust out of the bottom! They just don't make 'em like they used to.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Come on Jasin; "back in the day, when I was a young'un" those water heaters would last 30 years!! I don't know how long this one has been in since I replaced it but it's been longer than 10 years...or 15. I intend to get my moneys worth....just keep flushing the rust out of the bottom! They just don't make 'em like they used to.

it’s one thing to replace a thermocouple or a heating element..maybe a gas valve/thermostat but making a repair that cost half the price of a new one on a 10-15 year water heater? nope not me..i’m buying new and getting a new warranty ..
if there is no issues i’m leaving it until there is a problem..15-20 years…but i have drain pans under my water heaters also…years ago before i started my buisness i worked for a large hvac company that had separate service and install departments…i left the install side and went into service..my boss wanted me to quote $1000 repairs on 18 year old ac systems..i always advised to put the money towards new..my boss said “ we in service are in the business to repair things…not replace them” …little old lady’s had no idea what was better …i hated that part of the industry and i never do that for my company.

i won’t even charge a service call if it’s a lost cause and the people are nice.

i’m not trying to get rich off of other peoples misfortune

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jasin1

it’s one thing to replace a thermocouple or a heating element..maybe a gas valve/thermostat but making a repair that cost half the price of a new one on a 10-15 year water heater? nope not me..i’m buying new and getting a new warranty ..
if there is no issues i’m leaving it until there is a problem..15-20 years…but i have drain pans under my water heaters also…years ago before i started my buisness i worked for a large hvac company that had separate service and install departments…i left the install side and went into service..my boss wanted me to quote $1000 repairs on 18 year old ac systems..i always advised to put the money towards new..my boss said “ we in service are in the business to repair things…not replace them” …little old lady’s had no idea what was better …i hated that part of the industry and i never do that for my company.

i won’t even charge a service call if it’s a lost cause and the people are nice.

i’m not trying to get rich off of other peoples misfortune

I was just kidding. You do the right thing. I'm the worlds worst at using your criteria; I'd just as soon replace it as try to repair it no matter what it is.
You're replace vs "repair" until tomorrow philosophy is spot on IMO.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by sourdough

I was just kidding. You do the right thing. I'm the worlds worst at using your criteria; I'd just as soon replace it as try to repair it no matter what it is.
You're replace vs "repair" until tomorrow philosophy is spot on IMO.

thank you sir

[Gegrad]

2007 water heater? I'm defintley going whole new heater if the part is $370 and new heater and part is included for $1300. Given your WH made it 15 years I would call yourself lucky for getting that much out it. That's a good long life for a home WH.

[skunked again]

Thanks to All !
I installed a new water heater this afternoon\evening. Friend came over to get the Old WH out, he has a scrap pile. Win Win !
Checked for gas leaks with soap bubbles. All good.
The old WH had a return line on it, need to get a fitting tomorrow to hook that back up, otherwise everything else went back together with no modifications. I was pleasantly shocked! ! Without that return line, it takes along time to get hot water to the other end of the house!
Already had four showers through it.

When the friend got home, he found his dryer not working, it's always something !!

[flybouy]

Always something, yup. We're heading home after 1 week of a 2 week trip. Two days before we we going to leave I walked down the basement steps and stepped on a 3 x 5 rug wet rug. Water was comming out from under the wall. Adjacent to the steps is a bathroom where the water supply line enters the house.

I opened the closet in that bathroom and water was pouring in from the outside thru the foundation wall. Had to call the water dept to shut off water outside. The house is 23 yrs old so we're luck the 3/4 copper pipe lasted that long. I feel blessed that not only lasted that long but that apparently we found it just after it happened. The bathroom floor is 1'x1' marble and the rec room is Conneticut blue slate.
I installed it so I know the grout is good. I also built out the finish walls using metal framing and keeping the drywall 1" above the finished floor. So if any is damaged (besides my patience) it would only be a few feet of baseboard molding.

Neighbors had their supply lines replaced several years ogo. Called a couple of plumbers to come out and give estimates. One said he could do the job "in the next few days". His estimate? Well, $8,800. One of the neighbour's that had his done gave the outfits number that he used. Their estimate was $2,900. They were having issues with scheduling as they were booked until after Memorial day. That outfit called us 2 days ago and said they can do the work on the 18 th if someone can open the house. So home we go today.

Made me think, when we leave home for a trip I shut off the water and turn off the WH, etc. But this came from outside so unless I called the water company to have shut off outside this can still happen. Another preparation call from now on after stopping the mail, call the water company. Yup, it's always something!