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On-line advice says residential gas water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. I have lived here for 12 years and my neighbor says my water heater was 5 to 10 years old when I bought the house. So the water heater may be 20 years old. It still works fine but I wonder if I should get it replaced while I have time to find a good plumber rather than waiting for it to fail and have to use the first available plumber? Thanks for any advice, especially from plumbers.

On-line advice says residential gas water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. I have lived here for 12 years and my neighbor says my water heater was 5 to 10 years old when I bought the house. So the water heater may be 20 years old. It still works fine but I wonder if I should get it replaced while I have time to find a good plumber rather than waiting for it to fail and have to use the first available plumber? Thanks for any advice, especially from plumbers.

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[–] • 14 pts

Is it in a pan so that if it starts leaking it won't trash your house? I would leave it. The newer ones are more "efficient" and therefore take twice as long to heat the water. Your water heater will probably outlast a brand new one anyway. And when the time does come to replace it, you don't need a plumber. Take pictures of the old setup. Disconnect everything and put the new one in and re-hook it just like it was. Use new supply lines, hand tight plus a quarter turn. Always use a new gas line as well. Do NOT use thread tape on any gasketed fitting. And do use the right thread tape for your gas line, yellow.

[–] • 4 pts

> Do NOT use thread tape on any gasketed fitting.

I didn't know this. I always figured the extra seal is a bonus. Granted, I'm no plumber and have little knowledge of the field. I know the necessary drop for pipes to flow and that's about it. Outside that all I know is shit rolls downhill, paydays on Friday, and don't bite your fingernails.

[–] • 2 pts

Extra is bad, in this case.

[–] • 1 pt

Ugh, I bite my fingernails all the time.

Taping gasketed fittings can lead to leaks.