Rehabbing & House Flipping
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/hospitable-deef083b895516ce26951b0ca48cf8f170861d742d4a4cb6cf5d19396b5eaac6.png)
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_trust-2bcce80d03411a9e99a3cbcf4201c034562e18a3fc6eecd3fd22ecd5350c3aa5.avif)
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_1031_exchange-96bbcda3f8ad2d724c0ac759709c7e295979badd52e428240d6eaad5c8eff385.avif)
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback
Updated almost 16 years ago on . Most recent reply
running H2O heater
My 40 gallon water heater is about 15 years old. I don't think it's ever been replaced. We have very hard water, which apparently means lots of sediment. The inspector suggested that the sediment could be/is so high it is covering the heating element.
If so, does that result in a large increase in operating costs? Since I'm still getting hot water, the warranty co will not replace it.
Even so, would it be more cost efficient to replace it with a tankless heater? If I do that, do I need to also install a water softener?
I doubt that it's ever been drained. Will that help now, or cause problems?
Thanks,
Ofgift
edited to add that it's a gas heater, and would probably be replaced with a gas tankless one if I can.