Are Water Softeners Bad for Water Heaters

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mikehill85

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I recently bought a new house with a water heater that is only 3 years old. Yesterday the hot water was off and I went down in the basement to find water spraying all over the floor...My gas water heater had leaked from the bottom of the tank.
I had a plumber come out and look at it and he said the tank was corroded and the unit needed to be replaced. I took a look at it and he was right. The thing was corroded. He suggested that the water softener was likely the reason it corroded so quickly. I don't have any use for it, it came with the house and it's City Water, not a well, so I'm not even sure why they had the water softener installed to begin with. I am just wondering if anyone with experience thinks this is correct. I've had the old heater replaced and I am considering just disconnecting the water softener to avoid a problem with the new heater but I just don't want to cause any unforeseen problems. So Yea or Nay, should I disconnect the water softener?
 
IANAP. Pull the sacrificial anode from the failed heater. Is it chewed to nothing? In that case it is possible that the soft water caused the heater to corrode too fast. You could keep the soft water, but will need to change the anode frequently. However, if the anode is largely intact then the soft water is probably not to blame. Note, you will need a large socket and either a very long breaker bar or an impact wrench to remove it.

Three years is awfully fast for a tank to fail like that. There is a fair chance that it was built using crap materials or was manufactured improperly. Post the brand and model, perhaps somebody with more experience than me can tell you if that type is reliable or not.
 
IANAP. Pull the sacrificial anode from the failed heater. Is it chewed to nothing? In that case it is possible that the soft water caused the heater to corrode too fast. You could keep the soft water, but will need to change the anode frequently. However, if the anode is largely intact then the soft water is probably not to blame. Note, you will need a large socket and either a very long breaker bar or an impact wrench to remove it.

Three years is awfully fast for a tank to fail like that. There is a fair chance that it was built using crap materials or was manufactured improperly. Post the brand and model, perhaps somebody with more experience than me can tell you if that type is reliable or not.

Yep. There is nothing left of the anode. In my case there was a combo anode rod on the hot water outlet that was completely gone. It is a Bradford-White RG275H6N. I'm a Mechanical Engineer who has been working for 15 years and I can't say I've ever seen a water heater fail this quickly.
 
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It should be under warranty. ✌👍
It was but the warranty only covered the cost of the water heater itself. I was quoted more than the cost of the unit for labor so I replaced it myself. No point in getting the same heater that failed in 3 years for more than the cost of replacing it myself with a different brand.
 
It was but the warranty only covered the cost of the water heater itself. I was quoted more than the cost of the unit for labor so I replaced it myself. No point in getting the same heater that failed in 3 years for more than the cost of replacing it myself with a different brand.

All brands have tanks that leak prematurely.

I’ve installed all major brands and have had problems with every single one.

I’ve had brand new heaters leak on day one. Bad gas controls, etc, etc.
 
All brands have tanks that leak prematurely.

I’ve installed all major brands and have had problems with every single one.

I’ve had brand new heaters leak on day one. Bad gas controls, etc, etc.
Yeah, probably, but if it’s cheaper to replace it with a different model than the one that failed in 3 years I don’t see what sane person wouldn’t do that instead.
 
Yeah, probably, but if it’s cheaper to replace it with a different model than the one that failed in 3 years I don’t see what sane person wouldn’t do that instead.

It wouldn’t be cheaper to replace it with a different model if you have to buy a different model.

The leaking water heater would be free. A different model and brand, you’d have to buy it.

It has to be installed either by you or someone else. That doesn’t change with a new brand or the free replacement.
 
It wouldn’t be cheaper to replace it with a different model if you have to buy a different model.

The leaking water heater would be free. A different model and brand, you’d have to buy it.

It has to be installed either by you or someone else. That doesn’t change with a new brand or the free replacement.
Wrong because Bradford-White will only work with licensed plumbers for the warranty not homeowners. Since the labor cost from the plumbing companies I had give me a quote was considerably higher the the price of a new water heater I just paid for the water heater and installed it myself, thus the reason it was cheaper.

Sure, if Bradford-White would have sent me a new water-heater I would have gone that route. It is just connecting two water lines, a gas line, and the exhaust. Anyone with opposable thumbs can do the job in an afternoon. If you have to do it every few years, who cares? Unfortunately that’s not how it works…with Bradford-White anyway. Yet, another reason not to buy their products IMO. Anyway, I know who I'm never listing as an acceptable alternative on any of my design projects in the future.
 
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The Bradford white dealer will give anyone with a valid warranty a new water heater. They won’t send you anything, you’ll need to take it to the closest dealer.

You do not have to be a plumber to get the warranty honored.

Someone has given you incorrect information, even it was Bradford White.
 
Anodes should not dissolve to nothing in three years. (Well, I am used to very hard water, perhaps with soft water they do dissolve that fast.) Your water might be very acidic, which at least you can check yourself with some pH paper.

Or the anode might have been poorly made in some way so that it fell apart all by itself and then your tank rusted out. Three years does seem like enough time for a tank without a working anode to fail.

Come to think of it, if your soft water system was releasing too much salt that could chew up metal too. Normally soft water systems flush the salt down a drain after forcing Ca++ off the ion exchange resin with Na+. If your soft water system was defective and was leaving a lot of that salt in the tank, and that subsequently flushed into the house, that might account for the heater corrosion and failure.
 
The Bradford white dealer will give anyone with a valid warranty a new water heater. They won’t send you anything, you’ll need to take it to the closest dealer.

You do not have to be a plumber to get the warranty honored.

Someone has given you incorrect information, even it was Bradford White.

From Bradford-White's website. The only person giving out incorrect information is you. The world would be a better place if people would actually check things before boldly proclaiming them to be fact. I also phoned them to make sure this was the case before actually replacing it myself. They aren't going to give a homeowner a new heater, even if it was under warranty when it failed.

It has to be installed by a LICENSED plumber and the warranty claim is made by the licensed plumber replacing the unit. So, I have no idea what you're talking about but it's complete rubbish. It's in black and white on their website and they confirmed it over the phone. You're wrong.

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Feels very strongly ? Hahaha 🤣 That’s hilarious.

Listen, All you had to do is contact Bradford white and forward them the invoice where your plumber detailed the water heater was leaking along with the model and serial number.
They would’ve directed you to the nearest dealer.

You fell for their garbage…..and guess what ? You didn’t get a free water heater and Bradford White loves that.

You got taken advantage of…..I do this for a living, remember ? 🤣. And from the way you’re posting, you got exactly what your smartass deserved.

Have a good night sir……
 
Feels very strongly ? Hahaha 🤣 That’s hilarious.

Listen, All you had to do is contact Bradford white and forward them the invoice where your plumber detailed the water heater was leaking along with the model and serial number.

You fell for their garbage…..and guess what ? You didn’t get a free water heater and Bradford White loves that.

You got taken advantage of…..I do this for a living, remember ? 🤣

Have a good night sir……

I did contact Bradford-White as I told you several times before and they said they would only work with licensed plumbers on the warranty not homeowners. This is a worthless conversation because it has nothing whatsoever to do with the question I was asking and you just keep repeating things that aren't true.

Lol. Yes, I was "taken advantage of" because I didn't pay a "professional" like yourself to replace it and did it myself for free. Okay...That makes sense.
 
I did contact Bradford-White as I told you several times before and they said they would only work with licensed plumbers on the warranty not homeowners. This is a worthless conversation because it has nothing whatsoever to do with the question I was asking and you just keep repeating things that aren't true.

Lol. Yes, I was "taken advantage of" because I didn't pay a "professional" like yourself to replace it and did it myself for free. Okay...That makes sense.

Sure, they’ll tell you anything to get you off the phone without a free water heater.

That’s their job. Most callers are dumb homeowners who don’t know how things work.

No where in the warranty paperwork that comes with a Bradford White water heater does it state that only a professional can get a water heater warranty honored.

So it doesn’t matter what they told you or what’s on their website. By law they must honor the warranty.

It might strongly suggest, it might tell you that’s how they want it done…..but that’s not how it must be done.

You just don’t get it buddy……
 
Sure, they’ll tell you anything to get you off the phone without a free water heater.

That’s their job. Most callers are dumb homeowners who don’t know how things work.

No where in the warranty paperwork that comes with a Bradford White water heater does it state that only a professional can get a water heater warranty honored.

So it doesn’t matter what they told you or what’s on their website. By law they must honor the warranty.

You just don’t get it buddy……

Yes, if they refuse to honor their warranty I'll just take them to court over it...That will surely be cheaper. Okay buddy...good night. There's no point in continuing this conversation. I'd hate to stress the two neurons you have rattling around up there.
 
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Okay buddy...good night. There's no point in continuing this conversation. I'd hate to stress the two neurons you have rattling around up there.

There is a point. The point is others will read this thread and they will know how not to get taken advantage of by a $8 an hour call center worker at Bradford White.

I think you’re realizing now what happened and you’re kinda embarrassed, I don’t blame you, I would be too.
 
There is a point. The point is others will read this thread and they will know how not to get taken advantage of by a $8 an hour call center worker at Bradford White.

I think you’re realizing now what happened and you’re kinda embarrassed, I don’t blame you, I would be too.
The only one who should be embarrassed is you because you're an idiot who makes up nonsense to "win" at a discussion. Thankfully we have access to information quickly now and bullshitters like yourself are easily shown to be bullshitters. Unfortunately some are too stubborn to admit they are wrong and deny reality. Sorry Norm from "Cheers" but you're full of **** and everyone can see it.
 
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The only one who should be embarrassed is you because you're an idiot who makes up nonsense to "win" at a discussion. Thankfully we have access to information quickly now and bullshitters like yourself are easily shown to be bullshitters. Unfortunately some are too stubborn to admit they are wrong and deny reality.

I’ve dealt with all major water heater manufacturers for the past 35 yrs or so. I know I’m right.

The website makes suggestions. The $8 an hour phone call operators at Bradford have an agenda. Not to give you a water heater. 🤣

But when pressed the correct way, they readily tell you where to pick up the replacement.

No where does their warranty state that you must go through a pro.

The website IS NOT THE WARRANTY. By law they must honor what’s stated in the warranty.

I can’t help you because you’re too smart…..you know everything. You suffer from the Dunning-Kruger Effect. 🤣🤡

Here is a link to the typical Bradford White residential water heater warranty.,

Notice it DOES NOT state the warranty must be processed by a pro plumber.
https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/3600e128/files/uploaded/Bradford+White+Water+Heater+Warranty.pdf
 
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