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21 Year Old Water Heaters Working well

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seattlehiker
seattlehiker Member Posts: 14
edited March 12 in Radiant Heating

Should I get ahead and replace them (see my pics of my setup)? Should I go to one Viessmann for both the potable and radiant heat, or use one and branch? I could abandon the Kitec (used ONLY for heat), but EVERY fitting is pristine because the guys USED THE CORRECT BRASS FITTINGS 21 years ago WITH A WASHER INSIDE THAT PREVENTS ANY REACTIVITY. Someone posted that I was one of the "rare" people that have no issues with this tubing. Perhaps because most Kitec installs were done using the cheapo/incorrect fittings, AND THEY USED IT FOR POTABLE. Funny how none of that was mentioned in the lawsuit.

Comments

  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 339

    Blackjack!?!

  • bjohnhy
    bjohnhy Member Posts: 197

    I don't see any pics

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 4,081

    Hi @seattlehiker , What sort of tanks are they? Stainless or glass-lined? What is your water like? If glass-lined and good water, it might be worth having a look at the anodes to see what's left. If there is much left, you could replace the anodes and very likely keep the tanks going. I've been able to get fifty years from tanks.

    Yours, Larry

  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,659

    @Larry Weingarten 50 years?!! That's incredible. Are these copper monel tanks? Do you have any pictures? The oldest ones I have seen were over 30 years old.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 27,387
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/204075/21-year-old-water-heaters-working-well

    The Kitec/ Warmrite hydronic systems were not typically a problem.

    For whatever reason the potable water systems had issues. I suspect the bubbles between the tube layer had to do with potable water systems running much higher water pressure. Hydronics are typically under 30 psi. Potable can run 80 psi or more.

    Electrolysis is not common in hydronics either. Copper and steel are commonly mixed, for example.

    The fitting dezincification had to do with specific water quality and the alloy of the fittings, again a potable water issue.

    From what I understand water quality around Seattle is fairly low hardness. Any HW tank lasts longer with low hardness water.

    Screenshot 2026-03-13 at 1.03.07 PM.png
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 4,081

    Hi @SuperTech , Sorry I don't have photos. These were glass-lined tanks, not copper or Monel tanks, which I've seen last over 70 years. The 50 years comes from my working on tanks that were already as much as 30 years old, and then keeping them going. Older tanks often had heavier steel and they used to double glass line some tanks. Sometimes the fireside was also glass lined. These tanks last a long time in good water. Some residential tanks came with 1" commercial sized anodes, so had much more magnesium to protect the steel than modern tanks. 😊

    Yours, Larry

    SuperTech
  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,524

    My parents house in Portland Oregon had unknown age water heaters in it when they bought the house, and were still going fine after 35 years when they took them out and put in a combo heat/hot water system. Portland has very good water.

    Rick

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 3,002

    Should you replace them you ask? I wouldn't, however I would make plans ahead of time for when the inevitable change would be needed.

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