wrote in message
Sorry to annoy you, but the simple fact is 10-15 years is a typical
lifespan for gas water heaters. And, IMO, depending on where the tank
is located, anyone trying to push the lifespan of one of these is
foolish. Sure, inspecting and changing the anode is a good idea. The
difference is, I look at that as a way to get to 13 years with some
extra safety margin, not a way to extend the life indefinitely, which
it cannot do. And when they go, the failure can be sudden and
depending on where it's located, catastrophic. Would you rather have a
bill for $500 for replacing a 13 year old heater, or a bill for $10K in
damages caused by a water heater that suddenly starts spewing water?


And of course, all water heaters can be expected to last the same time,
no matter what the water is like, or what the heater is made of.

Bob