Age - installed in 2002. Still functioning.
Look a Plumber on line and give him a call to ask him for a price to replace your Water heater.
He will ask you a couple of questions and should be able to give you a price.
You can use a home improvement website like home advisor to find a licensed plumber. you can also open your local yellow pages or go on online to google and find up to 3 plumbers and request a free estimate.
With your water heater still functioning after 10+ years, you are in the upper percentile of homeowners who are lucky to not have to replace your water heater, yet. So, with that being stated, do not replace your water heater until it stops functioning properly because the manufacturer’s warranty has long expired, so you will have to pay full price to replace the water heater anyhow.
The main difference in water heaters from 15 years ago to today is the eco-friendliness and efficiency. Also, the warranties will vary for water heaters. When you begin to shop for water heaters, you will notice 3, 6, and 12-year warranties. You will want to purchase the water heater that has the 12-year warranty (for the warranty for no other purpose).
When the water heater ceases to work, then visit a Big Box store such as The Home Depot or Lowe’s. Either store offers the option to purchase the water heater and installation. Installation can generally occur within a few days. Plus, the installation is guaranteed for 1 year, generally.
In the meantime, setup a sinking fund where you put “x” amount of dollars aside each month until you meet the need for replacement, so you will be prepared when the replacement is required. For instance, if the hot water heater is $500 and the install is $200, then all you would need to set aside is $100 each month for 7 months. Then, you’ll be ready.
Overall, enjoy the hot water heater until it stops functioning. Save money each month for a future replacement. And, use a Big Box store in place of a plumber to save money.
buildzoom, thumbtack, yelp etc
@ddthome when the water heater fails, does it causes any issues? what about the risk of a water heater flood, etc?