Video · Water Heaters
Rusty Water Heater, Outside and In: Tyler Griffin Shows Both
A rusty water heater is a warning, but a clean-looking tank can be just as corroded inside. Tyler Griffin stands between two old tanks in the SwiftPro warehouse to show both kinds.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- Water Heaters
- Length
- 0:35
- Posted
- September 27, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
Tyler Griffin, SwiftPro's owner, in a grey SwiftPro hoodie, stands in the warehouse between two retired tank water heaters. The one on one side is the obvious case: rusted, corroded and coming apart at the jacket.
The other still has some shine to it, but it's been cut open, and the inside is crusted with corrosion and sediment. His point is that you can't judge a tank by its outside, and the water you shower and wash dishes with passes through that every day.
Hey, Northern Virginia. Tyler Griffin here, owner at SwiftPro Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing. Whether your water heater looks like this one, old, rusted, corroded, and falling apart, or this one, it's still a little bit shiny, but inside it is nasty. Look at that gunk.
Imagine showering, bathing, and washing your dishes in that stuff. We have a deal for you. New water heaters right now for a limited time, $500 off any size water heater. We'd love to help you out, get a great deal, and make sure your family keeps their water hot.
Why it matters in your house
- Rust-colored hot water with clear cold water points to the tank. When only the hot side runs brown, the steel inside is likely corroding.
- Rust at the bottom seam or around the fittings on top often means a leak is coming. A tank that rusts through can't be patched; it gets replaced.
- The anode rod is a tank's built-in defense against rust. Checking it every few years, and replacing it once it's eaten away, can stretch a tank's life.
Is a rusty water heater dangerous?
Usually not right away, but it's on borrowed time. Surface rust on the jacket can come from a damp basement. Rust at the bottom seam, at the fittings or in your hot water means the tank itself is corroding, and a leak is likely. On a gas unit, rust flakes around the burner deserve a prompt look from a pro.
Want it done at your place? See Water Heaters at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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