Modern installation would include a metal pan under the water heater and a drain running to the DWV, but that is often difficult to do in older buildings where there is no nearby drain pipe.

Water heaters can make a lot of pops and cracks as they get older, and they may still work fine, but once they start to leak it will not take long before you have a flood. 17 years is getting up there in age, but it may last longer if you don't have hard water.

The one valve you want to worry about is the Temp and Pressure Relief valve. It is usually mounted on or near the top of the heater, with a copper pipe running down to near floor level. That spring loaded valve is what pops open and drains the water heater if it gets too hot. You can move the lever to cycle the valve and test it, but on an older valve you risk having it stick open. Its the kind of test you probably want the handyman to do, just in case it sticks.

The other valve to look at is the shutoff on the input water to the water heater, so you can make sure it works. If the water heater does spring a leak you want to ensure you can turn that valve off quickly and easily. Many of them are the older style gate valves (usually a round or oval handle like an outside hose bib), and they stick in place from corrosion. There should also be a main water shutoff, often somewhere in the same utility closet.

Bruce

Hi Bruce - thank you!

Just some more information for anyone reading this, because I agree with Bruce that these valves could be problematic.

My landlord's maintenance tech is the disagreeable type. I've had to deal with him on three different issues. He can be friendly when he wants. He is very skillful. But his MO is that he doesn't have time to spend on you. If he thinks something will be time consuming, he lays a whole lot of guilt on you and sometimes you have to escalate up the ladder to get any resolution. So that is probably why he didn't want to test out my water valve or relief valve.

Six months ago he came out and spent an hour looking at the unit, made small talk, shined a flashlight on it, watched it go through a heating cycle and cooldown. That is the night he said the water heater was safe, but all he did was a visual inspection. He didn't move any valves or comment on their condition. It looks to me like the Relief Valve and the Water Shutoff haven't been touched in years. Here's the photos.

I guess the apartment does not have its own water shutoff. He made a comment that it would be a royal pain to find the building's water shutoff, in case my valve was bad and broke during the test. He said he would be dealing with complaints from 20 people if he had to turn their water off temporarily, and that's why he wouldn't touch the valve. It didn't sound like he was confident about where the main shutoff might be located (he works in a lot of buildings, so I guess that's understandable.)

The landlord pays the water, I don't have an individual meter.

"Dragon2042: However, the tank looks intact with no rust on the body of it."

The exterior you see is the outer shell, not the tank that holds the water. There's the exterior shell, a wrap of insulation, then the water tank.

A 17 year old gas hot water heater that is making noise should be replaced. It is hard to tell if the landlord does not want to pay for a new hot water heater or the maintenance guy does not want to be bothered.

I suggest you write a letter to the landlord and inform him in writing of the problem. Tell him the noise is unacceptable and disturbing your sleep and the amount of hot water you are getting is inconsistent. State in the letter if there is any leak you want any damages to your personal belongings to be replaced and that you are not responsible for damages to any of your neighbors. Send the letter certified with a return receipt.

I don't believe the maintenance guy does not know where the main water shut off is located. If he doesn't then he should look for a new line of work. The valve probably works he just doesn't want to try. A competent plumber can replace the valve in about 5 minutes once the water is shut off.

Mike, thanks.

The maintenance guy is trying to keep his job. If all he ever did was replace, replace, replace he wouldn't have one... with a landlord.

Landlords are bean counters. If you don't like this... buy yourself a house. Probably not going to like that either... but a 17 year old water heater, that makes noise... but still heats the water, doesn't leak. It's unlikely a bean counter is going to part with it.

Just because it's old? nope, never... not with a landlord. Forget about it.

I actually run service. Have dealt with more landlords than I care to mention. They're in it to make money... not spend it on constant replacements just because IT'S OLD. Even if it's making noise, they still won't do it.