Paul says a maintained 2006 water heater can last "25, 30 years," and advises against electric tankless units.
1. The Home Improvement Show for Saturday, March 14, 2026 is a live call-in program that opens with a grand-opening interview for a new Ace Hardware in Metairie and then turns to water heater maintenance.
2. Host Paul takes calls and texts on the 504-260-1870 line, and guests Matt and Jenny own three Ace stores: Basil's Ace on Transcontinental, Diamondhead Ace in Mississippi, and the new store at 731 Veterans Memorial Boulevard.
3. The central thread is that water heaters are "out of sight, out of mind," so Paul says owners skip maintenance until a failure, and he points listeners to the water heater maintenance posts on paulshouse.com.
4. Jenny describes a 5,000-square-foot "fun department" with Oh My Mahjong products, a craft aisle, and a Ramsey's Diamond Jewelers diamond necklace raffle, while Matt lists a Weber grill demo and 20% off items that fit in the free bucket.
5. On electrical calls, Paul tells Lynette that an occasional spark when plugging in is common but sparking every time warrants a licensed electrician. He tells Charles that a dishwasher belongs on its own dedicated circuit, adding that "just because it's code doesn't mean that's the way it is."
6. For a listener with two original 2006 attic water heaters, Paul suggests keeping a 50-gallon unit for the bathrooms and a 30-gallon unit for the kitchen and utility room. He recommends against electric tankless, says propane is "a wet fuel" that shortens combustion chamber life, and mentions heat pump models.
7. Paul describes his own all-electric setup of a 50-gallon and a 30-gallon tank on timers, with $10 insulation blankets that took 20 minutes to install on both. Caller Sam asks whether gas heaters have anode rods, and Paul confirms they do and explains that the rod is sacrificial, so water attacks it instead of the steel tank.
8. Paul tells a caller shopping for a gas replacement to consider the State brand and a longer warranty, and he tells Henry that a gas heater going out every couple of days often points to a dirty or failed thermocouple or a faulty gas control valve.
9. In the second hour, Paul tells Jason that a hairline crack in a 16-year-old slab becomes a concern only with differential settlement, changing width, or water intrusion, and he asks for photos by email before advising on a $500 engineer's stamp. He tells Mike that tile laid with no gaps is out of his hands unless he pulls it up, and the segment ends with Richard describing a quartzite countertop that darkened within a year and a contractor who has not responded.
10. Suited to homeowners in the New Orleans area who want practical repair and maintenance answers.
