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.
Licensed and insuredVirginia Class A contractor #2705192276
24/7 emergency serviceOften same-day, and we will tell you honestly when we can get there.
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The price is settled before the workYou see the number in writing before anything is taken apart
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.
Job footageSwiftPro
Topic
Water Heaters
Length
0:35
Posted
September 27, 2026
Shot by
The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What they say on camera
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.
SwiftPro Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
4230 Lafayette Center Dr N, Chantilly, VA 20151
44679 Endicott Dr, Suite 211, Ashburn, VA 20147
Virginia Class A contractor license #2705192276