Steve,<br /><br />Yep four in 12 years and most of our neighbors have had the same problem.  Yes, the water is very hard, but ours has always been softened with what is supposed to be the best system on the market.  I have one neighbor who still has his original and he has no softner all the rest of us are constantly going through the replacement mess.<br /><br />Our new one is now in place and we got nailed for a permit from the city, earth quake straps, some kind of filter in the gas line and all kind of extras.  Cost was right at &#036;700 and I did not pay for the heater itself it was replaced by the manufacturer.<br /><br />Oh well, its all over and thank goodness it did not happen while we were cruising.<br /><br />Roe has arrived safely in Albuquerque and Jenn and Hugh should be winging back to Canada as I type.<br /><br />I heading out to the library.  Might get some reading in now that &quot;honey do&quot; list will have nothing added to it for the next few days.  <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":tongue:" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> <br /><br />Later,<br /><br />