5-19-26 Water Heater INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A 39-year-old water heater has earned an Indianapolis-area woman more than just bragging rights. Lori Shoemaker was named the winner of The Water Heater Guys’ oldest water heater contest after her 1987 unit — installed before she finished high school — was found still running at her family’s property. The three-month contest was designed to encourage homeowners to take a closer look at aging equipment before it becomes an emergency. Shoemaker received a prize check covering the cost of her new water heater installation, presented during a recent appearance on “Lifestyle Live.” The water heater had been in Shoemaker’s childhood home, which her daughter later purchased, keeping the property in the family. The unit gave out just before the home sale closed. “It goes out right before we close on the home, so we needed to get it fixed,” Shoemaker said. “These guys came to the rescue and did a great job.” Technician Steven handled the installation and made a strong impression on Shoemaker’s husband, whom she described as tough to please. “He really connected with Steven right away and said he did a wonderful, wonderful job,” Shoemaker said. Laura Root, operations manager for The Water Heater Guys, said the contest grew out of a desire to get homeowners thinking ahead. “You don’t want to be caught with an emergency,” Root said. “It seems to only happen in the evenings and weekends. Just keep an eye on it, have it annually flushed, and have an inspection on it.” Root noted the company currently offers a $49 maintenance special that includes a drain and flush, sediment removal, and a full inspection to ensure the unit is running properly. Steven said many customers call asking for a simple flush, not realizing their water heater is in far worse shape. “The customer most of the time has no clue the water heater is just rusted,” he said. “I’m going to be honest with you — before we proceed with anything, this water heater needs attention.” He said an 80-gallon water heater failure can send water across an entire floor, making early detection critical. The Water Heater Guys recently opened a second location in Fishers, expanding their reach to the north side of Indianapolis, as well as Anderson and Muncie. The company’s original location remains in Greenwood. For more information or to schedule maintenance, visit The Water Heater Guys online at waterheaterguysin.com ...read more read less