Determining age and safety of water heater?

[Tim Moses]

Hey guys, I thought I'd post this question here since the people on this forum seem really knowledgeable.

I have a 70-year-old house that was converted to electric in the early-mid-1960s. In the kitchen pantry is a cabinet type Homart (by Sears-Roebuck) water heater.
Yesterday, the hot water coming from the faucets is boiling hot with a strong "melting plastic" smell, and a slight burning or hot-metal smell coming from the pantry. I assume the thermostat is getting stuck causing the water to superheat.
The questions I'd like to ask are:
How old do you think this unit is?
And
Should this unit have a safety pressure valve to prevent the thing from blowing up in case it is generating excess heat and pressure?

Right now I have the breaker to it kicked off just in case.
Photos (sorry, it's cramped in there):
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/VolkswagenNut1970/9f12ffb6.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/VolkswagenNut1970/50e1845f.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll91/VolkswagenNut1970/5ffaa13f.jpg


Thank you!

Tim

[Matt Fellman]

I'd say get rid of it immediately and get a new one. "Melting Plastic" smell is never good.

It "should" have a TPR but, given the age, may not. If you haven't seen/heard the horror storied of water heaters blowing through roofs of houses do a quick Google search. Between the fire hazard and potential explosion I think you'd be best off to put that appliance out to pasture.

[Dom D'Agostino]

I think Homart was around 'till the early 70's,at the latest, then went away. So that tank of yours is old.

Turn off the breaker and have it replaced by a plumber immediately.

[Tim Moses]

Thanks Matt! Sound advice.
I think I'll take this opportunity to go "tankless".
Some relatives have those tankless heaters and love them.

[Tim Moses]

I appreciate the input Dom! Sorry, your response did not show up on my computer until now.
Breaker is off. It will be a couple of weeks before I can get the plumber out for the replacement, but I'm washing in cold water for now and only turning the unit on for 30-40 minutes a day to have enough hot water in reserve for the shower.

Funny that this thing lasted nearly 50 years. Must be some kind of record. Most people I know typically go through a water heater every 4 to 8 years.