Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ghosts season 5, episode 14, "The Water Heater."Ghosts says goodbye to an original character for the first time in its history. The CBS comedy is the rare case of a commercial and critical hit on network TV. After debuting with a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, it has continued to build its base, making it one of the most-watched comedies during the 2025-2026 TV cycle. As with previous years, Ghosts season 5 balances its storytelling between the spirits' shenanigans with whatever Sam and Jay are dealing with in the world of living. However, in "The Water Heater," everyone deals with a major loss.

Thanks to its premise, Ghosts is one of the more unique shows on traditional broadcast. It's still able to produce unexpected stories after years on the air, with season 5 featuring Trevor developing a bond with his secret daughter and Sass being in a brief but very entertaining romance with Bela. Because of the nature of its story, death is a big part of its narrative, but in Ghosts season 5, episode 14, Woodstone Mansion deals with an actual loss, as they say goodbye to an inaugural character.

Ghosts Season 5 Sees The Death Of The Water Heater

The events of Ghosts really kicked off when Sam started seeing the spirits in the Upstate mansion. A big part of proving to Jay about her supernatural abilities involved guiding him on how to fix the water heater thanks to a tip from the basement ghosts. Since then, the old tank has been part of some of the funniest incidents in Woodstone, so seeing it finally die in "The Water Heater." As the B&B starts to gain popularity, the old pump just can't handle demand, so Sam and Jay decide to replace it.

While the water heater is obviously an inanimate object, it has been a staple of Ghosts for years. Its gurgling sound has become one of the funniest recurring gags in the series. That's beyond its importance to the basement spirits, who are understandably distraught over its death. Isaac even organizes a wake/funeral to help them grieve. Despite being partly done for laughs, it's worth noting that those ghosts have been sharing space with the tank for so many years. It must be hard parting ways with it.

The Water Heater's Death Exposes A Harsh Truth About Ghosts

Marking the very first time that Ghosts is saying goodbye to a prominent character introduced in the pilot, the death of the water heater is a reminder of a harsh reality about the series. A big part of Sam's original deal with the spirits is that she will help them get sucked off, which means finally moving on from being stuck in limbo. After a couple of false alarms, no one from the group has yet to successfully pass on, suggesting that Sam is failing at her goal.

In order to make up for that, it has said goodbye to other characters, including Carol in the Ghosts season 5 premiere, and now the water heater. That said, they still don't compare to seeing one of the main Woodstone Mansion spirits finally moving on. Admittedly, it will be bittersweet when it finally happens, but it's important to maintain the integrity of Ghosts' storytelling.

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