For questions generally relating to the hot-water supply system of a typical residential or commercial building, primarily regarding the heating mechanism itself (a traditional hot water heater tank, tankless heaters including "point-of-use", boilers and heat exchangers, etc).
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Is it time to replace my water heater?
I have a 20+ year old, 115 gallon, electric water heater. Works like a champ, but I'm considering replacing it for a couple of reasons.
It's leased - I pay $20/mo.
It's 115 gallons for a house with ...
1
vote
0answers
55 views
What would cause a water pressure drop after tripping a breaker?
I recently plugged my laptop into a cheap powerbar, which caused said-powerbar to short. This tripped the "sockets" circuit on the breaker, which, upon resetting, caused power to begin flowing to ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
How should I avoid corrosion at this water heater connection?
I installed a new water heater 2-3 years ago. I put 3/4 pipe to PEX adapters on it and then used pex to connect to my house. On the hot water outlet, corrosion and rust is forming. I bought some ...
3
votes
0answers
43 views
Why does my Rinnai Infinity water heater fire up after turning off the cold tap?
I have a Rinnai Infinity XR20. It's about 3 years old. I've just recently noticed a peculiar issue with it that I hadn't noticed before. If I turn on a cold tap like the one to the garden hose and ...
3
votes
3answers
215 views
What advantages does bending copper pipes have over joining many parts without brazing?
These questions are in context of a DIY solar water heater I am planning (another separate question). The copper pipes in question, are supposed to carry around hot water using thermo-siphon ...
2
votes
0answers
62 views
Is it possible to make my own solar water heater?
After blowing (what I consider) a lot of money on 2 residential solar water heaters, over the last 6 years, dealing with 3 set of rather expensive inner-tank replacements, evacuation pipe changes I am ...
-1
votes
3answers
191 views
Is it safe to install this hot water tank from ebay?
Is it safe for me to replace my electric hot water tank with this continuous electric unit that I bought on ebay?
(I'm in Australia)
Technical Specifications
rated power 6.0KW
...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
How can I prevent a tankless propane on-demand water heater from freezing up in very cold climates?
We are considering installing a tankless propane on-demand water heater in a residential setting, where multiple tenants use a shared bathing facility (presently served satisfactorily by a 40 gal ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
How can I fix this leaky water heater?
I have an electric Water heater and it is starting to leak from what I believe to be the pressure release valve. I just wanted some tips on how I can fix this before the leak becomes unmanageable. The ...
1
vote
2answers
76 views
Is it practical to install a second water heater near my kitchen?
My bathroom and my kitchen are very far apart in my house.
The original water heater is in the bathroom.
Is it practical to install a second water heater (small) near the kitchen so that it runs (the ...
1
vote
0answers
49 views
Why am I not getting hot water from my tankless hot water heater?
I just bought my house last year. The previous owner had just replaced the boiler before I closed. I had oil delivered the day that I moved in. I had problems with the hot water right away as it ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
How to determine tankless water heater requirements?
I'm considering replacing my insufficient 30 gallon gas water heater with a tankless water heater equivalent to 50 gallon gas heater.
I know a 50 gallon heater would serve my needs.
Questions
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2
votes
1answer
129 views
How can I improve my hot water heater's performance?
I don't have the equipment details on hand but could probably get them if needed. It's a pretty standard boiler + hot water heater + pump set up.
Often the hot water coming out of the shower faucet ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Can replacing a T&P valve be done as DIY by a home owner?
I want to replace the T&P valve on my gas water heater since it is dripping water all the time. I talked to a couple of people such as my friend and a salesperson at a Home Improvement Store. They ...
3
votes
2answers
360 views
Why is my hot water heater making my water smell like sulfur?
I have an electric hot water heater that gives the water a sulfur smell. It is only from the hot water. I have heard that changing the anode in the unit can help. If this is the case, what material ...
2
votes
1answer
441 views
Why is my electric hot water heater producing lukewarm/cold water?
Yesterday after returning home from work I discovered my hot water is not working. When you turn on the faucet (any in the house) just a little warm water comes out and then it turns cold. I checked ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
What causes a water heaters relief valve to discharge water?
I have a Gas Reliance Water Heater 1212. I found recently (in winter) there is a water dip through the relief valve into a 5 gallon bucket. Sometimes, it can fill the whole bucket. Sometimes, it has ...
4
votes
2answers
331 views
Why does pressure relief valve state 'Not for Use with Water Heaters'?
So I replaced my 6.5 year old electric hot water (installed with house built in 06') heater and used an identical plumbing setup as my previous install. My previous (and now current) install has a ...
2
votes
0answers
66 views
Where could the air in the water system be coming from?
We live on the top two floors of a small brownstone walkup. To get the heating to work upstairs I need to bleed the baseboard heater almost every other day. All faucets in the house sputter, and the ...
2
votes
0answers
362 views
What could cause my tankless water heater to make a knocking sound?
I recently replaced my water heater with a tankless unit (Rheem). After installation I noticed that whenever I turned on the hot water; or when my central heating unit would turn on, the tankless unit ...
1
vote
0answers
159 views
What dangers are associated with changing the pilot light assembly on a gas water heater?
My A O Smith ProMax gas water heater started going out at various intervals. I would re-light it and it might stay lit for a few minutes, few hours, or even a day or so. I figured it was the ...
2
votes
1answer
296 views
Is it safe to shut off cold water entering water heater?
I have a pretty bad situation at my place. I have a leaky shower faucet which has gone from drips to a steady stream. I calculated the flow at .3 gallons per minute. My very old home has no private ...
6
votes
4answers
845 views
Should I install an inline water heater for my bathroom?
It takes 3-4 minutes of the shower running before the hot water reaches my upstairs bathroom. I'd like to not have to waste all that water and time. My initial though was to install an inline water ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
What's with the different FHR ratings of these hot water tanks?
We're replacing our tank with a more efficient one and we can't go tankless given the cold input temperatures in Canada and the amount of output we need (for a triplex with 7 people).
So I've been ...
1
vote
1answer
218 views
Why does the hot water run cold at less than 'full throttle'?
I'm as environmentally conscious as the next American (probably not very) but here's an example: I like to rinse dishes that I've just washed in a stream of hot water as this works best for drying. I ...
3
votes
2answers
163 views
Should a water heater's anode be replaced?
I hear conflicting information on replacing the anode bar on a water heater or not since the water heater will be replaced anyway.
Should the anode bar be periodically replaced? Why? How often?
5
votes
4answers
705 views
Why is the first shower of the day is colder than the second?
Description
Since I've moved into this house, I've noticed that the first shower of the day is colder than the any subsequent shower. More specifically, if no hot water has been used for a while, ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
How do I replace a damaged valve on a water heater?
Near the bottom of my hot water tank there is a plastic valve that looks like it is used for draining the water out of it. It has developed a hairline fracture along the length of it and small jets of ...
-1
votes
1answer
450 views
How long will it be before my hot water heater blows up without a thermal expansion tank?
the county where I live put in the "check valve" or backflow device. Not sure, but I know they said you need to get a thermal expansion tank or the pressure could blow up the water heater.
I spoke ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
How do I start a cold gas heater?
The gas heater pilot light has been out for a couple of days, and I believe there is a safety mechanism that detects this, and shuts off the gas. Now, when I move the slider to the pilot light ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Why does my water heater stop after a few minutes?
I have a Junkers (European water heater) that works for a few minutes and then stops. Anyone have experience with this/know how I can troubleshoot?
Or, would a regular plumber be able to fix it?
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Is it normal for the steam-out of a electric thermo pot to melt down over time? [closed]
A few days ago, I discovered that some bars of the steam-out of my electric thermo pot (which has been used for about 2 years in my house) have been melted down.
(Note: This is not the photo of my ...
0
votes
2answers
325 views
What could be causing water to drip from the relief valve of my new gas water heater, again?
I installed a brand new water heater about 4 months ago, noticed that that relief valve was dripping like crazy. Checked the expansion tank and it was filled with water. I replaced it with a brand ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
What can I do about high water pressure that is causing a leak?
One of our showers has an intermittent leak, and I've figured out that it happens when the hot water heater is on. There's no expansion tank on the cold supply side for our hot water tank, so I'm ...
1
vote
0answers
95 views
Without having a pressure regulator or gauge, how would we determine what psi to set our new expansion tank to?
Without having a pressure regulator or gauge, how would we determine what psi to set our new expansion tank to? We just replaced the tank and hot water heater.Before replacing them, had an ok amount ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Can I install a hot water recirculation pump if I have a reverse osmosis filter?
I'm considering getting a "comfort pump" which will pump water from the hot line to the cold line under a sink so that there is no waiting for hot water, as well as saving the wasted water.
My ...
2
votes
1answer
643 views
Why won't my gas water heater light?
Everything was working last night but no hot water this morning. Things I have checked:
gas supply to the house is fine
electricity is going to the boiler
fuses are good
sounds like the water pump ...
0
votes
1answer
162 views
Can I repair the floor in the water heater closet with an old street sign?
Can I use an old aluminum road sign as a replacement floor for my hot water heater closet? The old floor is rotten and has some give to it right where a portion of my hot water heater sits, and my dad ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
How can I stop the boiler from heating the radiators when only hot water is wanted?
I have Baxi Boiler (model unknown at this precise moment in time) which British Gas have fixed up to a seperate control panel (see image - not our actual panel, image from Google!).
The problem is ...
1
vote
1answer
191 views
Replace under warranty Bradford White or get a new Rheem water heater? [closed]
I have a Bradford White water heater that is about 4 years old, still under warranty, and has started leaking. My understanding is that it must be replaced.
The plumber I contacted about this told ...
1
vote
2answers
137 views
Can I replace my oil-based water heater with several electric ones?
I was looking at this question, which is somewhat related to mine but didn't give me a good answer: How to evaluate the suitability of an electric tankless water-heater
Basically, my mom's water ...
6
votes
2answers
666 views
How to install Water Heater drain pan to sump pit?
I want to replace my electric water heater. The current water heater does not have a drain pan. I'd like to add one with my new water heater. This is all in the basement.
Our basement does not ...
2
votes
1answer
130 views
What to look for in a new water radiator?
The water radiators I have under each window are 50 years old, and I would like some new ones. They measure HxLxD 50x100x20 cm.
The new ones I would like should be as thin as possible.
I live in an ...
6
votes
1answer
103 views
How to evaluate the suitability of an electric tankless water-heater
I'm trying to evaluate if an electric tankless water-heater would be suitable for my home. There are just too many variables to consider, and I wonder if there is a mathematical approach to it.
I'm ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Should we turn our oil hot water heater off every night?
My husband and I are considering shutting off our hot water heater from 8pm to 8am every night to save on energy. Is such a time frame long enough to create a noticeable difference in our oil bill? ...
3
votes
1answer
415 views
What could cause a clicking noise in an electric water heater?
I get clicking sound from our electric water heater as well. it lasts for a while, then
stops...then starts again, etc. we recently had technician out who said it needed to be
cut back on the setting ...
3
votes
1answer
300 views
Can I reuse cold water copper pipes for hot water?
I have a segment of copper pipe for supplying cold water to my gas heater currently. It runs inside a wall so I don't want to replace it. Now I need to change the piping and want to reuse that ...
2
votes
2answers
4k views
After installing expansion tank, massive buildup of pressure then a trickle?
I am completely stumped. You guys helped me out a lot with my previous question here: New gas water heater dripping relief valve, have expansion tank, what gives?
Turns out the expansion tank ...
1
vote
1answer
193 views
What could cause the hot water not to work after replacing a water heater?
I replaced my hot water heater and now the hot water doesn't run in any of my faucets. What could be the problem? I did not have to replace any piping from old hot water heater and the water ran fine ...
0
votes
0answers
196 views
Running Shower Faucet After Hot Water Heater's Off
I was awoke by a chemical smell from my electric hot water heater. The past two weeks I noticed my shower was not getting/staying very hot during my 10 minute showers. Thinking not too much about it, ...
