Questions tagged [water-heater]
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).
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What temperature should I set my water heater to?
When adjusting my water heater, what temperature should I set it to? Is the answer different if you have:
Concerns about diseases
A dishwasher
Young children or elderly that can be easily burned
...
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Why is my hot water running out quickly regardless of other household water usage?
I've noticed that my shower, which used to run hot water for what seemed like forever, now can only produce about 15 minutes of hot water. This doesn't appear to be related to other water usage in the ...
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How much energy/electricity does a Tankless OR tank-based water heater consume?
Incoming cold water temperature: 11 Celsius (constant for the example).
Indoor temperature: 20 Celsius (constant for the example).
Let us have two choices:
Tank-based water heater solution: has to ...
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What causes a water heater's 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 ...
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How can I speed up my slow hot water?
Our water heater (gas) is located in the garage. It is 25 to 30 feet away from the closest faucet, which I'm guessing is the main reason it takes so long -- a minute or longer -- to get hot water ...
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Should a gas water heater be shut down if the water main has to be turned off?
I have a brand new AO Smith 50gal gas water heater. Today there was a burst pipe from the cold spell we're having currently, so I had to turn off the water main to the house until the plumbers get ...
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How high to raise water heater above floor?
I saw a water heater stand at Home Depot but it's about 15" high. That's a bit too high for my basement. Can I just make one with 2x4 and plywood that's only 4" tall, basically just enough to be able ...
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Is there a specific NEC code specifying the distance between water heaters and electrical panels?
I have a condo in a large building with many identical units. Several times other owners have mentioned that the original layout of the utility room isn't up to code due to the proximity of the water ...
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Water leaving the house when water cut off
Every now and then, I have an interruption in the supply of water from the city. In the past, I would simply notice there is no water provided, and that the water meter would stand still.
But I have ...
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Which water heater types do you recommend?
I would like to upgrade my current water heater with one that
Is able to produce/store more heated water so I won't run out
Energy efficient
Inexpensive
What are the advantages/disadvantages to each ...
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Can tankless & conventional water heaters join forces?
Although I have properly maintained my nearly 20-year-old 40-gallon (150-L) Kenmore natural gas-fired water heater, I have been considering replacing it with a natural gas-fired tankless water heater ...
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How does a Thermal Release Device (TRD) work?
Rheem hot water heaters have a device in the combustion chamber called Thermal Release Device (TRD). It contains a vial filled with liquid that seems to be mounted in a flex metal plate. It is a ...
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Prewarming for tankless waterheater
I have a tankless water heater that is just a little bit to small for our new house - the temperature rise isn't quite enough for the winter months. Our basement is big and relatively warm so I struck ...
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What is the proper way to clean a water heater?
I have heard many times that it is good to clean your water heater about once a year by flushing it. I went to look online to find the proper way to do so and found many people recommending different ...
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Efficiency of a heat pump water heater during the winter
In my understanding, heat pump water heaters pump energy from the room around the water tank into the water.
Clearly, this must be energy efficient in the summer time, especially if I am using AC ...
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Where did all the 80 gallon water heaters go?
My 20 year old State brand 80 gallon electric water heater is going bad finally.
I went to the big box store and found they no longer carry a 80 gallon standard type water heater. The plumbing supply ...
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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?
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Is copper piping required within a certain distance from a water heater?
I have read that National Code requires you to use copper for 18 inches from your water heater. How can I do this when everything existing is PEX?
I need to replace my existing low boy water heater ...
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Vacationing - water heater off?
We're definitely not DIY-types in our household, so would love an answer from those who know the answer: We have a gas water heater in the basement, and will be traveling for over a month this summer. ...
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What could be causing water to drip from the relief valve of my new gas water heater?
My old hot water tank met its maker about two or three weeks ago, and since then I have installed a new Kenmore 50 gallon gas water heater to replace it.
The new water heater seems to work fine, I ...
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71 gallon water heater doesn't maintain hot water
Hoping someone can give me some thoughts on what might be going on here so I can be a bit more informed when I call a plumber.
Situation is, we got our water heater replaced a few years back and ever ...
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Trying to identify cause of minor leak from water heater TPR valve
A few days ago I noticed about a capful of water in the pail at the bottom of my water heater's TPR valve outlet. This is the first time I've had any water come out of the TPR when I wasn't testing ...
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Installing expansion tank at washing machine valve?
I own a condo with a terribly cramped water heater closet (it sits underneath the air handler with about 6 inches of clearance). I need an expansion tank, but it really will not fit in that closet (...
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Can I use dedicated pool heat pump for heating water in the house?
I'm going to buy a small heat pump dedicated to pools (around 3.5 kW total output). The pump would not be used for 6-7 months a year (autumn/winter); can I plug it into an existing water heating ...
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What could cause a shower to give warm water for a few seconds, then only cold water?
The house has four bedrooms. The 40 gallon gas water heater is about 60 feet from this
shower. The house is a one story house in flat terrain. I have already changed the mixing faucet for the shower, ...
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Why does this pipe feeding a hot water heater dip down like this?
This is a cold water pipe just in front of the hot water heater it is feeding. Why is it shaped that way? What is its function?
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Is flushing a waterheater a good idea?
I've been told that water-heaters build up sediment at the bottom over time, and should be flushed out (ie. drained, then allowed to refill). Is there value in this exercise? Does that value exceed ...
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How do electric hot water heaters explode and what can be done to prevent that from happening?
My neighbor and good friend is a union steamfitter, and general handyman. He had to replace his electric hot water heater last year and he did it himself.
My wife and I have to replace ours now, and ...
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Are tankless water heaters worth it in cold climates?
I was thinking of switching over to a tankless water heater. A friend of mine said they are not good in colder climates since the water coming in is colder and takes longer to heat. Is this a valid ...
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Is it about time to replace the water heater?
My wife and I just recently closed on our first home. The home was built in 1930 and aged excellently. The couple who we bought the home from had purchased it as a foreclosure in 2006 and made it ...
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Are hot water returns worth putting in?
Once I saw on an episode of This Old House that they were putting in hot water return lines: pipes that recirculate idle hot water back to the heater so you get hot water right away, instead of ...
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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 ...
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Why does my water heater's drain line rejoin the outlet pipe?
I know very little about water heaters and plumbing. Done some minimal work, but never water heater hookup.
I need to replace my 20 year old AO Smith 50 gal gas water heater in a house I've owned ...
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Why will my pilot light on the gas water heater not stay lit for more than 15 minutes?
The pilot light went out on my gas water heater. I followed the instructions and had it lit three times now for about 15 minutes each time but it wont stay lit. Not sure what to do at this point?
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Why does my kitchen faucet have low pressure after the water heater was replaced?
I recently replaced my water heater, and since then, the water pressure for my kitchen faucet is really, really, low. None of my other faucets seem to be affected (bathroom, shower, etc.). I can't ...
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Why is water heater making the water smell like sulfur?
I have an electric 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 ...
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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 ...
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How do I prevent harmonic resonance hum in PVC vent of newly installed hot water heater?
I just had a new power vented water heater installed (HTProducts Phoenix Light Duty) in our crawlspace. The contractor that put it in used part of the existing 3" concentric vent from the furnace we ...
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Is it OK to drill through a jack stud/full stud pair to cut a hole for water heater drain pipe?
I just had a new water heater installed in my garage. My city building / plumbing codes require that the water heater overflow drain be drained to the outside of the house.
Situation:
The heater ...
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Is storing hot water over 140F a regional requirement?
It seems to be "common knowledge" that to help prevent Legionella, hot water tanks/heaters should be set at 140F. This temperature is enough to cause terrible burns and scalding so devices like ...
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How are sacrificial anodes electrically bonded to the water heater?
I was thinking about the sacrificial anode in my hot water heater. It screws in via a hole on the top of the unit.
Every time I've made a threaded plumbing connection, I wrap Teflon around the ...
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Should voltage drop in one circuit affect other circuits
I have a 27KW tankless electric Water Heater (WH) that is hooked up to a sub panel from the main panbel, with a max amp draw rating of 112.5 amps. Additionally, the 2.0 hp well pump is also wired to ...
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Shower gradually cools, gets hotter when sink is on. Navien tankless whole house HWH
Our shower and a few other fixtures are behaving strangely. When I get into the shower it gets hot quickly and then gradually cools. But, I found that if someone else turns on a nearby sink (but not a ...
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Black greasy specks in sinks, dishwasher, etc. at home
We have been noticing black specks that leave a greasy trail when smeared in our bathroom sinks and on dishes washed in the dishwasher in recent weeks. After some research, I find that the 2 main ...
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Two Water Heaters - One off affecting the other?
We recently moved into a property with 2 water heaters installed. These were installed less than 3 years ago, so they are relatively new. Now, in an effort to conserve electricity (we are just 3 ...
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Is it okay to put a heat pump water heater in a crawl space?
I have a pretty large crawl space. It is 80 inches wide and around 7 feet high. I am looking to replace the 50 gallon electric water heater with the new Geo Spring Water heater by GE This unit is wide ...
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Rust spots on water heater -- time to replace?
So I noticed today there's some rust spots showing up on the outside/bottom on the water heater. No more than a couple specs. Should I be worried?
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Can a typical tankless water heater be set to very low temperatures like 70°F/20°C?
Hear me out: I want to put a water heater on the cold water supply to my shower.
I have a thermostatic valve on my master bath shower, which causes a frustrating issue in the winter - my tankless ...
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How bad is it to attach a gas water heater to a gas furnace electrical circuit?
I'm looking to replace my existing water heater with a more efficient model. One of the things that makes better models more efficient is the replacement of the thermocouple / pilot control system ...
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How well would a hydronic furnace work with a gas tankless water heater?
My current heating system (in Ontario) is an oil hot water tank in a closed loop with a hydronic forced-air furnace (Enerzone XAH 68). The water circulates through what is basically a heat exchanger ...
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