Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Which is more effient to run with oil heat? An electric instant water heater or an indirect fired water heate?
   It would be for the whole house...2.5 baths, dishwasher, washer, 4 people.

   I have forced hot water now and oil heat. I am replacing an oil inner coil now.

   • ANSWER:
     due to the fact that you'd have to force yourself to think water conservation i recomend the elec instant water heater due to the fact it wont handle multiple hot water demands at once

2. QUESTION:
   which water heater is more economic? Instant water heater or electric geyser?
   solar heating system is not officiant in malta. so here is the two options which we can choose. ALso one heater is it enough for bathroom and a kitchen? thanks

   • ANSWER:
     both are economic it depends on our need . if u require more water go for geyser. if u need small amount of instant water go for Instant water heater

3. QUESTION:
   Which instant water heater must I purchase ?
   We have a gas water heater which uses 16KG commercial gas (currently costing about Rs 1200). We can use it for like 1.5 months then we must have a refill, which is too expensive. We use 120 litres every day. We want a replacement. Either, a better efficiency gas heater, or some electric heater. Which company offers one ? Primary requirement is savings and it must be instant water heater !

   • ANSWER:
     IFB Appliances is the best online shopping for Home & Kitchen Appliances in India. Compare best prices on washing machines, Dishwasher, Microwave and Clothes Dryer.

4. QUESTION:
   i have a Brazilian instant water heater and i want to know how it work and its electric blags?
   i want to reaper it and i dont know what the wiers to bloge in

   • ANSWER:
     Well, your question is hardly readable. Something about installing a water heater. Best bet read the instructions that came with it, or call a plumber.

5. QUESTION:
   which electric water heater is best INSTANT or STORAGE, eighter elec. consumption wise or hot water?

   • ANSWER:
     INSTANT
     for every thing.(consumption wise or hot water)

6. QUESTION:
   Hot water tank vs. Instant water heater?
   I am thinking of installing an instant hot water heater (electric) for our whole house (1600sq. ft.).
   In your experience, is it worth it? Does it save money? Any downfalls?

   • ANSWER:
     I have one customer that bought a top name electric whole house tank-less water heater, and had nothing but problems with it.

     The manufacturer would allow no one but a licensed plumber to do the warranty work, so every time the owners would get the next part in the manufacturer sent, they had to call me to do the work requested by the manufacturer.

     On paper, the system looks like it should work. But reality shows otherwise.

     Here is a very important point, if you do not have soft water, the unit will always be failing on you.

7. QUESTION:
   I am thinking of installing an instant hot water heaters (electric) for our whole house (1600sq. ft.).?
   I am thinking of installing an instant hot water heaters (electric) for our whole house (1600sq. ft.).In your experience,Does it save money? Any downfalls?

   • ANSWER:
     nope
     too many items to go bad, [they wont last for ever]

8. QUESTION:
   which is better water heater 1 liter or 3 liters?
   Which electric instant geyser(water heater) is best?
   1 or 3 Liter's.
   It should be electric and having continuous warm running water?
   Please Guide us.
   Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     it probably depends on the application a shower would require the MOST water so I think that would need the bigger tank ie the 3 liter one..

     an application like washing dishes would require less continous hot water so it would be able to get by on 1L

9. QUESTION:
   No hot water. Would a electric tankless water heater work?
   I live on the second floor of a two story house. The whole house hasn't had any heat or hot water for the past few years, no sink or shower hot water. I've been going to the gym to shower every other day.

   If I purchase a electric tankless water heater would that provide hot water for showering and cooking? I don't care if it's not instant, I can wait for my water to heat up AS LONG AS IT GETS WARM.

   Also, if I buy one, how do I install it exactly?

   Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     Unless you have an uncontrollable penchant for wasting money, your best bet would be to simply replace or repair the existing water heater.

     As far as the installation of either goes: YOU don't. That kind of work requires plumbing, & electrical skills. If the W/H is gas or propane fired, working with the respective gas equipment requires certification(s). In Texas, DO NOT be caught working on propane equipment without a Railroad Commission card...

10. QUESTION:
    Cheapest way to heat water for taps and shower?
    At home I have an electric shower, and an immersion heater for all other hot taps in the house. I usually put the immersion heater on for one night every 3 days. This does the trick. However, I'm tempted to buy and have installed, an electric hotwater point at the kitchen tap, and one for the bathroom tap. This would give instant hot water to the three main points in the house. It would also mean a quieter house, because the immersion heater wouldn't grumble away quietly through the night, and when running hot water through the pipes (ie to the downstairs kitchen) it wouldn't make that indescribable noise. (pipes expanding?) On Ebay, you can buy an instant hotwater tap for about £40 from China. Or a more expensive bigger unit to go under the kitchen sink, for example. Ignoring this initial outlay cost, would it be cheaper to have instant electric heater water points? - There are 5 adults in the house. (no baths)

    • ANSWER:
      Gravity system is bestway Where a space-heating water boiler is employed the traditional arrangement in the UK is to use boiler-heated ("primary") water to heat ("secondary") water in a cylindrical vessel (usually made of copper) containing potable water supplied from a cold water storage vessel/container, usually in the roof space of the building. This produces a fairly steady supply of DHW at low static pressure head but usually with a good flow..............

11. QUESTION:
    Electric or gas to heat water for showers, which is cheaper?
    I currently heat my water tank for our power shower/bath with gas. i have three daughters and they all shower in the morning, the gas is on for three hours to ensure there is enough hot water for all of them. However, our tank has an electric switch connected to the immersion heater in the tank which gives us instant hot water (like using and electric shower). My question is, would it be cheaper to have the water heated by the electrics for 30 minutes while the girls have showers or to heat the whole tank for three hours with gas. I know gas is considered cheaper than electricity but even in this case? And what about the environmental issues?
    Does anyone know what it would actually cost to heat with gas for three hours and with electricity for thrity minutes? Please give a reason for your answer!!! Thanks
    I live in North London

    • ANSWER:
      Sorry to say you seem a bit misinformed?? If as you say , you have an immersion heater in your hot water cylinder, it cannot be 'instant' there is no such thing. It will heat the water in a similar way to the coil in the cylinder. The gas boiler that you use will probably not actually be heating the water for the full three hours , assuming that you have a cylinder stat and other controls, conversely, the immersion heat will never heat enough water for 3 showers in half an hour! I guess that your cylinder is 40gallons or so?? The immersion heater will cost about 36p per hour when heating. If you want quick recovery, I suggest you put both gas and electric on for the duration of the showering period, this will leave the hw cylinder pretty well full of hot water when you turn off.

12. QUESTION:
    Electrical Panel Upgrade?
    I want to upgrade my electrical panel for a house that is 1200 square feet. I have two bathrooms and appliances include a refridgerator, electric washing machine, gas stove and dryer as well as electric oven and dishwasher. I will also have a gas or electric instant water heater installed. How many amps will I need? The estimate I got recommended 125 amps but a friend down the street has a panel with 200 amps. I am confused.

    • ANSWER:
      To answer your question honestly electrical contractors figure your total amperage based on a calculation as per the NEC and there is a demand factor that is also taken in to consideration as well. Many people ask me all the time isn't a 100 amp service to small and why don't I need a 200 amp service isn't that the minimum required. The answer is 100 amp is probably enough for many homes unless they have a ot of electrical appliances and then depending on the size of the home and what they have a 100 amp service is fine.
      I will kind of give you a run down on what you asked based on the code and the demand factor I even gave you a little extra because you said gas stove and electric oven and I added central air to this for future use at 4500 Va as well which you do not say you have but in case you do I have added that to the total 3600 watts for lighting 3 watts per sq foot. Total load demands based on article 220 .11 and article 220.19 Percentage of oven and air go to 3.6 kva Two small appliance circuits and 1 laundry circuit as well.
      You come up to 56 amps total on your panel based on what you told me and with central air added to the mix so 200 amp is a ways off yet. 100 or 125 amp is fine in your case with room to add extras as well

      Electrical Contractor |><|

13. QUESTION:
    Question about electricity?
    An instant gas hot water heater is capable of raising the temperature of 2kg of water by 50K each minute.

    What problem might there be in designing a instant electric water heater which is to work from the ordinary mains supply instead of gas and achieve the same rate of heating ?

    • ANSWER:
      Use induction heater.
      It is capable to do that instantly.

14. QUESTION:
    what type of shower heater do you suggest?
    im choosing between

    instant tankless shower heater

    or

    instant tankless shower HEAD water heater

    both are electric type

    thank you

    • ANSWER:
      Don't know exactly what the problem is with the water temp but if it is just about getting the hot water to the shower without having to send gallons down the drain while you wait then there is a small pump that you install under the sink in the bathroom which pumps water from the hot water line into the cold water line (not down the drain) until the hot water supply reaches the faucet. It has a timer and a thermostat so it comes on at the time of your choosing and goes off when you tell it to. We have two of them one in the upstairs bathroom which we actualy wired into the switch that turns on the light in the shower so when we get up in the morning we turn on the shower light and in 5 minutes or less we have hot water in the shower and the sink. Since we are only two in the house we don't feel the need to have the timer on every day and sometimes we want the shower in the middle of the day and all we need to do is turn the light on. We put one in the kitchen this summer when we remodeled because it took too long to get hot water in the sink and that one is run on the timer so I have hot water for cooking and clean up for several hours in the morning and again in the late afternoon/early evening. Off hand I don't remember the name of the pump but we bought it at Menards cost in the 0 to 0 range and you need an outlet under the sink or close enough to plug the pump in.

15. QUESTION:
    Solution to propane furnace discharging soot throughout the home?
    New Colman furance and new instant hot water heater, also converted propane cloths dryer and cooking range to electric.

    • ANSWER:
      It should burn clean. If you have soot you should check if the ventilation is blocked somehow.

16. QUESTION:
    How to work out power of electric shower delivering 0.076kgS-1 of water for 3 minutes? Please help?
    Hi and thanks for looking at my question guys..

    I am really stuck on this... i am not asking for an answer or cheating my assignment... I just urgently need some help on how to work this question out.. any pyshics experts out there pleaseee help

    The use of instantaneous shower in place of a bath can have significance in both cost for househod and therefore enviromental cost. Compare the cost of using an instant electric shower delivering 0.076kgS-1 of water for 3 minutes, with bath water heated by an immersion for 80 minutes (use a typical power of immersion heater)?

    This is the question i am soo badly stuck on... You guys are my only chance.. Any helps very greatly appreciated

    thanks
    its says i need to determine the power of the shower to deliver this mass of water per second.......... otherwise than that.... thats all the question is giving me

    • ANSWER:
      What is the temperature of the heated water, and what is the temperature of the incoming water?

      What is an "immersion heater"? do you mean a conventional tank heater? In that case you need the size, the insulation, the length and material of the pipes, it's a complicated scenerio.

17. QUESTION:
    Time required to heat water at....?
    A small electric immersion heater is used to heat 70 g of water for a cup of instant coffee. The heater is labeled “140 watts” (it converts electrical energy to thermal energy at this rate). Calculate the time required to bring all this water from 20°C to 100°C, ignoring any heat losses. (The specific heat of water is 4186 J/kg·K.)

    • ANSWER:
      about 3 minutes

18. QUESTION:
    I need help with a Physics problem, please i cant figure it out?
    A small electric immersion heater is used to boil 65.0 g of water for a cup of instant coffee. The heater is labeled 100.0 W, which means that it converts electrical energy to heat at this rate. Calculate the time required to bring this water from 17.0 °C to the boiling point ignoring any heat losses.

    • ANSWER:
      specific heat capacity of water = 4.18 J kg^-1 K^-1

      Change in temperature = 100 - 17 = 83K

      Energy needed to raise temperature = 83x65x4.18
      =22551.1

      Time needed = 22551.1/100
      =225.511s

19. QUESTION:
    i need help with this Thermodynamics problem?
    A small electric immersion heater is used to boil 65.0 g of water for a cup of instant coffee. The heater is labeled 100.0 W, which means that it converts electrical energy to heat at this rate. Calculate the time required to bring this water from 17.0 °C to the boiling point ignoring any heat losses

    • ANSWER:
      Heat needed: Q=m * c * dT
      electrical energy consummed W = P * t
      assume no loss of energy => Q=W
      => m * c * dT = P * t
      => t= m * c * (Tfinal - Tinitial) / P
      replace the constants c - specific heater of water (don't remeber) Tfinal - vap. temp = 100 C and you can find out the time needed

20. QUESTION:
    Thermodynamics: thermal energy?
    A small electric immersion heater is used to heat 100g of water for a cup of instant coffee. The heater is labeled "200 watts", so it converts electrical energy to thermal energy that is transferred to the water at this rate. Calculate the time required to bring the water from 23 C to 100 C ignoring any thermal energy that transfers out of the cup.

    The answer is 742 kJ. Can you show me the steps involved with solving this problem?

    • ANSWER:
      the answer you quote is an energy, not a time...let's follow this problem

      200W means the heater adds 200Joules of energy to the water each second

      the amount of energy needed to heat 100g of water from 23C to 100 C is given by:

      Q=mc(delta T) where m is the mass of the water, c is the specific heat, and delta T is the change of temp

      here, m=100 g
      c=4.2 J/gram/deg C
      delta T= 77

      thus, Q=100 g x 4.2 J/g/C x 77C = 32.3 KJ

      if the heater provides 200J/s, then the time needed to heat the water is

      t=32.3kJ/200J/s = 161.7 s

21. QUESTION:
    Need help with physics question?
    A small electric immersion heater is used to heat 54 g of water for a cup of instant coffee. The heater is labeled “170 watts” (it converts electrical energy to thermal energy at this rate). Calculate the time required to bring all this water from 18°C to 100°C, ignoring any heat losses. (The specific heat of water is 4186 J/kg·K.)

    • ANSWER:
      From 18C to 100C = 291.15K to 373.15K
      1 Watt = 1 Joule/s, so 1 W*s = 1 Joule

      4186J/kg K (373.15K - 291.15K) (1 kg/1000g)(54g)=
      4186W*s/kgK(82K)(0.54kg)

      4186Ws/kgK(82K)(0.54kg)/170W = 109 seconds

22. QUESTION:
    energy transfer/temperature question?
    A small electric immersion heater is used to boil 154.0 g of water for a cup of instant coffee. The heater is labeled 250.0 W, which means that it converts electrical energy to heat at this rate. Calculate the time required to bring this water from 17.0 °C to the boiling point ignoring any heat losses.

    • ANSWER:
      Exactly how this should be answered depends a lot on how precise you wish to be. The numbers given in this problem indicate you should have three significant figures. Unfortunately, the specific heat of water is not constant, and ranges from about 4.178 J/(g*K) to 4.219 J/(g*K) as it reaches the boiling point. Personally, I'd just use two significant digits for an approximate answer (especially as you are already allowed to ignore any heat losses). So
      ΔQ = mcΔT
      Where
      Q is the heat
      m is the mass
      c is the specific heat capacity of water
      T is the temperature
      ΔQ = (154.0 g) * (4.2 J/(g*K)) * (100 °C - 17.0 °C)
      ΔQ = 53684.4 J

      Since a watt is a joule/second, the time is...
      t = (53684.4 J) / (250.0 W)
      t is approximately 210 seconds

23. QUESTION:
    thermal physics HELP! please?
    A small electric immersion heater is used to heat 71 g of water for a cup of instant coffee. The heater is labeled “99 watts” (it converts electrical energy to thermal energy at this rate). Calculate the time required to bring all this water from 21°C to 100°C, ignoring any heat losses. (The specific heat of water is 4186 J/kg·K.)

    please help???

    • ANSWER:
      heat(in kcal) = w*t/4200
      Where w is the wattage ( here 99 watts), t is the time (here t in seconds) and heat is the energy required to raise the temperature of the water from a certain point to the other higher point ( here from 21 degrees to 100 degrees).

      First of all,
      Heat energy required to raise the temperature of 71 grams of water from 21 degree to 100 degree is

      (100-21)*71 = 79*71 = 5609 cal = 5.609 kcal

      now putting 5.609 in the above relation

      5.609 = 99*t / 4200
      = 23557.8 = 99t
      =23557.8/99 = t
      = 237.957 = t

      Therefore time is 237.957 seconds.

      Converting it into minutes.
      237.957/60
      = 3.96595 minutes

      Converting 0.96595 into seconds

      0.96595*60=57.95

      Therefore total time will be 3 minutes and 58 seconds (approx.)

24. QUESTION:
    Central Heating System?
    I've just bought a house that only has electric storage heaters working off an economy 7 supply. Hot water is from immersion heaters in the hot water tank.

    I would like to perhaps install a different system that will be more cost effective, and am wondering what the best options might be in the UK.

    The house is a 1940's semi-detached in Glasgow (so solar power might not work, though rain power might!!), has a main fireplace downstairs and one up stairs that can be opened up (good condition, just need the metal work and wood to burn), large front and back garden. Nearest gas supply is 200m away so will cost a few thousand to install gas main plus a few thousand to install gas appliances. The house has cavity wall insulation and double glazing, loft insulation is about 100m deep (haven't had chance to check yet) and can put additional insulation in there (I want to board out the loft, insulation can also go under the tiles). I have no idea about underfloor insulation - probably none. Instant heat will have to be from electric fan heaters.

    So there it is. What are the best options for me - I want to make the house warmer, have hot water and cost less over the next 5 years or so.

    If you can give me an estimate of cost and potential savings that would be even better.

    The answer might be to leave it as it is and have higher electricity bills but not spend thousands to reduce the power costs

    • ANSWER:
      Air source heat pump and water filled central heating system.
      Will be more economical.
      Alternative is air conditioning units in heat pump mode. Will cool in the summer too.

25. QUESTION:
    Is my story okay so far? Thanks a ton!?
    Yeah, I guess it's a little long, and yes, the idea may seem too overused nowadays, but please, just be honest on what you think. Sorry about mess ups with the spelling or grammar. I'm 13 by the way! Thanks and enjoy! ~~~ -I fell into my house and slammed the door shut behind me- Deryk no more than 3 feet away. My breathing was out of control; it was going crazy. So was Deryk. Right before I had run from him, leaving him in his broken-down car about two blocks from my house, he had tried to convince me that he was a... a shapeshifter! He had declared that he could change his features in an instant! Like eye color, or hair length, or even species! Even crazier, he had attempted to convince me that I, too, could shift my appearance. Who the hell is jacked up in the head enough to believe that?!
    -"Please Alexadria... uh, Alex. Open the door, we need to talk this over. I know I didn't quite annotate this enough. Just come out and I'll explain the whole thing." Deryk leaned on the other side of the door, but I didn't even dare to breathe- to let him acknowledge that I was still listening. I looked through the peephole and found him looking back at me. Surely, these things were created for one-way vision, right? Though my mind agreed to this, I jumped back with a small squeak.
    -"I know that you're just standing there, Alex. You're waiting for me to leave, aren't you? Well, I am not going to leave until you speak back. All I need is a simple 'go away' or 'whatever'. I just need to know that you're not in shock or something.
    - I knew that if I were to tell him to leave, he'd go, but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction that he could practically force me to speak. I don't know, it was sort of a pride type of thing, I guess. I am not going to leave until you speak back. His words sat inside of my mind as I remembered seeing a weather report earlier. The man had said to expect much snow. I could feel the chilly air crawling under the front door, and it was already biting at my fingers and toes. If it were to snow, Deryk would just give up. He'd probably walk to his dead car and call a tow truck or something.
    -I tiptoed away from the door and into the kitchen. As I walked by, I flipped on the electric heater, hoping to get a little bit of feeling returned back into my appendages, which I now had as much control over as I would a rabid squirrel. Assuring that the windows in the kitchen were locked- though I know Deryk wouldn't seep that low, but it was just assurance. I set a pot full of water onto the stove, and feeling the heat, I stuck my hands over it. I couldn't help but to emit a sigh of relief. When the water began to boil, I found a coffee cup and slipped in a bag of SleepyTime tea. The minty smell eminating along with the steam seemed to suck any strees and tightness from my shoulders. They slumped in relaxation, and I almost forgot about the previous events. I flipped off the warm flame and left the pot to cool. Slowly, and quietly, I returned to the livingroom. Deryk was probably gone anyways. I sank into the couch, pulling a blanket over me. I switch the TV on and found that it was on Wheel of Fortune.
    -"I love this show!" I smile to myself. I watch as the taller woman in the middle bent down to spin the wheel. She gets her chance to guess a letter. I laugh to myself when I find that I was talking to the TV. "Guess the letter U!" I groan. The woman guesses 'O' and there are none. I catch myself snickering at her. "Shoulda listened to me!"
    - I sigh quietly and finish off my tea and feel the change in the temperature in the room. When I sink even further into the cushions, I feel my eyelids sliding shut. The last thing I hear, considering all I can see is the back of my eyelids, is the sound of silence. Before I have time to wonder what happened to the television or sounds of the heater buzzing; sending heat my way, I drift off to a restless sleep.
    ~~~
    -My sleep is full of weird dreams, but none seem very long. The most prominent one is an image of me standing there, Deryk by my side. He is in a wolf form, though. I am standing, clad in nothing but air. Suddenly, tremors overtake my body, and my ears become pointed. Wiry hair emerges from my skin, and claws spear out where my fingernails once were. I hear a rumble far off, and it changes to a slight growl until it ends up as a full howl. It is coming from me. I can see myself in a reflection, and as a small-framed wolf, I still look fierce and majestic somehow. I look towards the wolf that I assume is Deryk and assure it, being that his eyes never changed. He shoots me a proud look, and somewhere inside of this nonverbal message, it is spiked with love and exaltation.
    -I jolt awake and shudder, the cold air blasting me. The blinding white outside hinted that it was snowing, maybe there was even a blizzard. I stood
    up and realized that the power was out, yet I could see easily. The cold bothered me, and I pulled the blanket tighter around my body. I stepped towards the door to see how snowed-in and dark the town is. Pulling the door open, just a little, I took notice that I had only been asleep for a little bit, because there wasn't too much snow, but it was coming quickly. I opened the door, and shivering, took a step outside. I screamed as I tripped over something on the porch. Blood seeped out of my hands and knees, but that wasn't why I was crying. I looked back to see what I had tripped over, and there, lying in a ball, was Deryk. He was deathly still, and I hoped that I could save him, though I did think he was crazy, I couldn't let him die. I just couldn't. I strided to him and knelt down. His body was really cold, but I could hear his shallow breath. I smiled in relief and attempted to pick him up. A grunt of exertion escaped me as I walked into my house, him dangling in my arms. Laying
    him on the couch I ran back to shut the door. I remembered a survival skill from Girl Scouts. They had told us how to help someone who was ill with hypothermia. Skin on skin contact. Body heat was the only way. Oh joy.... ~~~ Thanks, I know it may not be great but it's only a rough draft. Hope you liked it at least a little! (:
    Oh! Woops! I completely forgot the vowel thing on Wheel of Fortune! Thanks for pointing that out! (:

    • ANSWER:
      It is quite overused, but it's pretty well developed for someone of your age. I'd like to read more about it, actually. It's a popular topic, because that type of fantasy is very 'in' right now.
      Very nice.
      Oh, and by the way, you have to buy vowels on Wheel of Fortune, you can't just guess them, so make sure you include that.
      Hope this helps.

26. QUESTION:
    Which is more effient to run with oil heat? An electric instant water heater or an indirect fired water heate

    • ANSWER:
      More information would be helpfull for a proper answer. What does your present heating system consist of? How much hot water do you need and where? Is this for a whole house or a point of use application?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   tankless gas hot water heater with electrical gas lighting.?
   I have a gas tankless hot water heater. the pilot frequently shut off. The gas valve control is controlled by water flow. When there is hot water runs, the water creates a pressure discrepancy at two sides of valve so the gas is on. I do not like this kind design because it is not reliable. about every three years the value needs replaced. It has been replaced twice by me and a plumber. I would like to replace it with a new tankless gas hot water heater with electrical gas lighting. Any suggestion.

   • ANSWER:
     just one of the reasons I always recommend people just keep their good ole reliable tank heater.

2. QUESTION:
   What is the importance of using a surge protector on a gas tankless hot water heater?
   How important is it to use a surge protector with a gas tankless hot water heater (I have a Noritz if that matters)?
   I'm talking about a surge protector for power surges, not water pressure. Also, I prefer to hear from people with specific knowledge about the issues with these types of units. I know that, in general, it's good to use surge protectors on electronics, but is there anything unique about using them with a tankless hot water heater? Thank you.

   • ANSWER:
     If you are not sure of pounds of pressure test it and have a pressure regulator installed ,next is your pressure relief valve,that gives you protection in case of overheating,and the surge device eliminates serious scalding of people using hot water should you get air in the lines due to a significant drop in water pressure/volume.
     In other words without it you possibly could steam-clean the hide right off of your body,but keep in mind that steam like that would cause death within seconds or at best a painful sort of existence the rest of ones life.

3. QUESTION:
   Gas tankless hot water heater-is it necessary?
   to increase the gas pressure from 8" WC to 2PSI when converting from a gas hot water heater to gas tankless heater? Gas line is 1" entering the house, then 3/4" to each appliance. House is in Texas, 2 stories, 3200 SF, 3-1/2 baths (with a whirlpool tub), 2 furnaces, fireplace, dryer and tankless heater. If increased to 2PSI, gas pressure regulators will be needed at each appliance, as well as a 2PSI meter installed by the gas company. Sounds more expensive than necessary to this unknowing consumer. Comments are welcome.

   • ANSWER:
     If you do not follow the manufacturers gas pressure recommendations, you will hate your tankless because it will not operate to its fullest potential when running multiple fixtures.

4. QUESTION:
   Tankless hot water heater (gas) - alarm?
   There's an alarm (sounds like a distant burglar alarm) coming from my (gas) tankless hot water heater (Bosch Aquastar)...

   Called the gas company, but with no gas smell, they won't do anything. Been googling and reading the manual on the company website, but no answers...

   Interestingly, the alarm finally shut off this morning after 5 hours, at the same time as the furnace came on with heat....

   • ANSWER:
     Honestly it is probably fine. But a shameless plug for my profession you could get it looked at by a qualified plumber or HVAC technician.

5. QUESTION:
   Does anyone have any experience with or opinions about Rinnai Natural Gas tankless hot water heater?
   Do they work efficiently, save money, etc.?

   • ANSWER:
     Great product! However, make sure that you get a big enough one to run your washer, dishwasher, shower, and sinks at the same time. Most people that install this system have to install 2 units. It can get costly and tales a long time to re-coupe your expense.
     If money is an issue, I would recommend replacing your existing water heater with a highly rated Energy Star Water heater but also install the correct size water heater jacket.

     The jacket will save an additional - Per month and pay for itself in about 6 months.

6. QUESTION:
   Why does my gas tankless hot water heater makes high pitched whistling noise at heater location?

   • ANSWER:
     Sounds like the combustion fan motor has a bad bearing better get it looked at.
     Ken

7. QUESTION:
   If you have a gas tankless hot water heater please share your pros and cons with me. THANKS?

   • ANSWER:
     I couldn't reference a source, but I would assume they're POTENTIALLY less eco-friendly than a tank, at least if you take showers as long as I do.

     Yes, they do have higher gas flows and if you take an hour-long shower, you're burning that gas flow for exactly an hour. But, unlike conventional tank heaters, they're only heating the water whenever it's called for - the burner isn't clicking on and off throughout the day to keep your forty or fifty gallons worth of water warm even when you don't need it. It will always be burning a pilot, but so will a tank.

     It's the installation that gets tricky: tankless heaters require bigger exhaust pipes and they hang on the wall. Your closet or garage or wherever you plan on installing one will have to be modified appropriately. And if you plan on getting an inspection, make sure the city isn't going to come out and tell you, after all is said and done, that you now require a bigger gas service pipe to handle the extra btus. Trust me, this happens a lot; plumbers don't put them in all the time and they forget to calculate things like that.

     Also, watch out for Japanese brands and heaters that require a source of electricity; you don't want to hire an electrician for a plumbing job. Hire a GOOD plumber and don't buy the heater at Lowe's or anything like that. If you've got a good, experienced plumber, he should know where to find a good one.

     Now, let me say this: I have a tankless water heater (as do my parents) and I wouldn't switch back to tanks for all the world. I enjoy my shower time and often do it when someone else is showering in the house. I don't want to have to worry about running out of hot water.

     Would I recommend one? If you're anything like me, then yes.

     There's one big pro and a lot of little cons. They're a little more complicated than traditional heaters and any given plumber isn't likely to have the parts on his truck to fix it.

     But come on... hot water all the time. You'll wonder how you got along without it.

8. QUESTION:
   can you use a gas tankless hot water heater when the lights go out?

   • ANSWER:
     Our family use tankless water heaters at home

     you can find more information about it here http://tanklesswaterheatertoday.com/

     It will help you and your family save money on water heating, because tankless water heaters heating water moment when we need.

     I personally recommend it.

9. QUESTION:
   tankless water heater won't mix hot and cold water without giving all of one or the other?
   If I turn on the hot water in my tankless water heater, it only puts out hot water. That's good because that's what it's supposed to do. However when I turn on the cold water faucet, the hot water goes off and I only get cold water. I can't understand how turning on the cold water can affect the hot water my tankless hot water heater (gas) is producing. Any info would be great!
   How can I fix it?

   • ANSWER:
     The tank less heaters I've install had a small filter on the supply side. This restriction would cause this. When the cold is turned on the pressure is reduce to the heater restricting the flow and shutting it down. Regards, Dale

10. QUESTION:
    Is it possible to use a tankless hot water heater with a hot tub?
    The heater in our hot tub is not working. We would like to put in a natural gas dedicated hot water heater and wonder if a "tankless" model would work by just recycling the water? It would be a lot cheaper than buying a new hot tub heater. Plumbing not a problem...just don't know if this would work. Thanks in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      Well, put that way, I don't see why it wouldn't work, however, I would turn it down when not in it so heater doesn't run constantly.

11. QUESTION:
    My tankless hot water heater, the hot water works then it doesn't. Do I need to flush it or something else?
    When I use my propane gas tankless water heater lately sometimes I can run the water and still not get hot water. Do I need to flush it or is there something else I need to do to have it provide hot water all of the time.

    • ANSWER:
      check your gas pressure, and make sure when you are running the hot water it is coming on, most have a flow sensor that turns on the burner as water flows...this could be the problem as well

12. QUESTION:
    Gas supply for tankless hot water?
    How can I tell if I have enough natural gas available to run a tankless hot water heater. I already have two furnaces and a gas dryer. What would happen if my demand exceeds my supply?

    • ANSWER:
      You have no worry on supply as the line coming to your house is high pressure that's why you have a regulator at the meter to lower the pressure, If your worried about starving the gas to your other units just put a T in the supply line off the meter, the size will depend on the BTU and length of run to the new unit. Installing your own pipe is no problem as you can get the pipe cut and threaded at your local hardware, make sure you use a good Teflon pipe dope on all your fittings and at the unit a good valve.

13. QUESTION:
    Could something in my house cause my tankless hot water heater to stop working?
    I bought a tankless hot water heater less than 3 years ago and it has stopped working. I sent it back to the company who claims that they fixed it. It worked for less than two weeks, then stopped working again. After going round and round with the company, they said it must be something in my house that is causing it to stop working. It is a gas tankless hot water heater with an electric ignition. Does anyone know what in my house could cause it to stop working? Of course she wouldn't answer that question for me. Also, what is the average lifespan of a tankless hot water heater. I have heard twice as long as a traditional tank water heater.

    • ANSWER:
      There is one more possibility why this unit isn't working properly...Are you currently living in a high altitude rated environment? Many of these tank-less water heaters have special circuit boards or other means of adjustments to accommodate high altitude installations...You'll have to contact your model's manufacturer, one more time, to request any adjustments necessary for proper operation....Good Luck !!!

14. QUESTION:
    does a gas tankless water heater also "go out" (not provide hot water) when there is a power failure because
    it has an electric pilot?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes. That's one of the disadvantages of a tankless water heater. At least with a tank water heater you have some reserve hot water to get you through a power outaage.

      That said, though, I still think a tankless water heater is much better than a tank heater. You literally never run out of hot water.

15. QUESTION:
    What are the advantages and drawbacks to a tankless hot water heater over a typical hot water storage tank?
    We currently have a coil that heats our water...and we take short showers and the kids get half a bath. We were considering adding a tankless hot water heater such as "instant hot" to our gas or a water tank like "super stor ultra" to our oil burner. I'm wondering if a product like instant hot will really give an endless hot shower and fill the tub too. I'd appreciate feedback/experience with this.

    • ANSWER:
      I don't think instant hot is the best answer. I'm not sure that will supply the quantity you need. Tankless water heaters can do the job, though. They're like the Bosch AquaStar series. They totally replace your water heater. You can split your water service off to two lines and have two tankless water heaters, if you want. These draw a lot of gas and might require increasing the size of your gas service. A major advantage, though, is that they don't store hot water, so they don't waste gas keeping a large amount of water hot all day and all night.

      Also...look for the ones that meet the level of efficiency required for a tax credit. I believe the credit is 0. That's not just an income deduction...it's actually a credit. The Bosch AquaStar at the link below doesn't meet the efficiency requirements, but I got one at Home Depot for under 0, so I decided against trying for the tax credit.

16. QUESTION:
    locate steam sauna and tankless hot water heaters lp gas and electric?
    steam sauna can be small for a bath tub enclosure or that will heat a room 6ft x 8ft x 7 or 8 ft high hot water heater that could be used on a houseboat or an RV -must be able to use lp gas but could be both LP + electric

    • ANSWER:
      tankless water heaters can be bought at most plumbing outlets. lowes can get them too. i have used them in many house we built and they work great. match the btu's to the output that u guess u will use and that will size the heater. they have a chart for u to scale the size u will need

      lic. gen. contractor

17. QUESTION:
    Hot water heater - tankless or solar?
    I need a new gas hot water heater & trying to decide on whether to get a tankless or solar hot water heater. Can't anyone give me some advice on which is better or a site that could compare the two?
    I do understand that solar runs on the sun & requires no electricity but, seriously, is one better than the other? Pro's & cons is what I'm looking for. I had a conventional 50 gal. gas water heater prior to it flooding my garage out.
    Currently there are 2 in the household but desire a system capable for 4-6 people.
    I am in Az. so the sun shines pretty much all the time during the day.

    • ANSWER:
      BOTH! They work great together!

      Solar water heating is a great way to provide up to 75% of your hot water. However, it can't provide 100%, you need backup. The ideal solution is to get a solar water heater to do most of the heating. Then run the "hot out" from the solar storage tank to the "cold in" off an on-demand water heater. If the water is hot enough, the on-demand doesn't turn on, it just passes it through, no energy used. If the water isn't hot enough, perhaps you had a stretch of bad weather, it will add any needed heat. But instead of heating water from the city at 50 degrees, it will be heating partially heated water, maybe 80 degrees. This requires less energy.

      Depending on where you are, and how many people in your household, the equipment can cost about 00 - 00. I don't know the cost for an on-demand heater.

      http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Water-Heaters/Climate-freezes-Closed-Loop-Systems/Closed-Loop-Systems-for-1-4-People/Closed-Loop-PV-Powered-w-Tank/AET-PV-w-80-Gal-Tank-64-SqFt-Collectors/p172/

18. QUESTION:
    Best brand/place to buy a tankless hot water heater?
    I want to buy a tankless hot water heater to service the entire house (let's say 4 GPM range or up). I'm looking for a recommendation where/what to buy. I prefer electric but could do natural gas/electric. I would also like someone else to install it and remove the old water heater.

    If you have links to any other material that might help I would appreciate that as well.

    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Bosch is a great brand...

      I sent you some helpful sites to give you more ideas... Good Luck!

      http://www.tanklesswater.com
      http://www.hotwaterheater.com
      http://www.noritz.com

19. QUESTION:
    what is the best natural gas hot water heater for a home?
    looking to purchase new water heater pros and cons on tankless and what is the best one? what is the best tank heater. Natural Gas.

    • ANSWER:
      Without going into detail about which brand names are better and such.. I'll comment on your question about tanked vs tankless water heaters.

      While the idea of having the tankless heater is appealing for environmental and financial reasons, in the long term the savings don't really add up.

      For example, your standard tankless gas water heater will save the average homeowner about per year in energy bills. Sounds good right?

      Well the downside of that is the initial cost of the heater itself, typically costing anywhere from 0-00 per unit. On average you'd need to have the water heater for 22 years to see any savings, much longer than the 20 year warranty that comes with the unit.

      So unless you absolutely need the space that the tankless heater provides, I'd suggest you stay with a standard tanked water heater. Just look for the most efficient model you can get your hands on.

20. QUESTION:
    are tankless gas water heater any good?
    is Nat. Gas heaters for a 2 person familly effective enough for adequate hot water?

    • ANSWER:
      A tankless water heater should be adequate for a 2 person family. Make sure the heater has a sufficient capacity (in gallons per minute) for showering and other tasks. If your house has 2 baths, the heater must deliver sufficient hot water for both showers running at the same time. For a 2 person family, a tankless heater will probably be more energy-efficient than a conventional tank heater, since it heats water only as it is used, rather than a tank heater that keeps unused water heated all the time.

21. QUESTION:
    Considering installing a tankless, gas water heater system and underfloor heating--any experience with this?
    We have an area to heat an a-frame which is approximately 750 sq feet. It will have to support one full bathroom and one guest bathroom as well as an apartment size clothes washer and a kitchen with hot water.
    Though these tankless systems are very efficient and all over Europe, they are quite uncommon in the US. Are there problems or is it just that the initial cash outlay is considerably higher?

    • ANSWER:
      hi I live in the Uk I had what you call a tank less system for 20 years [combi boiler] is now a condensing a boiler.
      there are the most efficient way of heating water the advantages are you don,t store water other than what is in you radiator system the only disadvantage I have found is it takes a few moments longer for domestic hot water to start flowing as you are not storing hot water. Finally the boiler its self needs very little maintenance but it is expensive to install

22. QUESTION:
    How long will a portable 9kg (20lb) LP (or propane) gas bottle last for a tankless hot water heater?
    ..based on only using it to heat water to 1 shower in my home and for an average of 30-40mins per day. It's a 6 Litre( 1.6gal) per minute unit, electronic ignition so it only heats up when in use (sorry Im new with this, Im not sure if its common knowledge or not) so it wont be on continously.
    Thanks
    **These are the details of my unit** 6L / minute (111 gal /hour - 1.59 gal /min) 25°C or 45°F rise @ 1.59 gpm NO STANDING PILOT. This Mercury HW60 has an Ultra low water pressure start IC water control device No Electrical hook up 12000 Watt - Heat Output ( 40,946 Btu /hr )

    • ANSWER:
      a 20 lb tank should last for 2 days
      depends on the gas used during shower,
      set the tank on a scale [ note weight] turn the unit on, [run shower] for 20 min
      then see how much weight it took, multiply that by times showers used

23. QUESTION:
    I have no gas at home so to get hot water I was considering tankless eletric heater, any suggestions?
    Can't afford gas bill.

    • ANSWER:
      Tankless electric water heaters require large capacity electrical circuits. Installing one might require the installation of a large current circuit (like dryer, stove, oven, or central air conditioner) from the breaker panel to the installation point, which might require expensive breaker panel replacement (builder don't usually leave many slots opne in them). The cost of putting in that circuit, along with the increased cost of a tankless heater, should be figured into your payback schedule. It might be cheaper (over the lifetime of the heater) to simply go with a traditional electric water heater.

      For long-term cost savings, you might consider a solar pre-heat tank and a small traditional electric water heater.

24. QUESTION:
    What would be a good natural gas hot water heater?
    I am looking to replace my existing hot water heater and I don't want to go tankless.

    • ANSWER:
      A. O. Smith.

25. QUESTION:
    Need advice for tankless hot water heater?
    Personal experience would be greatly appreciated!

    Our hot water heater is on the fritz and I've started researching a tankless replacement. I didn't realize that there are so many things to consider and I'm starting to get confused by it all.

    Does anyone have a recommendation for brand, size, gas vs electric, etc?

    We have 2 full bathrooms, a dishwasher and sink in the kitchen, and a wash sink and washing machine in the basement. We currently have a gas hot water tank in the basement. The only time we would have hot water running in two places is if we are running a bath while the dishwasher is going. The washer could be going as well (we wash with cold but not sure if that affects the pressure for hot water).

    We're thinking about putting a small one in the upstairs bathroom since I've read they don't work very well if they're too far away.

    Should we get 2 more smallish ones for the first floor/basement or can they run off of one just fine? I'm not sure where we could fit one on the first floor.

    Can't wait to hear from everyone

    • ANSWER:
      We live in a log cabin in TN, 2 1/2 baths, dishwasher, washer & dryer etc..... We have an electric tank less water heater. the brand name TEMPRA and the model Stiebel Eltron. It works really well. It takes 150 amps by itself so you might need to add another circuit breaker panel. Check with an electrician.

26. QUESTION:
    Can you get a tankless hot water heater that runs on heating oil?
    Just wondering the availability of tankless hot water systems that run on heating oil. I do not have propane or nat gas in my house and would not want to go electric.
    What is the best alternative? What kind of payback time am I looking at with something like this, I am likely selling the house next year, should I not even bother with this....

    • ANSWER:
      You won't have time to re-coup your investment in 1 year. As far as an oil burner, you would have to do a search of all the major manufacturers. I have never heard of one, but there might be one somewhere. Good luck!

27. QUESTION:
    switched to tankless gas water heater and my bill is high. Why?
    I just moved into the house about 3 months ago and for my first month living here I bought a tankless water heater and replaced my regular gas heater because the tankless takes up less space. I have it mounted on the outside. I paid a plumber to install it. It is a rheem water heater. For the past 3 months my bills have ranged from 300-400 in just gas alone. I had the gas company come out and I dont have a leak and the meter isnt running constantly. It only runs when I use the gas in the house. I dont have a kitchen yet installed so I don't use a stove. I havent turned on my ac/heat for the past 2 months so the only hting that could be using the gas is when I take a shower which is a 5 min shower daily. It's just me in the house. So why is my bill so high?? I am so concerned b/c I paid for the water heater got it installed and now it is costing me a lot of money. I checked to see what the previous owner used to pay in gas bills and it was way less than what I am paying and she used the regular hot water tank (not tankless). I threw out the old tank which uses a lot less BTU's than the tankless. I think the tankless uses 180k BTU's and I had a 40 gallon tank. I don't know what to do. And my plumber also checked for gas leaks and I don't have any.

    • ANSWER:
      the reason is the tank-less heater must cut on everytime you use water this isn't the case with the old tank type, it holds hot water until the overall temp drops then heats the water, these devices are just unnecessary in most cases, had it been an electric one it may make more sense but gas? just put a high efficiency gas (tank type) water heater and you bills will decrease or switch the tank less gas heater to an electric one. however I believe these devices are oversold.the old types worked fine if insulated properly( if it ain't broke don't fix it)

28. QUESTION:
    does anyone have electric tankless hot water heater? do you like it? can we put it in ourselves?
    we have 5 boys and a 3200 square foot house. we have 2 hot water heaters now and we have enough hot water for the whole house. We have no gas lines hooked up to our house. thanks

    • ANSWER:
      We got one and it is awesome. It was about 00 and you have to have a pro install it, unless you know how to install new copper plumbing and an electrical line. We love it and the hot water never runs out. That thing is incredible.

29. QUESTION:
    want to replace my gas fired tank water heater with a tankless water heater?
    I have a 60 gallon natural gas water heater here in houston, TX. It is coming to the end of its natural life- apprx 10 years. The house has 3 showers, 5 sinks (including kitchen), washer and dishwasher. 2 adults live here. I want to know
    1- when it comes time to replace should I use a tankless water heater?
    2- what capacity tankless heater do I need?
    3- when some turns on the hot water faucet and quickly switches it of, does the unit turn on? or is it smart?

    • ANSWER:
      Check out Takagi. 199,000BTU should work fine. They have an electric ignitor to light the pilot. Most use a circulating pump so they have hot water on demand.

30. QUESTION:
    Is anyone using a tankless hot water heater in their home right now?
    I'm thinking of buying a tank-less hot water heater for my whole house but i've read that the natural gas heaters don't put out the flow that they advertise and it is best to go with an electric.I have a 40 gallon electric now that i bought 2 years ago.It is turned up all the way.I have never been able to take a 15 minute shower without using up all the hot water.I never had that problem with my old 40 gallon gas heater.Also my shower head plugs up with lime deposits so often that many times i cannot finish 1 shower without taking it apart and rinsing it out.The gas heater did that only 3 or 4 times a year.That makes me very reluctant to use another electric heater even a tank-less.I don't want a water softener.I am willing to put up with cleaning the shower head 3 or 4 times a year.If anyone is using a tank-less now i would like to know what brand it is,how strong it is and how happy they are with it.Thanks!
    The first 4 answers seem very knowledgable but it does not sound like you are using one in your home.I need an answer from someone who is actually using one.Do you like it? What size and brand is yours? Can you take a long,hot shower? Gas or electric? What about lime deposits? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Here's the scoop on gas vs. electric. According to This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey, gas is the way to go at this point. I just had a bid on a whole house gas unit from a contractor and he confirmed. Also said the gas line from the meter might have to be upped in size to handle the extra requirements of the gas heater, so check with your contractors on that.

      Tankless Hot Water Heaters
      http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,213064,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes

31. QUESTION:
    Is it OK to connect a hot water heater with flexible stainless hoses in Mass?
    Home depot sells these 18" flexible stainless hoses with threaded, teflon sealed ends. The stainless steel is like a fine braid on the outside, i don't know what is inside. What are these hoses called and are they approved in Ma. for hot water heater connections.? My hot water heater is a tankless gas fired model. I installed them and they are working fine but neither my plumber nor the inspector know if they meet code.

    • ANSWER:
      The inspector should know the codes as that is his job to make sure the plumbers are installing them to code.
      The hoses have a plastic hose or pipe inside
      if in doubts have the copper flex installed , here the local codes say we must run at least 24" of metal (copper , brass , stanless , galvanized ) going into and out of the heater

32. QUESTION:
    how can i tell if i have enough gas for a tankless water heater?
    i have 3/4 inch piping about 40 feet from meter. also on gas are furnace and dryer. neither of which are used that often. Currently i have a 50 gallon tank water heater but want to go to tankless because it does not give me enough hot water for my japanese soaking tub.

    • ANSWER:
      aslo the tankless hot water has to be on a eprate breaker cause it is a 220 and has to be install by a pro plumber

33. QUESTION:
    Tankless Water Heater - Problem with hot water?
    Hi, We are renting an apartment in Spain and we have a tankless (brand name is Neckar) water heater which is powered by butane gas. Every time we have a shower, we get only about 2 or 3 minutes of hot water and then the water turns cold. We go back to the heater and find out we have to relight the pilot light. Needless to say this is getting very frustrating. Our landlord is travelling and unable to help us. Any ideas? Are we doing something wrong?

    • ANSWER:
      Try using a wire brush and a vacuum cleaner to clean the area around the pilot light. It seems like the jet is being restricted by debris. Natural gas is typically under very low pressure, so the pilot light could be easily blocked by some kind of buildup.

34. QUESTION:
    How do you test the mother board on a richmond gas tankless water heater?
    Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Have to turn it on and off several times to get hot water. Home depot says mother board. But they don't know how to test it. Unit is Richmond.

    • ANSWER:
      call a service tech,,u could spend a small fortune not knowing whats wrong with it and throwing parts at it,,a ma board could easily cost 0,,this is 1 reason tank less htr are not all that efficient when u figure service calls and cost new

35. QUESTION:
    Tankless gas water heater - Cost?
    What is the typical cost of buying the equipment and installation of tankless 'Gas' water heater? For my house we need 2 of them.

    My house is being constructed right now, so I asked my builder to put this instead of regular tank. They are charging 00 for each unit. I think this is too high and payback time will also be long. Am I right?

    Also, any idea about cost of installing hot water circulation system to conserve water. Push of a button will bring the hot water within a minute to the faucet.

    Thanks You!
    Thanks Eric.

    What will be the payback period if I'm replacing tank one with this Tankless Gas Hot water system? If I save a month, then it is more than 10yrs. Seems not worth it. What you guys think.

    • ANSWER:
      You are mixing apples and oranges.
      A tankless gas HWH will cost about 00 installed but there should be a credit from the unit they are not installing, since you paid for it in the cost of the house.
      DO NOT add a circulation loop as this will defeat the gas savings of the Tankless system by causing it to run all the time to heat the circulating water.
      Think not of the ROI think of the endless hot water.

36. QUESTION:
    Tankless hot water heater??
    I'm considering switching from our 50 gal hot water heater to a tankless. For those of you who have done this, how much did it cost and are you seeing savings on your gas bill? At our current usage, a 50 gal tank takes care of one load of dishs, two loads of laundry and two showers (10-15 minutes long) before we start to loose hot water.

    • ANSWER:
      It's the best thing you can do...don't worry about the cost it will pay for itself in 12-18 months ...no hot water storage...and I see you have gas so your good to go...if you had electric I'd have my reservations due to past experiences......Benefits include..less space, gas bill savings, hot water continiously take 20 showers in a row if you'd like....I would suggest you look at Rinnai heaters they are the best in my opinion/past experience...I would also recomend looking at a plumbing wholesaler rather than home depot to find a good one. It will last you longer and most wholesalers will sale to the public. email me if you need more info..ie if your installing it yourself...

      Cheers
      Josh

37. QUESTION:
    Hi we have a tankless heater ( neckar JSD 20-Y/ASO ) powered by natural gas. When I switch it on the hot water?
    runs normally but when I try to add some cold water the hot water stops running and I have to switch it off and then switch it on again. The heater is new, and we put it outside in the laundry laundry area so there's plenty ventilation. Thank you

    • ANSWER:
      tankless wate heaters are a bit more tricky, normally the temperature is preset by the installer or in some cases, the manufacturer, therefore adding cold water to the already preset temperature can cause an issue. on a tankless water heater, the temperature should remain constant when opening the hot water side on faucets, you shouldnt have to temper down the water. if its new, i suggest recalling the plumber who installed it and have them recheck the system , should be under warranty if anything is a matter with the unit itslef...........

38. QUESTION:
    Tankless Hot Water Heater wont stay on when water is cut on?
    I recently bought a home that has a tankless hot water heater. I noticed that when i cut the water the unit cuts on lights, goes out and then reattempts to light again. Then it shows reading that says that there in not enough gas going to unit (gas company game out and said I was getting enough to the house). It actually cuts on, lights and then cuts off (saw it through viewing area). Is it possible that it is not getting enough gas even though it lights up initally? Also on it a noticed that it has a flexible pipe that connects to main gas line and to water heater. Is it possible that it is restricting the flow of gas to keep a flame in the unit?
    I know that it sounds weird, but I was really wondering if this could be the problem. Thanks in Advance.

    • ANSWER:
      Your ignition control thinks that the burner hasn't lit.
      Either the flame rod is dirty or burner itself is dirty.
      These can be difficult to work on.
      You should call a pro to checkout.

39. QUESTION:
    Tankless gas water heater problem?
    I recently tried to install our used tankless gas water heater in our new apartment. The water pressure is high and the water flows through easily. The problem is the water flow sensor should cause the gas to ignite but it is not working. Normally a small rod will raise upwards when the water is turned on which will then switch on the the igniter. But the small rod does not lift up even though the water is passing through.

    I am guessing it is some sort of blockage but it worked before in our other house. Can I connect a hose to the hot water outlet tube and back flush the system? I do not have a pump. Any other possible solutions or causes of the problem? thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Tankless heaters should receive a vinegar wash once a year to clean out scale and other deposits a lot like a radiator flush in your car.. I suspect that because the unit was allowed to dry out during the move that a deposit caused the flow sensor to seize. The wash is performed using a small pump with hoses to connect to the maintenance ports on the heater. The pump is rather expensive which makes hiring a plumber a reasonable thing to do. The entire job takes less than one hour.

40. QUESTION:
    Are there any good webpages for installation of proper exhaust ventilation from natural gas hot water heaters?
    I am referring to gas hot water heaters with tanks and not the tankless models.

    • ANSWER:
      There are different types of vented gas water heaters. You should follow the manufactures instructions for your particular heater. If you don't have the instructions that should come with the heater. Go to the web site for the manufacturer and download it.

41. QUESTION:
    Why does my hot water smell of gas? I have a rheem tankless water heater. Please help me.?

    • ANSWER:
      First, I wonder if you're living near a shale oil extraction facility. They've been messing up ground water in some places. If not, call Rheem at 800-432-8373, and don't dally.

42. QUESTION:
    sakura sh 890 tankless gas water heater pilot won't ignite.?
    When we turn the hot water on the pilot never lites up. NOW we have no hot water.
    The pilot is used to turn on automatic every time u turned on the hot water and now it is not turning on at all.

    • ANSWER:
      You have to turn the valve tp pilot, and then push down the button and light the pilot light , then when you use hot water the pilot will light the burner and heat the water, There should be directions on side of tank on how to operate it.

43. QUESTION:
    I have a tankless gas water heater (Orbis brand)?
    It fires up when I take a shower or use the bathroom sink, but when I use the kitchen sink in the same room it won't fire up, plus the water pressure isn't what it should be. When I first noticed the problem, it looked like it was trying to fire up, but now it just stays on the pilot light when running (only) the kitchen sink. To prove to myself that it was trying to fire up, I turned the shower on so that it would light up (with the water heater set on the hottest setting), then I turned the kitchen sink on hot, went back and turned the shower off and the kitchen sink still kept the water heater running, but not quite as hot as it should have been (such as when the shower was running). I know, big waste of water, but I wanted to try it. Any ideas? Is there a trip that isn't being tripped? I'm a novice and wanted to put the question out there before I turn the gas off and take the thing apart.
    A final note, I'm in Argentina (don't know if things might be done differently down here? I would doubt it). Thanks for your help.

    • ANSWER:
      You got a obstruction some where in the kitchen hot water side. Check the aerator and any other valves that could have debris which is restricting the flow of water. Tank less water heaters need a certain flow rate to work properly. Regards, Dale

44. QUESTION:
    Electric tankless hot water heater ?
    We are in the process of building a new home and it is time to pick out the hot water heaters. There is so much information out there and I need some help choosing the right one! Here are some details...

    We live on Gulf Coast in MS (so it's warm almost all year)

    master bedroom - 2 sinks, 125 gal whirlpool tub, separate shower
    2 other bathrooms with tub and shower, 1 double sink, 1 single sink
    1 additional bathroom with double sink, stand up shower only
    Kitchen - sink, dishwasher (cant think of anything else that would need hotwater ??)
    Laundry roomm - Washing Machine (a larger one - we are a family of 6)

    We do not want gas at all in the house so it must be electric, but I was wondering how the solar/electric tankless units work too, and with all of the bathrooms and appliances using so much hot water how many units would we need to purchase.

    Thanks so much! I cant wait to get some insight! This is a very important decision that must be made soon!
    note: my husband is dead set against gas. He does not want a gas tank buried underground in our backyard and if truly afraid the house could blow up if we have gas. (his ex wife's house burned down 5 years ago and his son died in the fire, our house burned down 15 months ago. This was due to an electrical storm, but really there is no changing his mind. I agree with you though. ughhh)

    • ANSWER:
      You don't need to use gas for heating water! Note that most dishwashers and washing machines have only a cold water inlet and they heat the water by themselves.

      If the climate is sunny (as it is here in Israel) a solar heater works well for most of the year except for the 4 winter months. It is a passive unit without pumps but is a bit ugly and is on the roof. Different sizes and numbers of solar collectors and insulated tanks are available and for a family of 5 who are modest in their showering needs I suggest the tank should be of 180 liter size and two solar panels of about 3 x 6 foot each are necessary. They must face approximately south!

      I am not sure what you mean by a tankless solar heater. Here there is no such animal!

      Our solar tank also contains an electrical immersion heater for use in the winter, which I regard as wasteful because it takes a while to heat up or it looses heat when running continuously. Instead we have in the two bathrooms an "instant" electrical device also manufactured here, but available in the US. Its performance is not fantastic when the incoming water is very cold, but if you run the water slowly it is effective. Be very carefull about installing this powerful electrical device in the bathroom so that condensation cannot allow water to collect inside or on the internal connections etc. When in use always TURN OFF THE WATER BEFORE CHANGING THE HEATING RATE, or you will blow a fuse. There are at least two models to choose from and it should be planned before the house piping is put in so that it can be used to heat all the bathroom water and not just the shower water (for this an ïn-line"model is needed). For shower water alone, the older kind is suitable. The same applies to the kitchen.

45. QUESTION:
    which is better - a tankless water heater, a gas (lp) water heater, or electric water heater?
    we have a 50 gal lp water heater which will probably have to be replaced in near future. There are 3 adults & 1 youngster in the house. Which will be the most "green" as well as saving $$ over a period of time & yet provide sufficient hot water as needed?

    • ANSWER:
      Tankless would be better by far. It doesn't go on and off throughout the day, keeping the water hot. Tankless is on-demand when needed and it's over. Not having to cycle on and off to reheat the water is going to use less energy and be greener with plenty of hot water for everyone! ☺

46. QUESTION:
    Tankless Hot Water System - cost savings?
    I am considering changing out our 10 year old electric hot water heater with an electric tankless system... I don't have access to gas/or lp.

    The benefits I see are that you only heat the water when you need it, and it doesn't sit in the tank waiting...

    The thing I have trouble wrapping my head around is going from tank electric to tankless electric - it seems like a wash - i.e still using electricity.

    Is there a significant savings in going to tankless... even if I select an electric tankless system.

    • ANSWER:
      it will pay for itself. hot water on demand, wrap your head around not heating water when you dont need it.

47. QUESTION:
    Should I goto a tankless water heater?
    I am about to replace my natural gas hot water tank. I am looking at going tankless. priced at about ,000 (for ability to run 2 showers at a time)

    1. how much money in gas would I save?

    2. how easy are they to install?

    3. how well do they heat the water?

    • ANSWER:
      Paul is on target. the temperature rise it provides is key to your satisfaction.
      Also, I do think they make gas ones. If you can install a regular HW heater, you should be able to do one of these, too.

48. QUESTION:
    What are pros and cons of tankless water heaters (gas only)?
    I am replacing a gas water heater that is 12 years old. It's time to replace it. I see that there are tankless water heaters out there now. My questions are as follows:

    1) Is tankless water heater technology mature?

    2) How does a tankless water heater work to supply hot water for a shower or filling a bathtub? In such a scenario, cold water (possibly 35-50F) must be heated very quickly by a hundred degrees or more in real time in order to supply hot water fast enough. How does such a water heater accomplish this?

    3) My specific needs are for a shower or two at a time, lasting in total 10-20 minutes, and then intermittent daily use in faucets and the like. Would a tankless fill needs?

    4) Any specific brands to seek out/avoid?

    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Tankless waterheaters are becoming popular in some circumstances. The benefit is that if you're not using any hot water it's not costing anything. But when you are using hot water the tankless is using about 200,000 btu's compared to a 40 gal waterheater that uses about 40,000. Households with large families are not as happy or save much with them as smaller 1-3 person households. Some people complain about not having as much water pressure as they like for a shower. The reason for this is that with a standard water heater the temperature is hot enough that you mix both hot and cold together. With a tnakless often you need to use straight hot water and since no cold is mixed in you end up with less pressure. Although there's pros and cons most people who have installed them are satisfied with them. Have seen quite a few Rini tankless heaters.

49. QUESTION:
    Can anyone tell me about the Titan Tankless Water Heater?
    I want to switch my old tank water heater to a new tankless unit. I have read they save money on your hot water bill and provide hot water that never ends (a girls dream). Everywhere I look on the Internet I see the Titan Tankless Water Heater with glowing reviews. Can anyone tell me about it, tankless in general, gas or electric?

    • ANSWER:
      I have a tankless water heater in my home that I bought from http://www.titantankless.com and it is the best thing ever. It provides endless hot water so you can shower all day if you want and it never runs out. My electric bill went down about 35 dollars a month also as it only turns on when you activate hot water. A tank model turns off and on all day even if you don't use it. The water is also safer as a tank can develop rust, germs and sediment in the storage tank. So you will find your hair and skin improves! Although gas can provide hotter water it is very unsafe. Rheem and other tank companies just recalled like 50,000 gas tankless units for carbon monoxide poisoning in homes. Its like car exhaust entering your house!! here is the recall link for gas units: http://www.tankless-recall.com/. Gas is also super expensive now...outta control!!
      I have electric and it works great and is much safer. It was easy to install! I can fill my tub all the way and never worry about hot water running out. I can have 10 guests over and not worry about the hot water running out!!!
      I did a lot of research and the largest selling unit and one that I use is the Titan Tankless N-120 Water Heater. They invented it and have been in business 20 years.
      All of the information on the unit and helpful things to help you decide are on their site at http://www.titantankless.com
      Please be careful about gas models as they are DANGEROUS!
      I would stick with electric.

50. QUESTION:
    Rinnai tankless hot water heaters?
    I know they are made for gas homes, but do they make models for electric homes too?
    what do they run on. oil? gas? propane? electric?

    • ANSWER:
      You don't use hot water 24 hours a day. But, you're paying to heat water 24 hours a day. With a standard water heater, you heat and reheat the same water…even when you're sleeping.
      The Rinnai tankless water heater is a more efficient way to heat water. The Rinnai is a tankless water heater that heats water quickly and delivers an endless supply of hot water for as long as you need it. With the Rinnai tankless water heater, you only pay to heat water when you need it and for as long as you want it.

      The Rinnai tankless water heater comes in three sizes with retail prices ranging from approximately 0, 0 to ,300 plus accessories and installation.

      Rinnai installation costs vary and it typically takes between four to eight hours of installation time to properly fit the unit and ensure correct operation. Consult your local Rinnai installer to determine which sized Rinnai is right for you and obtain an installation estimate. Find the local installer nearest you by clicking here.

      The MSRPs of some of our most popular units are listed below. You can get a full listing of Rinnai tankless water heating product models by contacting a Registered Rinnai installer.

      Contact them for details

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Water pressure and hot water?
   I just purchases a house that was built in 2006, 2 floors, 2400 sq ft. The hot water heater is located in my garage (obviously 1st floor). The faucets, bathtub and showers upstairs have adequete water pressure and the water heats quickly. The kitchen faucet however, is ridiculous. It takes over a minute for warm (not hot) water to come out, and 1 1/2 for it to be sufficiently hot for washing dishes. In addition, the water pressure is so low that I get frustrated washing the dishes. The kitchen faucet is located about 12 feet from the hotwater heater so this makes no sense to me unless there is something wrong.

   The gas hot water heater has a 50 gallon capacity. It has two labels on it: "Rheem Guardian Systems Fury Hot Water System" and "EverKleen Self-Cleaning Hot Water System"

   Is there any kind of fix I can make that won't cost me a fortune or dramatically increase my monthly utility bills? My dish washing would go a hell of a lot faster and use a lot less water if the heat and pressure were right.

   Thanks!
   I thank the two responders. I just checked the supply valves and they are already fully opened for max flow. In addition there are no kinks. I have been unable to remove the aerator thus far. I'm reading the Kohler website for tips on getting to the o-ring right now.

   • ANSWER:
     a few things you can check...first look under the sink for a couple of valves open them all the way (turn counter clockwise in most cases) also look at the small pipes that go from the valve up to the faucet sometimes they are plastic tubes that can get a kink in them..at last thing is remove the aerator from the end of the faucett spout (small piece that unscrews) it will have a bunch of small plastic pieces a few screens and a rubber washer in it..it mayby clogged with debri...sometimes it is easier to replace it than to clean it....if you replace it bring it to the store with you......its not the water heater

2. QUESTION:
   Can anyone recommend a water heater? My GE 50 gallon water heater is not working after 5 years?
   Seems like yesterday that I replaced my water heater with a GE 50 gallon one that is sold at Home Depot for 8 without installation. I had this installed in April of 2005 and I thought my daughter was teasing when she said we had no hot water two days ago. When I found out she was correct, I took a look at the 5 year old water heater. The first thing I noticed was that there was rust on the bottom where two items come together and screwed together. Then I took the small piece off so you can see the window where you can see if the ignator works. I was quite amazed to find that inside was also very rusty. I did follow the instructions and try to see if I could light the pilot which didn't light or spark. I called GE and they told me it sounds like the wiring is bad and they are sending me a wire. At that time I decided to check on line to see if anyone else has the problem with the rust right under the inside tank because I didn't feel good about the rust being there and I also decided to check out my neighbors' water heaters and found that the Kenmore water heather belonging to one neighbor which was also about 5 years old didn't have any rust on the outside or inside and the AO Smith one which belonged to my other neighbor (age unknown) also was rust free. At that time I called GE back and told them I wasn't comfortable keeping a water heater that had rust on the the inside right under the inside tank and they told me to empty the tank and take it to Home Depot where it was purchased and installed by someone Home Depot recommended. The price of the water heater with labor came to close to 0 and the water heater today at Home Depot is 8. The only other brand at Home Depot is a Rheem which cost 00. I was wondering if anyone had better luck with the present water heaters being sold today. Years ago they seemed to last at least 20 years. Any advise? Thank you in advance for your help. Also, has anyone had experience taking a water heater back to Home Depot ? I was wondering since I purchased one there and was going to get another, why wouldn't Home Depot send the new one and take back the old one. I am a 67 year old widow. To hire someone to do this would end up costing me as much as buying a new water heater. Any advise?

   • ANSWER:
     switch to an electric, heater, all you need is a 40 gal , get a local handy man to change it out,
     cheaper to run and will out last a gas unit,
     AO smith is the best and is made in the USA

3. QUESTION:
   switched to tankless gas water heater and my bill is high. Why?
   I just moved into the house about 3 months ago and for my first month living here I bought a tankless water heater and replaced my regular gas heater because the tankless takes up less space. I have it mounted on the outside. I paid a plumber to install it. It is a rheem water heater. For the past 3 months my bills have ranged from 300-400 in just gas alone. I had the gas company come out and I dont have a leak and the meter isnt running constantly. It only runs when I use the gas in the house. I dont have a kitchen yet installed so I don't use a stove. I havent turned on my ac/heat for the past 2 months so the only hting that could be using the gas is when I take a shower which is a 5 min shower daily. It's just me in the house. So why is my bill so high?? I am so concerned b/c I paid for the water heater got it installed and now it is costing me a lot of money. I checked to see what the previous owner used to pay in gas bills and it was way less than what I am paying and she used the regular hot water tank (not tankless). I threw out the old tank which uses a lot less BTU's than the tankless. I think the tankless uses 180k BTU's and I had a 40 gallon tank. I don't know what to do. And my plumber also checked for gas leaks and I don't have any.

   • ANSWER:
     the reason is the tank-less heater must cut on everytime you use water this isn't the case with the old tank type, it holds hot water until the overall temp drops then heats the water, these devices are just unnecessary in most cases, had it been an electric one it may make more sense but gas? just put a high efficiency gas (tank type) water heater and you bills will decrease or switch the tank less gas heater to an electric one. however I believe these devices are oversold.the old types worked fine if insulated properly( if it ain't broke don't fix it)

About the author:

Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/home-improvement-articles/diy-articles/your-plumbing-problems-solved-986125.html

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Why tankless water heaters are not famous in India?
   I stayed in singapore for a few years, where almost every household uses instant water heaters. In India, I tried looking around for such water heaters, either they are not to be found in the appliances stores or they have very few models. Why are tankless water heaters not as famous in India when compared to the storage water heaters?

   • ANSWER:
     They aren't that popular here in the U.S. either. They are very expensive, and expensive to convert to. And they don't provide 100% hot water continuously, either electric or gas models, as I've experienced using both of them. I would say technology just hasn't caught up to them yet. I like my full tank of hot water, it's there and ready to be used when I want it.

2. QUESTION:
   What is the cost advantage of tankless water heaters?
   I'm looking at installing tankless water heaters in a 12 unit apartment building. What are the advantages and disadvatages?

   • ANSWER:
     Just make sure you check them out thoroughly! A simple swap is not what you are looking at. Check the manufacturer's recommendations completely, and have a plumber who is very knowledgeable with this type heater look over the project, before you make a decision. Normal water heaters use about 40,000 btu's, and these type use between 300,000-500,000 btu's, so the gas pipes won't supply the required amount of gas. Also the flue pipe has to be triple wall stainless steel, and this could cost more than the heater itself. The water pipes feeding the heater must be sized properly, or too much water supply, and the water won't be able to heat, before it passes through the heater. These are all for gas heaters, and there are similar problems, with electric models. Just check it out first, then make a decision. Good luck to you!

3. QUESTION:
   Electric Tankless Water Heaters - are they energy efficient?
   I was told that the electric variety of tankless water heaters suck up a lot more juice than their propane/nat gas counterparts. The reason I am considering electric is that I don't want an extensive installation - I just want to replace my old electric tank heater with a wall-mounted tankless one. Is it worth it?

   • ANSWER:
     Consider that an electric on demand heater will only draw current when in use. A regular water heater has to heat the water and then maintain that temperature. Yes, it's more efficient. The drawbacks to a tankless heater would be that you may not get as much hot water as fast as you want it. I have been looking into these lately myself. I have decided to go with gas because I want to be "off-grid" , however I suggest that you carefully consider your requirements for an electric heater and make sure that you get one that is powerful enough to fulfill your needs. I hate it when the shower won't get quite as hot as I like it. You must consider your climate and your water source. Some of these heaters will only heat water 50 degrees. That means that if your water is 32, after heating will only be 82. Not hot enough for a hot bath. I would get one if I were you, but I would get a good one.
     Don't get some cheap crap.

4. QUESTION:
   Are tankless water heaters better for hard water areas?
   I live in an area with very hard water, and have had to replace two water heaters in 6 years due to sediment buildup. Would I be better off with a tankless water heater, or would that succumb to buildup, too? Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     The prob is hardness in the water . Anything that heats water will collect minerals from the water on the heating surfaces that get hot. The only cure is to put in a water softner. But thay take a lot of mantainance also.

5. QUESTION:
   I need information and diagrams showing how electric tankless water heaters work?
   Can anyone give me a link or PDF document that explains how electric tankless water heaters work...I need diagrams and explanations of the components etc???

   • ANSWER:
     http://www.buytankless.com/store/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=7

     http://stiebel-eltron.waterheaterdepot.com/pdf/partsdiagram_dhc.pdf
     then go to bottom of page and click download DHC parts diagram

6. QUESTION:
   Are there any Natural Gas Tankless Water Heaters that don't require a Stainless Steel Exhaust?
   I need to replace my water heater and am considering a tankless model. My greatest concern is that they all require special all-stainless steel exhaust ventilation. Not only is this impractical for my installation environment, but it suggests that the appliance generates so much waste heat that it's not so energy efficient after all. Are there any natural gas tankless water heaters that can use an existing galvanized steel exhaust vent?

   • ANSWER:
     Actually, it's because they are so efficient that you need stainless.
     Bear with me.
     All exhaust gases contain some amount of water and some acidic properties.
     Most exhaust gases are so hot that they will travel through a normal flue and not condense until they reach the outside.
     Exhaust gases from a tankless will condense on a flue pipe, depositing acid which will eat through galvanized steel. It will also eat concrete, mortar and brick, so you can't send it up a chimney either.

     Of course, you can move the water heater to an exterior wall and vent it through the wall. That way, you only need a few pieces.
     Or get an outside (no venting required) model. I've seen them advertised as "good to -30deg. f.".

7. QUESTION:
   Are tankless water heaters really worth the investment?
   I'm needing to replace my hot water tank and was looking into the tankless water heaters? Has anyone used one and are you satisfied with the results?

   • ANSWER:
     Please read the following Consumer Reports article that states that while the tankless water heaters were 22 percent more efficient on average than gas-fired-storge-tanks but they are more expensive and could take up to 22 years to break even:

     http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/water-heaters/tankless-water-heaters/overview/tankless-water-heaters-ov.htm

     Personally, I really like them. In Japan, where they are very common, I used my tankless water heater every day to shower and to wash my dishes. It was excellent and I always had instant, plentiful, hot water available. I often wondered why we didn’t use these in the United States more often than we do. If you are interested I would recommend the following sites for some excellent models:

     http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Water-Heaters/21147/subcat.html

     http://www.rinnai.us/tankless-water-heater/

     http://www.titanheater.com/

     Try it for yourself, you will like it!

8. QUESTION:
   Are tankless water heaters OK in northern climes? Can someone attest to their performance in Chicago?
   I am looking to replace a 40 gallon gas water heater (tank) and I was either going to go with a 70 gallon tank or try a whole house tankless. I have read that the ground water temperature affects their performance and was wondering if anyone in Chicago has installed a whole house tankless and what their experience has been. Would you caution against or recommend?

   • ANSWER:
     The temperature of ground water will merely effect the units efficiency. It will not effect its operation. Ground temperatures, below a frost line, are fairly constant (reliably predictable).

     However, the general rule of thumb is that (Monthly) for every 4 degrees your region averages below 32 degrees, reduce the efficiency rating on the unit by approximately 1.25%. and you will have a far more reliable understanding when comparing units for purchase and use..

9. QUESTION:
   Can someone tell me about tankless water heaters for your home and which is better gas or electric?
   I want to put a tankless water heater in my home but am unsure where to start.

   • ANSWER:
     I have a tankless water heater in my home and it is the best thing ever. It provides endless hot water so you can shower all day if you want and it never runs out. My electric bill went down about 35 dollars a month also as it only turns on when you activate hot water. A tank model turns off and on all day even if you don't use it. The water is also safer as a tank can develop rust, germs and sediment in the storage tank. Although gas can provide hotter water it is very unsafe. Rheem and other tank companies just recalled like 50,000 gas tankless units for carbon monoxide poisoning in homes. Its like car exhaust entering your house!! here is the recall link for gas units: http://www.tankless-recall.com/
     I have electric and it works great and is much safer. It was easy to install! I can fill my tub all the way and never worry about hot water running out. I can have 10 guests over and not worry about the hot water running out!!!
     I did a lot of research and the largest selling unit and one that I use is the Titan Tankless N-120 Water Heater. They invented it and have been in business 20 years.
     All of the information on the unit and helpful things to help you decide are on their site at http://www.titantankless.com
     Please be careful about gas models as they are DANGEROUS!
     I would stick with electric.

10. QUESTION:
    Tankless water heaters, are they worth the money?
    We are building a house and considering a tankless water heater. We have heard both good and bad about them. Any thoughts on the matter?

    • ANSWER:
      I went to a builders show for work and talked to a lot of people about them. I have not heard anything bad about them. I would definitely get one if I had the money.

11. QUESTION:
    Should I get one of those tankless water heaters for a new home?
    I am getting ready to start construction on a new lake home. Should I get one of those new tankless heaters or the traditional one?

    • ANSWER:
      honestly they dont save much money like people may say but they are great. The biggest complaint that i have recieved is when first running the water (example: morning for a shower) it takes a couple minutes to heat up but once it does it doesnt ever run out. They are easily maintained and occupy less space. Now it also depends on what type of heat you have. If you have a boiler you may want to consider getting a super store water tank and heating the water from your boiler. anyway id say go for the tankless if your chosing between conventional and tankless.

12. QUESTION:
    Do tankless water heaters work well?
    My fiance and I need to replace our water heater, we're looking at possibly purchasing a tankless one, but I'm curious to see if anyone has one, and how well they work.

    • ANSWER:
      Tankless water heaters are to die for – but they are not for everyone. A tankless water heater stores no hot water and is triggered to come on by water flowing through it. Once the demand is sensed, it begins heating up. Full bore capacity can normally take five seconds. No a big deal huh?

      Now, assume your kitchen sink currently takes 4 seconds from the time you turn on the tap to the time you get hot water. This is the travel distance time from your existing tanked unit. By merely replacing the unit, you need to combine the heat-up time of the tankless PLUS the travel time to get to the fixture. Nine seconds can seem like an eternity. If budget is not an issue, there are piping & pumping strategies that can eliminate this delay.

      On the flip side, in my home I located the unit central to all fixtures and knew of this delay going in to it. I have a gas fired Rinnai brand which I love and wouldn’t have anything but. I’ve substantially dropped my gas bill as I am no longer paying for stored hot water 24 hours a day. The efficiency of these units will smoke any high-efficiency tanked model available.

      Always work through a licensed plumber and ignore the units at the big box stores. Although attractively priced, they have higher pressure drops across the units and lower water flow rates. Be sure to check with your local utility about rebates that may be available along with the new 2006 federal tax credit for high efficiency equipment.

13. QUESTION:
    How good is the Navien Tankless Water Heaters?
    Does the Navien have many problem if installed correctly?

    I'm looking at possably installing a Navien Tankless Water Heater. There are many things to consider and many stats of the house and water heater to compare and match up. I'm down to a couple of manufactures, and possibly the larger sized models for residential. And will certainly have a professional install the unit.

    • ANSWER:
      The new Navien NR Series tankless water heater is a very reliable unit with many improvement in comparison to Navien CR series.
      Here is a good website to compare tankless water heaters and their prices!

14. QUESTION:
    San Francisc codes and regulations for installing tankless water heaters.?
    I am planning to have contractor to install tankless water heater in my SF home, but I am not sure about codes - I would like to know what he is talking about before we get into the discussion. Can anyone point me to the right URL?

    I AM going to get permit (well - contractor will..), but I am looking for city codes...

    Also, I have already picked contractor, but I just need to make sure there will be no issues with permit (don't want to be suprised..)

    So, where can i find San Francisc codes and regulations for installing tankless water heaters?

    • ANSWER:
      SF City Codes, Dept. of Building Inspection
      http://www.sfgov.org/site/dbi_index.asp

15. QUESTION:
    Do electric, tankless water heaters save money on electric bills?
    We need a new water heater and are very torn between a tank, a tankless gas, and a tankless electric. We're leaning towards the electric. Any advice?

    • ANSWER:
      gas would save money over electric anyday but either way, electric or gas , i would go for the tankless.

      the tankless only heats water when needed, not all day and night like the conventional hot water tank so the savings are tremendous right from the start.

      you may have to upgrade electric to accomodate the requirements of a tankless unit. contact pro

16. QUESTION:
    What do I need to know about tankless water heaters?
    My friend has a tankless water heater he removed from a commercial office sink (renovations). Will this work for my whole 2000 sq. ft. house? Why or why not? So long as someone does not run hot water at a sink while another person is taking a shower, will there be a problem? Is there a flow issue?

    Input appreciated - Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      No it will not work for your entire house. Those types of "Instana Hot" is scaled for small usage, like washing hands. That's why it was under a sink. Shower? Still, too large amount of water. Small usage. They have a thermal cut out that when the internal temp OF THE ENTIRE UNIT hits a factory preset temperature, it will trip. It also resets itself. All you can do is wait till the entire unit cools down. I am not a plumber, I have hooked up enough of these (and replaced them) to know what they are capable of. So, what's the difference between a residential and a commercial unit? The rating of the thermal cut out is higher.
      With that being said: good luck in all you do and may God bless.

17. QUESTION:
    Questions about tankless water heaters?
    There is really not much on reviews on tankless water heaters including on epinions. Wanted to know your personal experience with them and if you have a well, how it worked out for you. I have an 1100 square foot home and I wanted one for the whole house. Recommendations would be great!

    • ANSWER:
      I'm not sure why you would need a 50 Amp breaker like the one person mentioned. Most of the tankless ones I've seen are heated with natural gas.

      The biggest hinderence I think I've seen for tankless water heaters is that from what I understand they need to be mounted to an exterior wall so that they can vent better. They get a lot hotter than a normal gas water heater.

      And if you think about it. With a tank water heater or a tankless one, on both you will have to run the cold water out of the lines. It's just with a tankless one you don't have to keep all that water in the tank hot all the time. That's where it saves the money. Another simple way you can save money is to wrap insulation around the hot water pipes, especially the first 25 feet or so to help keep the water in the hot pipes hot.

      One of my friends used to sell tankless water heaters at Home Depot and they got nothing but rave reviews on them from people that bought them.

      The "This Old House" website that the one person mentioned would also be a good thing to check out. That PBS program is very informative on house remodeling.

18. QUESTION:
    Are tankless water heaters worth the money?
    Our current hot water heater is 28 years old, believe it or not. We've been shopping around and trying to decide if tankless is the way to go.
    Any advice? Recommendations??

    Thanks all!☺

    • ANSWER:
      My wife and I installed one of these ourselves about 1 year ago. Prior to that we had a High Efficiency HVAC system installed by contractor also. The combination of the 2 cut 12 to 15 % off our gas bill.

      Also makes for more room in the laundry room, you can dial in what ever temperature you want the water to be heated to remotely or at the machine, and they are way cool looking!!

      Seriously, they are a good investment and great improvement to your home. We installed a BOSCH that we bought at Lowe's for around ,100.00

      Legal;

      I have opinions about everything but expertise in nothing, so do not take my word for anything. All answers are for entertainment purposes only. By taking my advice you agree too do so at your own risk and hold me harmless in any criminal or civil action.

      Mr. Obvious
      Patrick

19. QUESTION:
    Any homeowner using only tankless water heaters ??
    I currently have like a 60 gallon Rheem hot water tank, but I was wondering if anybody out there uses only tankless water heaters for each location where hot water is needed in the house. If yes, how do you like it, and also what do you for the washing machine? Thanks for any feedback about this.

    • ANSWER:
      i install tankless water heaters well actually both. i will guarantee if you bought a medium sized tankless if you install it in a 2 bathroom house you will not run out of hot water even if you turned every faucet on at once.what a tankless is is a small boiler but the system employs a water circulating system that constantly moves the hot water Thur the system by means of a small circulating water pump.kind of like the way your cars water pump works so when you open a tap the cold water enters the boiler and immediately is hot water and the pump makes sure that the hot water is always at the faucet OS soon as you open the valve

20. QUESTION:
    Anyone know anything about tankless water heaters?
    My current water heater is a 30 gallon water heater, but the bottom of the tank is rusted and leaking. I am thinking about it replacing it with a tankless water heater. I was kind of wanting to know the pros and cons of both types, and anyones personal experience with it.

    • ANSWER:
      Well first make sure you have two different 220 feeds available from the panel because that is what it takes.The people I help put one in for was not real happy with it. They said the water temperature changed while taking a shower.

21. QUESTION:
    What is the cost benefit of tankless water heaters?
    Benefit of gas vs. electric. Do they save money over normal water heaters?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes they are more efficient but when I figure in the cost of installation and the fact that gas is the only type that is really practical I wonder about the actual payback with changing to one. The only way I would consider one would be for a new installation where I had no plumbing yet installed and even then I am skeptical about actual savings when you consider the actual loss that occurs in a tank type water heater that is well insulated as they are now coming from the factory.
      Just an opinion

22. QUESTION:
    Tankless water heaters for apartments?
    I am considering electric tankless water heaters for each of my 28 2-bedroom 1 bath apartments. What type is recommended? I don't want to recirculate the hot water. The hard water kills the 30-gal tank versions pretty fast plus I am trying to save my residents some money on their electricity bills. I have seen them priced from 350-2000 and would like to get by with as inexpnesive as practical (remember - 28 units lol) without buying junk. Is the Tankless1 a good make and model for this application?

    • ANSWER:
      I would check with a company that manufactures and sells these units. They produce hot water on demand only, and that saves money. In Europe we have used these type of water heaters already 50 years ago, however, in the USA they are fairly new on the market and not cheap, as we found out. When checking the water heater prices, we were disappointed with their high cost, and left things as they were for the time being.
      We live in New York State where the local electric companies are charging outrageous prices for electricity. In time we also like to come up with an energy efficient way of heating our water.

23. QUESTION:
    Do tankless water heaters break down much? And are they suitable for cold weather climates?
    I have heard they work well for continous water, but they "break down" often and need service. Also, if water temp in cold weather is REALLY cold going in, does it still come out just as hot?

    • ANSWER:
      I am not a fan of tankless units. The initial cost is high and some plumbers that install them, do not do service work on them due to the complexity of them. Hard water causes problems with them since the heating is done through small tubes. There are also issues with some manufacturers who do not stock parts for them.

24. QUESTION:
    Are Tankless water heaters the right choice for a new home?
    I am building a custom 2 story house in Nashville, TN. 4500 sqft. with 3 beds and 3 baths downstairs and 1 bed and 1 bath upstairs. There are 4 people (2 adults & 2 large teenage boys)in the household. The house has a below ground basement and we have plenty of water preasure from the city. Construction will start in March 2006.

    • ANSWER:
      Some like them, and some don't. The important thing seems to be that you get a plumber who has experience in installing these. The wrong size pipes can cause a lag time in getting hot water when you want it. Check out a couple of the links below.

25. QUESTION:
    How well do tankless water heaters work, and what is the upfront price difference?
    were building a house and i was curious if these things work as well as a tank water heater or if they take forever to warm up, dont get hot, etc. and what the cost difference is from a traditional water heater

    • ANSWER:
      I don't know the upfront price difference, but according to "Energy Star" you'll get the following breakdown over the life of the water heater compared to a "traditional gas storage":

      Gas Condensing Storage: 0/year
      Whole House Gas Tankless: 5/year
      Solar water heater w/ electric backup: 0/year
      Heat Pump Water Heater: 0/year

      Note that no electric options are mentioned. Electric heating is grossly inefficient and costly, tankless or not.

      In addition, if you are eligable, take advantage of the 00 energy tax credit. Now water heaters are included. There may be more local credits and utility rebates that apply.

26. QUESTION:
    Tankless water heater VS Conventional Water Heaters?
    Hello guys,
    I do not have a lot of knowledge about water heaters, but for few reasons, I am inclined towards Tankless water heater. I have a small two unit house, and one unit is rented out. I am in the process of installing a water heater for each unit (two in total). Should I go with conventional one, or tankless one? I researched on the internet, however; you know that the manufacturers would always recommend whatever they make.
    Also, if tankless is better, would you prefer gas or electric?
    Will appreciate your answer.
    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Gas or electric probably won't matter too much. The question is getting the gas or 220 vac to the point of use. Tankless heaters are usually mounted near where they are used as it would take less water & power to heat the water up. Whole-house heaters are available but depending upon the size, you may have to upgrade to a 300 amp service to your home. Some require 2 each 50/60 amp breakers for the heating elements. One model needs three 60 amp breakers.

      Tankless heaters are much more expensive. Make sure you get one that can heat up the water enough as it is being used. A low capacity heater may not heat up the water fast enough as you fill up the bathtub.

      Some tankless heaters won't turn on if the water flow is too low. Low flow shower heads may not have enough flow to close the contacts that turn on the heater. (User report). They had to turn on another hot water faucet to get the flow high enough.

      Tankless heaters do not heat water to 120ºF. They heat the water to about XXºF above the incoming water temp (depending upon model). So, it your incoming water is 60ºF, you'll get 60ºF+XXºF hot water. So, check the heater ratings and capacities. Especially noticeable in winter climates.

      I would like to try a tankless unit for my 2.5 bath home, but the cost of installation puts it out of reach. I don't have any gas. I don't have the electric power to the baths to run the things. 20 amp power only gives me 2400 watts of heating power. Too low for a tub. 30amps at 220 volts would work much better.

27. QUESTION:
    How well do those tankless water heaters work?
    I'm considering getting one for my upstairs aptmt. My two-flat has one 40-gallon water heater, and the upstairs tenants go through it quickly in the winter time. Not to mention I pay for all the heating it's getting a bit prohibitive. I want to know how easy was the install and whether there was an appreciable difference in fuel consumption. Natural gas is my fuel of choice. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I've been studying tankless water heaters for a marketing study in college and have learned a great deal about them. If you're going to replace your water heater I would recommend an electric tankless - it doesn't require ventilation and is very easily installed.

      SKYE makes a unit called Fortis that is modular and expandable; it provides hot water practically on demand due to a purge valve built into the system. They're very efficient because they only operate when the hot water is being demanded. Gas requires ventilation, gas would be consumed by the pilot light, and you would experience a delay in delivery of hot water waiting for ignition of the gas heater.

      I hope it's helpful. I've provided a link to the products page for the company. I recommend reviewing their brochure.

28. QUESTION:
    what can you tell me about tankless hot water heaters?
    I am trying to see what tankless hot water heaters run in cost,how they work, and the instalation or the system

    • ANSWER:
      Try this site to give you example, foreverhotwater.com this may hep you in the short run.
      They are initially expensive to buy and install but they do last for years and are very efficient but it does take a while to save the real money you are saving in power as far as the initial cost of having one installed.
      Lowe"s Menard"s Home Depot all have them a far as that goes this site will give you basic info tho.

29. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know the cost difference between tankless water heaters and the old style tank?
    I need to replace mine, and it's in a second floor attic. I'm trying to determine what type - I imagine the tankless are much more expensive, but they probably pay for themselves over time.... Does anyone have any info? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      They are much more expensive but it should pay for itself over time; However, if you're paying a plumber to do the work you probably want to just replace it the the same model. The reason being that it's going to cost a lot more for him to repipe your system for a tankless, than to just swap out the heater. Also, if your up north, you should probably stick with the original heater, tankless heaters can't heat the water fast enough in colder climates.

30. QUESTION:
    can i use tankless water heaters in line with a current boiler to maximize hot water output?
    I live in a 30 unit building with a prehistoric boiler and we always run out of hot water (doesnt matter what time of day or night) does it make sense to connect a tankless water heater before or after the boiler to better stabilize the hot water availability? does it maybe even make sence to have one before and one after the boiler? The buildings heat is also provided by the current boiler...

    • ANSWER:
      If I was you, this is what you want to do, disconnect old Hot water line and install new tankless heater directly to the hot water line going to point of use. No need to install before and after, waste of time and money. But I think you should contact the mfg. of some tankless heaters and get their ideas also. Good luck.

31. QUESTION:
    Do tankless hot water heaters work with all houses?
    We just bought a house that was built in 2001. It still has the original tank water heater (electric) so it's about 10 years old. We want to replace this because our current hot water only lasts about 15 minutes. We would really prefer a tankless hot water heater, but we don't know if there are any special circumstances that would prevent us from being able to install a tankless hot water heater. Any help would be appreciated!

    • ANSWER:
      I would have somebody check the existing tank first. Unless it is very small or you are a whole lot of water in that 15 minutes it should give you more hot water than that.

      In fear of scalding they do tend to set them very low these days. It may only need to be turned up. A hotter tank lasts longer because you use less. But you can't turn it up too high if you have young children or elderly that scald easily.

      If it is a large tank you lower element that does most of the heating normally could be out and you are only getting a half of tank of hot water from the upper element. Or bad thermostat can do it also. First check the temp at the faucet.

      But a service call would be much cheaper.

      A tankless electric I recently saw requires three 40 amp circuits. Your existing probably has only one 30 amp to it so you would need extensive wiring work as well as plumbing. It would be an expensive proposition unless your tank is very close to the panel and you have enough spare capacity on the panel. Still costly though.

      Well worth trying to fix the existing. I am not sure the small savings would ever cover the cost of installing the tankless. I wouldn't do it unless it was changed to gas.

      Maybe a larger tank would suit you better. But start with a service call.

      Good Luck.

32. QUESTION:
    Tankless water heaters, good or bad investment?
    Whats your opinion on the tankless water heaters?
    Pros and cons?

    • ANSWER:
      Pros:
      -They are much more energy efficient. You don't have a giant tank of water that is constantly being heated up. (think of all of the hours you are not using any water; sleeping, working, vacations.. and how much energy and money you now spend keeping water hot.)
      -You never run out of hot water.
      -You will save so much money in energy bills.
      -If you go to sell your house, you will get your money back. People love new technology.
      -They are much smaller and are wall mounted. This will free up space in your house.

      Con:
      -High initial cost, they are much more expensive than traditional heaters.

33. QUESTION:
    Are tankless water heaters better than traditional tank water heaters?
    What is an average cost and size for a household type tankless water heater for a 3500 SF Two Story home with 4 bathrooms.

    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      ok lots of info needed for this question look at this sight and see if it helps hope you can use this info good luck

34. QUESTION:
    Anyone have any experiences with Tankless Water Heaters?
    I'm considering replacing my standard water heater. If so... are you happy with them? Would u buy again? Plumbers? Owners? All comments are appreciated.
    Also, I have electric...no gas. Please let me know if that makes a difference. Also...have you seen a real impact to your electric bill as a result. I'm crunching the numbers to see if it makes sense. Tx in advance!

    • ANSWER:
      If you have high mineral content in your water, don't even consider it. The small tubing on tankless heaters will clog. make sure you know how much water you will be needing since they have different models. If you have it installed, make sure the installer also does maintenance/service work on them. Many plumbers will install, but since they are high-tech, do not do repairs. I have never heard of using one for radiators.

35. QUESTION:
    do tankless water heaters emit an electric buzzing sound even while not in use?
    i already have a tank water heater and sometimes buzzes, which is one of the reasons i want to go tankless

    • ANSWER:
      They'll only buzz if something is wrong with the temperature sensor.

36. QUESTION:
    Is there anyone with a working knowledge on tankless water heaters that can give me advice?
    E-mail me if you can. It's gas. The problem is that it doesn't stay running for very long. Sure we're saving water and gas, but the "endless" hot water isn't happening. Showers are as short as they were in the Navy. Which doesn't work for my wife.

    • ANSWER:
      It makes no sense that your gas water heater is "tank less". Mine would also be "tank less" meaning a gas line is run onto the property. There is no propane tank.

37. QUESTION:
    Can anyone give me a recommendation on electric tankless water heaters.?
    I am specifically interested in the SETS and American Home brands and would like to know if anyone has them and how they do or do not like them. Also, I am interested in information on other brands if you have them. Thanks. I NEED THIS INFO ASAP AS OUR WATER HEATER BROKE THIS WEEKEND AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT.

    • ANSWER:
      Eemax is a widely used electric tankless water heater in the commercial industry. They are refered to as IWH or Instantaneous Water Heater.

      However

      1. If you are replacing an existing electrical instantaneous water eater, make sure the power and voltage match the existing one you are removing.

      2. If you are working on your primary residence or a high hot water usage and you are trying to replace a tank style water heater - stop. Stay with the tank style. Really, only instantaneous gas water heaters are recommended for the primary residential environment.

38. QUESTION:
    What's the verdict on tankless water heaters?
    Some people rave about them. Some people say they were given a piece of junk. Consumer reports doesn't seem to recommend them. Some energy efficiency folks and green HVAC people recommend them, and others don't.

    I get that installation cost is up-front a bit pricey. But is the cost of the units coming down? Do they really save? How about in a house of 2? Is tankless a better option?

    • ANSWER:
      I built a home in 1994 and installed three of them. I have since had to replace/repair all three and will not replace them again. One went out in '02 and the others quit in '07. I installed one in my daughter's home in '98 and it's still going. Just my opinion.

39. QUESTION:
    How much do Rinnai tankless water heaters cost?
    I'm thinking about having one installed in my home. I wanna find out as much as possible as soon as I can so I can take advantage of the tax credit.

    • ANSWER:
      They are way too expensive and even if you do get a tax credit, it will take about 25 years to recover your cost. They are not a good investment according to my reading.

40. QUESTION:
    Any comments on tankless water heaters?
    We have a traditional electric water heater but with 4 people in the house and all showering in the morning it leaves the last person with luke warm water (2nd shower - teenager). They have come down in price and just wondering what the pros and cons are.

    • ANSWER:
      I love the idea of them. As I understand, they are supposed to be a lot more efficient, so you will save on your electric bill. I will probably switch if I ever have a problem with my water heater.

41. QUESTION:
    How do Tankless Water Heaters work?
    I know they cost twice as much,are they worth the money.

    • ANSWER:
      Tankless heaters have a gas burner with a coil of water pipe above it. When you turn on the faucet, the water moves in the pipe and this movement is detected by a flow sensor, which turns on the burner. When the flow stops, the burner shuts down.

      The device heats water in the pipe, on the way to the faucet.

      The advantages are that they do not have to keep water hot that is being stored, and they take less space. They have different models depending on the capacity you need, just as tank heaters do. They do cost more, about 0 for the equivalent to a 30 gal unit. However they are less costly to operate. and properly installed they have a longer life.

42. QUESTION:
    Does anyone have an opinion on tankless water heaters?
    I live in northern Minnesota. The incoming well water is 50 degrees. I will be using LP gas.

    • ANSWER:
      I installed an Aquastar propane tank less water heater for my daughter and they have no problems, and save a lot on gas because as you know it only uses gas when you turn the hot water handle on. Be aware that there is a cold surge because all the water in the pipes has to be pushed out before getting to the hot water. Once it is on, you get plenty of hot water. We live in NJ, so I don't know how warm their make up water is, but I would imagine close to yours. I just watched an episode of Ask This Old House about the amount of water lost getting the hot to the faucet. They showed a recirculating pump setup that you turn on to recirculate the cold water back into the holding tank until it gets hot. It works really well, but when I priced it for my daughters house, it was almost 0, so we will continue wasting some water for now.

43. QUESTION:
    Who manufacturers tankless water heaters and do they really work? What are the considerations?

    • ANSWER:
      We are going the tankless route in our home remodel due to space constraints. I found a list of manufacturers at a site called www.getwithgreen.com under their Water Heater category. In addition to the list of manufacturers (and links are provided directly to those manufacturers) there are some Comments on experiences.

      What I also captured on the site was rebate information. Definitely something we will be leveraging when we make our purchase in about a month.

      I'd check the site out for a quick look into manufacturers.

44. QUESTION:
    Tankless Water Heaters - How Do They Work for Heating Home Water?
    Are there any energy efficient alternatives to it?

    • ANSWER:
      A tankless water heater is quite simple. Instead of constantly drawing energy to heat, maintain and reheat water in a large tank, these heaters flash-heat the water by running through a heat exchange.

      When hot water is needed, sensors will signal the burners to light and heat the water. When the hot water is no longer needed, the whole system just shuts down and there is no pilot light.

      A tankless heater can save 40-60% on your heating bill. A solar water heater is an equivalent alternative.

45. QUESTION:
    Where can I find affordable, good quality, tankless water heaters?

    • ANSWER:
      You'll have to wait until they come into existence.

      At this point, you don't want a cheap one, and the installation is also pretty expensive. Some of it you can't get around, like up-sizing the gas piping, or the stainless-steel venting.

46. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know anything about tankless water heaters?
    Are they safe? Are they efficient? Do they save money? Is there anything you don't like about them?

    • ANSWER:
      As a builder, people are starting to request tankless water heaters moreoften, especially in more expensive homes. They are definitely safe, very efficient, which is why people want them because they save money. They cost more up-front but pay for themselves in the long run because they use less energy than traditional tank water heaters. The on-demand capacity of the heaters makes them especially friendly from an environmental perspective.

47. QUESTION:
    Why are tankless water heaters better than tank type - if at all?

    • ANSWER:
      Tankless is better. Your only heating water you use instead of heating same water over and over. Also when drawing water from hot water tank it's being replaced with cold water cooling down water you already heated.

48. QUESTION:
    What do you know about tankless water heaters.?
    I know they are more expensive, but they use alot less power. Does anyone have one and do you like it?

    • ANSWER:
      Well, I just replaced my hot water heater last week as did 3 of my neighbors and did a lot of research on whether a tankless was the way to go. One neighbor went with the highly rated Bosch system and two of us went with the traditional tank water heater. What did it for me is that I ran the ROI (return on investment) for our usage and situation against the energy savings and discovered that the unit and installation of a tankless model would pay itself off in 25 years. This is largely due to the fact that the hot water heater with a tank would run on natural gas and the tankless on electricity. Where I live, electric is so much more expensive than the gas is and with the purchase and installation of the tankless model taken into consideration the savings were not all that impressive. And, because the vent pipes we presently have are 3" and the tankless takes 5" the cost to retrofit and route through the attic made installation almost as expensive as the unit.

49. QUESTION:
    How effective are electric tankless water heaters?

    • ANSWER:
      they r very effictive most also sell a stainless reserve tank if u have kids so u never run out they r very efficent also as they only heat hot water as it is need ...

50. QUESTION:
    Tankless hot water heaters - Pro or con. I'll need to replace my regular heater soon.?
    I have the standard electric hot water heater which is pushing 13 years old. I'm noticing that it is not supplying enough hot water when showering, etc. Thinking of going tankless to save electricity and water, but I need to know how well they work. Any comments, suggestions, etc. will be greatly apprececiated.

    • ANSWER:
      They work great. Unfortunately they are a lot more expensive than a regular water heater. They will eventually pay for themselves.
      check prices here. There are other sites. I am a Realtor and I have seen these in homes. people seem to rave about them.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Will it be more cost effective to keep gas hot water heater or change to electric hot water heater?
   Will it be more cost effective to keep gas hot water heater or change to electric hot water heater? Basically, we are buying a house and in debate with the seller about wether to have them repair the GAS hot water heater or just change it over to ELECTRICE hot water heater. Will this rate cap effect the gas too or is it better and cheaper to keep the GAS HOT WATER HEATER instead of changing to electric hot water?? Please HELP !!!

   • ANSWER:
     You did not say which gas you have available:

     Natural gas (NG) is about half the running cost of an electric water heater. Propane is only slightly less than an electric. (generally speaking - all being traditional storage water heaters).

     If the water heater is more than 10 years old, I'd push for having it replaced - in part so you can take advantage of the new energy tax credit.

     It's best if the seller replaces it and you negotiate how to share the expense. Make the seller aware that there are federal tax credits available for energy efficient water heaters - including installation cost. There may also be incentives from your local government and utility companies. If the seller reduces his cost, there will be less to share and you both win.

     Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products for lower operating cost.

     To replace with another gas unit, I'd look into the new condensing technologies, either tankless (same as on-demand or instantaneous) or conventional storage. They are extraordinarily energy efficient.

     The only electric water heater that will save you money in operating cost over an NG water heater is a heat pump water heater. They are not for everyone, and they are just starting to come on the market for residential use. Note that any gas water heater (storage or tankless) is more cost effective than electric storage or tankless.

     The notion that all tankless are more efficient than any storage water heater is a myth. For instance, condensing gas storage water heaters are more efficient than many tankless water heaters. An electric tankless water heater is only 10-15% more energy efficient than an electric storage water heater. The difference is quickly spent in installation cost. An (electric) heat pump water heater is more efficient than many tankless gas water heaters.

     If you are concerned about your carbon footprint do not go with electric. It is estimated that the CO2 emissions from generating the power for the electric unit is at least double that from a conventional gas water heater. The exception is the heat pump water heater - it only uses the power to cycle a fluid, not for the actual heating. Your best option for low CO2 is solar - no surprise.

2. QUESTION:
   Whats wrong with my hot water heater?
   Last Friday I had no hot water. Someone suggested that I check the breaker box, which I did and since then I’ve had hot water again. Yesterday afternoon I noticed a little bit of water around the hot water heater and now this morning I again had no hot water. My AC went kaput about a month ago and so my emergency savings fund is running low. Is there a way I can prevent getting a new hot water heater? How much does an electric hot water heater cost?

   • ANSWER:
     check serial # on tank,,the year it was made should be the 1st two numbers or the 3rd and 4th number....example,,a rheem / ruud heater with serial # 2399688617 was made in 1999,,23rd week of the year...other brands might use the 1st 2 numbers....if more than 8 years old,,probably not worth a repair....from your description it sounds like a repair could be 0-0...if tank is leaking,then you have to replace the whole thing and you wasted the charge for diagnosing it,,usually around 0.......a new 50 gallon electric water heater cost around 0-0 including installation....stores like home home depot are hurting for business right now,,would probably give you up to a year to pay it off with no interest,,they could provide you with someone to install it too,,but their price overall will be higher than just getting a local plumber....if you get a local plumber,make sure someone recommends him,dont just hire anybody...the things you will need to know about the water heater are height,,capacity in gallons, and the wattage of the element [s],,and breaker size...gallons and wattage are on the info plate / sticker..........dan

3. QUESTION:
   Why has the cost of standard 40 or 50 gallon electric hot water heaters more than doubled in past 3 years?

   • ANSWER:
     I think its all to do with the cost of the raw materials Copper has more than doubled in the last 18 months although it has fallen since last October it is still high.Wages and overheads in producing the products all contribute to the retail price increases, Distribution costs as well a 50 gall unit is quite large in volume and therefore it takes a large wagon using a lot of fuel just to transport a few units..

4. QUESTION:
   hot water heater operating cost?
   My electric bill every month gives money saving tips, this months was to shut off the electric hot water heater when gone from home for more then a day. I started thinking I know its a waste of money when the hot water heater heats water thats not being used, but also i know it has to work harder then usual after being shut off for a period of time. Anyways, my question here is if I would be saving money if I shut it off everyday after everybody has finished their shower/bath of the day? Please give me more then guesses
   not sure what the location has to do with if its a good idea to shut it on and off constantly. but its located in my hallway closet

   • ANSWER:
     Following up on Rondi's advice:

     In the PECO service area, electricity is net-net [FAQ-ANSWER].14/kwh inclusive of all fees and taxes.
     Gas is .14/therm (100,000 BTUs).
     We are in a 4,200 square foot, three-story center-hall colonial built in 1890.
     We switched from incandescents to CFL lamps almost exclusively (except the chandeliers).
     We went to a set-back thermostat.
     We went to a 96% AFUE gas-fired boiler that also makes domestic hot water.
     We went to Energy Star appliances - as they aged-out, not all at once of course.

     Our total energy bill (gas and electricity) went from over ,000/year to considerably less than ,000/year with the same level of comfort, light and flexibility.

5. QUESTION:
   Gas, Electric, or Hot water on demand? ($ hot water heater $)? more....?
   I got a gas hot water heater and I recently heard that Columbia Gas of Ohio is seeking to get a 'across the board' flat rate increase on distributing charges. I didn`t think this was at all fair since I am single and use very little hot water in the summer months. It looks like more corporate welfare. Im considering closing the gas account off in the summer months and/or using a electric or hot water on demand system....Any suggestions on which is more cost effective?

   • ANSWER:
     tankless heater and vote democrat so you will be protected from corperate thieves

6. QUESTION:
   Our home has an oil hot water heater should we keep it or switch to an electric water heater?
   We are concerned with the cost of heating oil but want to be enviromentally friendly also. Which type of water heater is the most efficient electric or oil?

   • ANSWER:
     Whatever you do, get away from oil heat!!!

7. QUESTION:
   Can a 1979 oil water bolier be replaced by a modern hot water heater ?
   Want to use a modern energy star hot weater in place of the oil fired boiler due to costs of fuel, just not sure of the ability of the electric hot water heater to handle the job.

   • ANSWER:
     electric boilers come in various sizes. contact a plumbing store to check out what is available and have the older unit replaced

8. QUESTION:
   How to buy and install Insulation Blanket for Hot Water Heater?
   My landlord recently replaced the electric water heater in my house. So I have a brand new 50-gallon electric water heater. However, my electric bill has not gone down in cost. The water heater is in the unheated basement and the water comes from a cold water well.

   A timer is not really a good option since we use hot water at various times of night and day, and the temperature setting has already been reduced.

   How do I purchase and install an insulation blanket for the hot water heater? Any tips for installation that I should know?

   • ANSWER:
     I do not reccomend insulation blankets on a water heater because if they are improperly installed they can be a fire hazard. and you shouldn't need it if it is a new water heater. assure the heater is wired correctly and is receiving the correct voltage. make sure both thermostats are set the same, the upper and lower. also if your heater is set higher than 120ish it may also run alot more. Insulating the hot water pipes in the basement won't make your heater run less, the thermostat is in the heater, not in the pipes. and the heater tank is already insulated.

     I would also look for other possible ways to reduce electric bill if it is high or a concern.

9. QUESTION:
   Cockroaches in electric hot water heater tank?
   Our hot water tank quit working so we really need a new one and don't really have the money to spend. We got offered a 2 month old water heater for free, but here's the catch:
   The people who just moved out of that house that have the new water heater, had cockroaches pretty bad.
   What are the chances that roaches are living in the water heater?
   The house has been empty , with no heat at all for a good month -almost two months now. (Temp here is 20-30 degrees at the highest.
   We really don't want roaches in invade our home, but yet a free water heater that would otherwise cost hundreds is there for the taking.
   Do you think the roaches could have gotten in it?
   Do you think they'd be dead now?
   What about the eggs, how long do they live?

   • ANSWER:
     I think you would have been better off if the water heater was still in use. I think the high heat from the tank would have cooked them or kept them out of the insulation. But, since it's been sitting cold your chances are 50/50. Sorry!

10. QUESTION:
    what is the cost of a direct oil fired hot water heater?
    I have been looking into a new hot water heater. Tankless won't work. I can find prices on lp and electric but nothing on a direct oil fired. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      First, it's called a water heater. If the water was hot, you wouldn't need a water heater.

      An oil fired water heater is not a good choice. If natural gas isn't available, the best choice is LP (propane). Almost no maintenance, more reliable and cheaper to buy.

      If you just have to have oil, do a search for "oil fired domestic boiler"

11. QUESTION:
    How can I heat up my hot tub without a electric pool heater?
    My pool heater broke and it's going to cost ,000 to replace. I have a pool and a connected hot tub. Since it's summer the pool does not need to be heated but I really want to have my friends over to go into the hot tub, but since we have no heater the hot tub is the same temperature as the pool. My question is, is there any way I can heat a hot tub sized body of water without something like a pool heater and for relatively cheap (under 0).

    • ANSWER:
      You say the pool heater is broke. I am surprised you can have it repaired for less that 00. I would look in that direction first. You are not likely to find a heater and install it for only the hot tub for only 0.

      I suggest you contact this website maybe they can help you.

12. QUESTION:
    electric hot water system?
    i currently have a fairly old hot water electric immersion tank and am thinking about changing it. the house is all electric and we don't need to the water for heating, just showers etc. is it better to re-lag the one we have, or get a thermal store, or an on demand electric heater? the market seems totally confusing and i would really appreciate anyone with some expertise sharing some of it!! when i say 'better' i mean cost, but also flow rate, temperature of water in the evening if i want a shower etc

    • ANSWER:
      My house is all electric and we replaced our 20year old tank with a new lagged one and bought a jacket for it over and above that - using the white meter or economy 7 still provides us with enough hot water at night to run a bath for our kids despite having had the washing machine on at least once, dishes, washing and tooth-brushing. If you don't use a lot buy a smaller tank but make sure its in proportion to your property - remember when buying these things always consider resale of your property. Buy the best you can afford. Maybe an electric power shower would be more suited to your needs but if your daytime usage is low there will still be enough hot water for a decent steamy shower in your hot water tank x

13. QUESTION:
    Replacing a Hot Water Heater?
    A homeowner wants to replace an electric hot-water heater. There are two models in the store. The inexpensive model costs 0 and has no insulation between the inner and outer walls. Due to natural convection, the space between the inner and outer walls has effective conductivity three times that of air. The more expensive model costs 0 and has fiberglass insulation in the gap between the walls. Both models are 3.0 m tall and have a cylindrical shape with an inner wall diameter of 0.6 m and a 5 cm gap. The surrounding air is at 25oC, and the convection heat transfer coefficient on the outside is about 15 W/m2-K. The hot water inside the tank results in an inside wall temperature of 60oC.
    Perform the following energy/heat transfer calculations: (a) Estimate the individual and the total thermal resistances of the models. (b) Calculate the amount of heat loss from the heater models and the outer wall temperature of the heaters. (c) If energy costs 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, estimate how long it will take to pay back the extra investment in the more expensive hot water heater. Use 24 hrs per day, 30 days per month and 12 months per year. Neglect the effects of inner and outer (metal) wall thickness on the heat transfer calculations and assume that the top and bottom of the heater are well insulated.

    • ANSWER:
      Always get the Energy Star one.

14. QUESTION:
    would a 60 gallon gas water heater cost a month ( a year) less to run than a 20 gallon electric water?
    i have a 20 gallon electric water heater now. it works fine and we don't have a problem with running out of hot water if we plan ahead. my brother is selling his 60 gallon gas water heater for cheap and we have a gas hook up in the basement for a water heater.

    we save 0 a year by shutting off the gas each spring when we are not using our only current gas appliance, the furnace. we have to pay each fall for the gas company to come out and turn the gas back on.

    if we got the gas water heater it would be nice to be able to use all the hot water we wanted and not wait an hour after taking a shower for someone else to shower or to wash dishes.

    • ANSWER:
      Water heaters have a life between 5 and twenty years. You can get a new one for under 0, so first off, I question the logic of doing all the work of installing a used water heater. It is not worth it to me, because it will probably have to be replaced again in a few years anyway.

      A 60 gallon water heater is for a family of 5 or 6. and is overkill.

      Water heaters with large tanks do not save you money, they cost you more money, but letting you take longer showers... If you don't use more hot water, it is a wash. But you will.

      FYI: When you turn off a water heater for a season, it still has water in it, and can build up dangerous hydrogen gas inside, make sure the tank is full and and you run the water for a while to get any gas out before turning it back on.

15. QUESTION:
    Which hot water heater is best for this application?
    Have a boiler hot water heater. It is ok in the winter but it really stinks in the summer. Last spring I built a solar heater to preheat the water (it cost me about 300 bucks) It has almost paid for itself in addition I have more hot water. I would like to just shut the boiler down in the summer and run it in the winter. What kind of hot water heating system can someone recommend for the summer? I thought about tank less, electric or LP or a small electric tank.

    • ANSWER:
      It will depend on how much hot water you will be using if you have more than 3 people in your house I would go to a regular heater. or if you have a high demand for such as a jet tub if it is just you and your other I would get a tank less. I have one in my cabin and it is nice and care free system.

16. QUESTION:
    Which way will cost me less for my annual heat and hot water?
    House is now all-electric, a real killer. Gas not available. So, I am changing to an oil fired system. Two ways to go. Oil fired hot air furnace, with ductwork in the attic and registers going down thru ceiling into each room. Then keep my free standing 40gal electric water heater. The other way is oil fired hot water tankless boiler, with hot water baseboard for heat, and the tankless unit providing the hotwater, and getting rid of my electric hot water heater. House is small ranch built on a slab. The heating unit and the oil tank will go in the attached garage.
    I'm in massachusetts.....and...as I said...gas is not available (natural), and to run on propane is quite alot more than oil, I checked.

    • ANSWER:
      You should price a geothermal heatpump... It produces hot water as it heats and cools and costs penny's to operate... You can get a tax credit from the us gov..(if you are in the US). They can cost a little more to install. But they are worth it..

17. QUESTION:
    How can you cakculate the cost of heating hot water in a domestic household situation?
    I would like to compare natural gas to propane gas to electric water heaters in a way that is understandable to a lay person. I understand that heating water is one of the highest energy costs in a home but how would I compare the price of a tank to a tankless water heater?

    • ANSWER:
      A British Thermal Unit (BTU), is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. Multiply the BTU output of the heating appliance (found on the nameplate) by the number of gallons it holds (also found on the nameplate) and multiply that number by 8.35 (The weight in pounds of one gallon of water) Tankless water heaters are instantaneous, but they have to heat cold water because they don't have any storage capacity.
      You also have to determine the cost of Electricity (sold by the Kwh), propane (Sold by he gallon) and natural gas(sold by the cubic foot) in your area and use those figures to calculate the cost of energy.

18. QUESTION:
    What kind of water heater would you put in?
    I have a hot water maker which is heated by the furnace (boiler) it is powered by propane. This heater is costing me a fortune for hot water during the summer. I have to heat the boiler to get hot water and then the thing is hot and heats up the area it is in. To put in an electric hot water heater would cost a lot due to the fact I would have a ton of electrical work to do.
    I think a tankless would suck because of the hardness of the water also my wife like her water hot. . A propane tank type seems the best option.
    Solar is not an option due to the amount of sun we get any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      You have answered your own question. Please buy an energy efficient one to save our environment. If you have cold well water you may want to install a temper tank. A temper tank is just a tank to let the water stand and warm to room temperature before going in the water heater. It may save only a few pounds of gas a year but a pound of gas saved is one you never have to pay for. It will also be better for thee environment.

19. QUESTION:
    Mom is looking at replacing her gas hot water boiler for an electric one how much would that cost and how hard?
    Her boiler went out in the middle of winter and she has been using kerosene heaters and now she wants to get rid of the gas bill. How much would one cost

    • ANSWER:
      Thor is right on point. It's not just the installation cost, but the total cost over the life of the system that you need to look at.

      The equipment and installation are a small fraction of the total costs. Look at the operating costs closely before you just assume that getting rid of the gas bill is a good thing.

20. QUESTION:
    When you should replace your gas water heater with an electric one. Sounds crazy but hear me out.?
    My electricity costs are .069 per KWH. My cost of gas is .9313/Ccf.

    And here's the trick to why I am going to ditch my gas heater for electric or solar. My gas charge each month is , but by the time I pay the delivery charge, the customer charge and other fees, my monthly gas bill is !

    So the decision is, would my electric bill go up dollars a month by using 17/Ccf worth of energy each month for hot water?
    Yes, I am researching tankless right now. And the reason my gas bill is so low is because the only item that is gas is the hot water heater. So I have to pay dollars in fixed costs each month for gas service, even if I don't use a single ounce of gas for that month (That's 0/year without even using any gas). I'm basically paying 2 bills when I should consolidate and save.

    A tankless electric is the way to go, unless I could find a way to get a solar heater installed for around 1,500. After rebates, solar would be cheap. Anyone know of electric tankless house units that qualify for the Gov. tax rebate?

    • ANSWER:
      You should get one of those tankless water heaters. They are a little more expensive but it would solve your problem.

21. QUESTION:
    How much does my water heater add to my electric bill?
    My electric bill is consistently too expensive at the end of the month. In an attempt to reduce the cost I have tried a number of things. Last month as an experiment I tried to lower the cost as much as possible. For May, I started washing the dishes by hand instead of using my dishwasher, keeping the water off while washing and only used hot water to rinse. In the shower I only used water to rinse and turned it off while washing. I unplugged everything in my apartment when it wasn't being used. I turned off my computers at night instead of putting them in sleep mode. I hung my clothes up to dry on the deck instead of using a dryer. I turned the setting inside my fridge down a few notches.
    Basically I did everything I could. And today when my bill came I was shocked to see it only knocked a DOLLAR off the usual amount.
    I am thinking maybe it has to do with the hot water heater in the closet. Is this the cause of my energy woes? Is there a way for me to further reduce the cost of my electric bill each month?? Please help!
    I don't use AC and all the apartment's bulbs have been switched to compact fluorescents.

    • ANSWER:
      Hot water heaters are major energy users..If you can, convert your hw heater to a tank less one. If that is not an option then lower the thermostat on it and wrap the tank and pipes with insulating wrap you can buy at any home improvement store. Change all your light bulbs to screw in fluorescent bulbs..They use much less energy,eg; A 60 watt equivalent bulb will only use 13 watts for the same light output. Install a water saver shower head. Just doing these things will lower your bill to a noticeable amount. Be careful lowering your fridge thermostat as your could be storing your food at a dangerous temperature, get a fridge thermometer to be sure and make sure it stays around 40-45 degrees. Washing your dishes in cold water may not be a good idea as most detergents are designed to work in hot water and you may not be killing all the germs. Try showering, cooking etc at off peak hours when the electric rates are lower as well. Most of the things you have done should have lowered your bill a lot more then a dollar, especially not using the dryer as it is also a major energy user..If your bill is not noticeably lower next month then demand to have your meter tested and also have your hot water heater tested. If it is rented ,then demand that it be replaced with an energy efficient one..It is law and you have the right to request and receive these tests. Good luck.

22. QUESTION:
    Electric water heater keeps tripping the breaker?
    We have an older electric water heater about 11 years old maybe. We recently had a leak in one of our bathroom tubs. It was leaking hot water. Then our hot water heater tripped the breaker. We fixed the leak. Now we think one of the elements is burnt out (or could it be a bad thermostat?) because it keeps tripping the breaker. Is it safe to use a water heater with a burnt out element? How much will it cost to fix, I ask because we are moving out in a few weeks and don't want to spend money on it if we can avoid it. But the most important thing is keeping us safe and I don't want anyone getting hurt.

    • ANSWER:
      An element has failed or the breaker has failed.

      Thermostats don't cause breakers to trip. The one remote failure could possibly be if the upper thermostat turns two elements on at once, never heard of it happening, but theoretically it could happen.

      Breakers trip they fail or when something uses too much current, this can happen when an element fails.

      This is how heaters work: A basic hot water tank has one element at the bottom, the thermostat turns the element on and off. If it fails to turn off and overheats water the overlimit cutout switch trips, and the tank will not heat water until the button is pressed and reset. It is located on the thermostat.

      Fast recovery tanks have an additional element near the top, it has another thermostat. When that thermostat turns on the upper element it also blocks the lower element from coming on, so only one element operates at a time.

      First check the size of the breaker in the panel, in the US it should be a 30 amp breaker (fed by #10 wire). If it is smaller than 30 amps you need to have somebody check the wire size to make sure the wire is #10, then replace the breaker with a 30 amp.

      If it is a 30 amp like it should be, then to determine whether the breaker is failing or an element is short circuit failing a good tool to use is an ammeter (sometimes called an amp meter). Read the label on the element, see how many watts it uses, divide that number by 240, that remaining value is the amps. (i.e. 4500 watts divided by 240 volts = 18.75 Amps.)

      Turn off the breaker, press the reset button on the thermostats, clamp the ammeter around one wire feeding the tank. Turn the breaker on, it should read close to the amp number calculated above, which should be between 15 and 22 amps. If it reads 0 then an element has failed, if you have a fast recovery it is the top element. If the amperage is less than the amp rating and the breaker trips then it is the breaker. If it is between 15 and 22, and the breaker doesn't trip it is probably the bottom, but to test let the upper element heat a while, then turn the temp down on the upper element until it clicks and turns the bottom element on. Check the Amperage. If it is now high, it is the problem.

      Of the other method would be to replace all the parts one by one, or all at once.

      2 pole 30 Breaker
      4500 watt elements each
      (Element removal wrench )
      Thermostats

      Or 4500 watt tank 5, which a buyer might ask to have changed anyway.

23. QUESTION:
    GAS vs. ELECTRIC water heater differences?
    Today, I changed my gas water heater with an electric model because the gas unit was leaking! =:-o
    This electric 40 gallon home water heater is seemingly keeping up with my current hot water needs.
    Aside from the expected cost savings (with the price of natural gas staying on it's record-high pace) what "differences" should I expect with an Electric unit in my house? %Does an electric unit take longer to heat up than a natural gas water heater? - Does the electric heated water seem HOTTER than gas-heated? - and is an electric water heater easier to maintain or is more maintenance and upkeep required to keep an electric unit up and running?
    I use fresh well water in my home tapped almost directly nearby the Canadian River which runs through the Texas panhandle.
    Thanks for feedback.

    • ANSWER:
      You will see an increase in costs. It takes allot more energy to heat water with electric.

      You will see a slower recovery time. Electric units take longer to heat

      Heat should be the same as the thermostat controls that.

      Maintenance should not be an issue

      Even with the rising gas prices electric is not a wise economic choice unless your electricity is very cheap. I would guess that is no the case because you owned a gas unit in the past.

      Call your power provider and the should have a comparison for gas v electric.

      If you bought it a box store I.E. Home Depot or Lowes I would return it and replace it with a gas unit

24. QUESTION:
    Electric or Gas hot water?
    This summer I will be converting my homes steam heating from oil to gas to save money. Oil is horribly expensive, you have to keep getting the tank filled, and is a disaster wiating to happen when the tank eventually does start to leak and creates a hazardous waste spill that you get charged an arm and a leg to clean up... at least with gas I only have to worry about the house blowing up.

    Anyways, my question is should I covert the hot water from electricity to gas at the same time? The hot water heater is working fine right now and probably still has some years left in its lifetime. I bought the house last year so I'm not sure how old it is. It is cool to the touch though so it must have some decent insulation.

    Gas as of May 2010 costs .23 + [FAQ-QUESTION].7442 per ccF.
    In February 2010 it was .23 + .5875 per ccF.
    In November 2009 it was .01 + .4631 per ccF.

    Electricity is currently about 14.6 cents per kWh.
    In February 2010 it was 14.7 cents per kWh.
    In November 2009 it was 15.6 cents per kWh.

    The kWh cost is kind of estimated because they use a really complex formula, I took total bill divided by usage. Bassically it is + a variable rate (it gets more expensive after 600 kWh). Then after that total is added up they add another 2% as an 'underground surcharge' even though my electric service is above ground... gotta love utilities.
    I guess my other question would be given the prices listed for electricity and gas, would the gas water heater offer enough savings to offset the increased installation cost and equipment cost? They would also have to install the exhaust into the existing chimney.

    • ANSWER:
      Gas tends to cost less unless you have off peak pricing. Ask your providers. Remember you have to factor in the cost of changing.

25. QUESTION:
    Water heater timer for our water boiler is old we want to upgrade it. Electrician or heating engineer? Thanks?
    We have our hot water heated by our immersion heater, but the timer for when to heat the water is mechanical and innaccurate. So we want to upgrade it. We do get hot water so that side of it is ok, its just we want to accurately say when it gets heated, or is off.
    (Our heating system is entirely separate, we have electric heaters)
    Would we get a heating engineer or electrician??
    How much (roughly) is it likely to cost??

    • ANSWER:
      Cost depends on where you live. Plumber and Electrician will probably run around 65 bucks an hour. It's say expect an hour or two. In this economy, seems like they are drawing it out more and more.

      I'd use a plumber if it were me. If you try for an electrician, explain what it is and they'll let you know if they work on them or not. No need to have someone come out for no reason.

      Many will also give you an estimate over the phone.

26. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost to get a heat pump, tankless water heater, etc?
    We have 100 amp service and natural gas. We want to convert to 200 amp all electric, with no natural gas. How much should we expect to pay, to get an electric tankless water heater, a heat pump, an electric central heater to supplement the heat pump, with central air conditioning from the heat pump, and a thermostat that switches between the heat pump and the electric heat according to outside temperature, plus the cost of converting from 100 amp to 200 amp? It can use existing forced-air ducts. This is for a three bedroom 1150 square foot house on a concrete slab, with an attic that's only used for access and insulation. It's in a place with average weather, i.e. it freezes a lot in the winter but only goes below 0 F once every few years, and gets hot and humid for a few weeks of the year, and only goes above 100 F about one day per year on average.

    Besides the cost of the items mentioned above, can you also recommend brands, and the reasons for those brands?

    • ANSWER:
      That's quite a lot of info to provide. Your best bet would be to take your list into Lowes, Home Depot or a shop that does this kind of work. Is there some reason you're switching to electric? It's more expensive than natural gas. A tankless water heater is a lot more money that a water heater and you'll lose access to an emergency supply of drinkable water if you go with tankless. Do you have A/C now or do you want to add that, too?

      I usually prefer Whirlpool but you should check Consumer Reports since ratings change frequently and I've never bought the items you list.

      Unless you're qualified you'll need to have this professionally installed so pick a brand you think you'll like and then check the yellow pages or other listings. Get 3 or more bids on the work. Many name brands have generic equivalents, usually by the same manufacturer, just not branded with the well-advertised name.

27. QUESTION:
    im a tenant, i had no heating or hot water on and off for 4 months, only and electric shower fo wash.?
    i had to use electric heaters, had a bigger electric big which i am now struggling to pay. a new boiler was fitted incorrectly by engineers which resulted in 5 seperate visits from 5 engineers, eventually the manufacturers having to come out. in time after 4 months, it came down to a problem with a pipe under the bath not getting rid of waste. so now i have a large electric bill. ive since left the property and i kept back 175 pound from my rent. now the landlady wants me to pay for a new carpet in the very large lounge due to me having a small accident with an iron dropping onto it, its not burnt, but just a small iron marking. she also wants all the carpets cleaning throughout the house at a cost of 120, plus extra costs for the lounge carpet, a total of about 350 pound. i feel this is really unfair due to the inconvenience of having no heating or hot water for nearly 4 months in which has left me in debt. i want some compensation!

    • ANSWER:
      Contact your local Landlord and Tenant board for a hearing. You and your landlord will both have to be present at the hearing with DOCUMENTED evidence.
      They will settle the dispute.

28. QUESTION:
    get a new electric water heater or replace a dip tube ? and why?
    A while ago I had a plumber come in and he replaced the heating element on my 40 galon electric water heater..this did not solve my problem since we still get cold-warm water not Hot!..he said it could be the thermostat or something..else I'm not going to hire this guy again becasue he didnt fix anything and he charged me 300 dollars..the only termporary solution for me was to turn the switch to C "very hot" in order to get hot water, it was set to B before..now my new tenant says the water isnt hot enough..I was about to just replace the whole thing but they told me at home depot I should get the dip tube replaced...is this easy to do? how much will it cost me? i'm affraid of getting ripped off by another plummer, what if that doesnt fix my problem?
    any advice or help will be very appreciated.
    thanks
    water heater is 4 years old

    • ANSWER:
      the dip tube is just a tube that goes down inside you heater and takes the hotter water off the bottom of the heater it is easy to do but messy and water can run all over...should be rather cheap to do but it may not be the answer either....
      it is not unheard of to get a new unit and have the dip tube missing so it does make some sense ...if u can get a dip tube from a local source id say to try it yourself if u got any skills at all in plumbing

29. QUESTION:
    Get a new electric water heater or replace a dip tube?, replace thermostate? ?

    A while ago I had a plumber come in and he replaced the heating element on my 40 gallon electric water heater..this did not solve my problem since we still get cold-warm water not Hot!..he said it could be the thermostat or something..else I'm not going to hire this guy again because he didn't fix anything and he charged me 300 dollars..the only temporary solution for me was to turn the switch to C "very hot" in order to get hot water, it was set to B before..now my new tenant says the water isn't hot enough..I was about to just replace the whole thing but they told me I should get the dip tube replaced...is this easy to do? how much will it cost me? i'm afraid of getting ripped off by another plumber, what if that doesn't fix my problem? could it be the thermostat?
    any advice or help will be very appreciated.
    my water heater is 4 year old
    Thanks Bruce, do you think I should get the thermostate replaced then?..I think its just one and also just one heating element..I would try to ask in Home depot and see if they will install it for me..
    btw I'm in Canada

    • ANSWER:
      Some of the previous answers were correct, but not completely.
      If you had a heating element replaced, it may not have been the problem. It may have been a worn out thermostat.
      There are upper and lower thermostats, and elements both.
      The sacrificial metal rod that is supposed to get destroyed by electricity flowing through the water is called the Anode. This is NEVER a part of the dip tube.
      Sometimes, if the tank is old enough, (normally 15years and older,) the dip tube will disintegrate.
      However, 90% of the dip tubes in water heaters manufactured from '93 and '97 had defective dip tubes. If in an electric water heater, this almost always failed, and disintegrated, causing the cold water to mix at the top of the tank, instead of the tube directing the cold to the bottom, and filling the bottom up with cold, leaving only the hot water at the top.
      When the dip tube is gone, you get 40degree water mixing with the 130degree (hot) water, which causes almost instant 'tepid' / warm water only, which runs out fairly quickly.
      When the upper thermostat or element is not working properly, it often will overheat rather than not heat enough.

      Long and short, if the tank is over 6years old, it is already past the manufacturer's expected, warranteed lifetime, and should be replaced, instead of repaired. Here in Washington state, we get approximately 8-12 years lifetime on electric, and 10-15years lifetime on Gas water heaters.
      If the plumber who installed the element is given the chance to put the repair costs toward a replacement heater, you may not be out all the previously spent costs.

      Costs of labor vary hugely dependent on the pricing structure dictated by the company owner, and/ or the time it takes to get the job done. When replacing a lower element, companies I worked for previously had pricing as varied as .00 plus parts to 5.00 plus parts(cost x 3)
      Same service person, same service performed, huge different in ownership.

      Also, Often Home depot, Lowes, Sears, and others offer installation for highly competitive rates, and/or the water heater manufacturers sometimes have contracts with service companies that also do installations.
      At this point, a few phone calls can give you some competitive estimated costs, so you may not be stuck with the previous service person.

      Good Luck

30. QUESTION:
    The cobb famiy of fremont is looking at ways to decrease thier home water and energy usage.?
    The cobb famiy of fremont is looking at ways to decrease thier home water and energy usage.Thier current electric hot water heater raises the water temperature to 140 F, which requires 0.20kWh/gal at a cost of [FAQ-QUESTION].10/kWh. Each person in the family of 4 showers once a day for an average of 10 mins per shower, The shower has a flow rate of 5.0 gallons per minute.
    (a). Calculate the following. Be sure to show all work and include units in answer.
    (i) find the total amount of water the family uses per year for taking showers.
    (ii) find the annual cost of the electricty for the famiy showers assuming that 2.5 gallons per minute of the water is used from the hot water heater.
    (b) The family is replacing thier hot-water heater with a new energy efficient hot water heater that costs 1000$ and uses half the energy that the current one uses. How many days would it take the new hot water heater to recover the initial 1000$ cost?
    (c) Describe TWO practical measures the familty could take to reduce thier overall water usage athome,
    (d) Describe TWO conservation measures(other than reducing hot water use) that the family could take to reduce the total amount of energy they use at home.

    • ANSWER:
      How about a holding tank in the basement to contain that shower water
      and then an exercise bike powered water pump to transport that water to
      a tank in the attic and then use the grey water to flush the toilet.

      good stuff ... no?

31. QUESTION:
    how much does it cost to heat a small 1br apartment in albany ny (upstate) and hot water.?
    i am not sure of the exact apartment because i am still searching. I would like an estimate to use so that i can properly compare the price of apartments that include heat to those that do not. Is there a large margin for gas or electric heat? All the apartments ilok at are small and under 500 sqft. they are mostly older buildings too. One apartment i am looking at and i am very interested in has electric heat and hot water. How much would this cost? IK it cost about a motnh to run a 1000watt space heater 24/7 i could just do that. I do not mind a 65F degree day temp and lower at night. Basic general heat and hot water estimates are appreciated for gas and electric. Or any info you can give me. It is all greatly appreciated. I am a novice at this because my current apartment includes heat and hot water.
    Thank you
    -John
    ...yes...it has windows...
    national grid charges a month for gas and a month for electric for delivery. I called the hotline so idk y some people on yahoo answers insist it is over . That is ridiculuos

    • ANSWER:
      Don't know..........does it have windows?.............what is the cost of CF of gas.........or the cost for K of electricity........ask the landlord...........or call the power/gas company.............

32. QUESTION:
    May I expand on another water heater question, please?
    I just asked if an electric water heater has a flame because I am a US citizen currently living in Mexico and virtually nobody here has electric, they have gas using propane tanks. They have creeped me out since I've been here.

    Two weeks ago the guy delivered a new propane tank, lit the pilot light, all was well. Two days ago I had no hot water, turns out the pilot light was off. But nobody would listen to me (likely a communication barrier). The entire bottom of the water heater is scorched, the dial to turn from warm to hot water is totally fried and there is NO doubt there was a fire of some sort under there or in there. The heater won't hold a flame anymore. It will start and it goes right out.

    I've been in two major fires in my life and the idea of another fire/explosion makes me neurotic. Totally neurotic. I can't even stand to be out there when they change tanks and light the pilot.

    I am assuming I will need a new water heater, NO PROBLEM! If electric heaters have no pilot light all the better.

    My house is electric, I don't care how long it takes to heat water, I live by myself anyway so there are not six people taking showers every morning. Since water heaters are outside here cost is going to be a factor but so is my sanity. ;o)

    However, it's been suggested to me not to get electric in Mexico because of power surges and I'll be replacing it often.

    I'm really stuck and I don't know what to do. I am a nurse, that I know. This stuff is just plain over my head and I don't know how to make a decision.

    To buy propane is about and I need two tanks a season. The summer is sooooo bloody hot here the sun literally heats your water. So, hot water currently costs me a year.

    Thoughts or suggestions, please?

    • ANSWER:
      ==== HELLO ! ANNIE .... you should stay with the gas water heater and the Home Depot has water heaters that are good === you can get several sizes {{{ the best thing to do is use the same heater that will mate up to the pipes that exist === living in PV has taught me to stick with the the things that are matched to replacements === the water heaters do not last as long as same type appliances as in the USA ... your water heater is toast and the replacement will be better than what you had === better products exist in Mexico now === if your water heater is outside as many are in MX it would be good to protect it from the tropical rains by putting a samll roof over the heater... please look at the Blanquita Furniture stores for the better price than the HoDepot .... probably found in another store is the """Cal-O-Rex""" brand H2O heater and I think it is the best ... xtx

33. QUESTION:
    What is the average cost of replacing a water heater? Which would you choose insurance payment or heater?
    My water heater needs to be replaced (electric) I have a warranty insurance that will replace it however there are a few non covered costs - the pan, the permit, some other part, it will cost me 2.00. They have given me the option to "cash out" which means they cut me a check and I try to figure it out on my own. Problem is the "cashout " amount is unknown and it will take up to two weeks for me to find out what the amount is before i can even decide - two weeks without a hot shower is HELL! But I'm not sure what to do. What would you do?

    Can anyone guess as to what amount they MIGHT give me?

    The insurance company is American Home Shield.

    ANY advice will help. I'm a new home owner and don't know a thing about house stuff!

    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      You can get a tank and the parts to do it for probably close to 250-300. If you have a handyman, or an uncle, or cousin, or boyfriend that may be able to do it for you for less than a plumber than that's the ticket. If you have to call a plumber its gonna cost you at least 0. And that is with a cheaper tank. Sure would be nice to know how much they were giving you. As a matter of fact it is ridiculous what they are doing to you. If they are gonna present you with that option and then tell you to wait two weeks, that's crazy. I would make a demanding phone call and get a solid answer. Then after this is all done, never call them again.

34. QUESTION:
    My hot water heater is leaking from the top and not from pipes?
    The in and out pipes are on the sides of the heater but the top is soaking wet(insulation). We really don't have the money for a new one and thought about the tankless. Both are gonna cost out the you know what. We will have to buy fittings being the lines are copper. Re-pipe it and wire stuff, also changing breakers if we go with tankless. Can I make my heater last any longer? Any help about the electric tankless would help. How can we help keep the cost down? So hate this is happening so close to Christmas!

    • ANSWER:
      are you sure the tank itself is bad?
      have you checked the seal around your T&P valve and the heating elements and made sure the T&P valve is not leaking?

      this could be a simple and inexpensive fix instead of a total replacement

35. QUESTION:
    if you use the same amount of hot water in a set amount of time-wud it cost more to use 1 element or 2?
    it's a 40 gallon electric water heater with a plug for an additional element-one element takes longer to heat the water of course and 2 elements wud heat it faster and shut off faster so which way wud b the cheapest at the end of the day--electric bill speaking?
    regardless of all the technical stuff ie; depends on amount of water you use etc;--if i use the same amount of water in a 30 day period with only one element in the bottom of the tank and then use the exact same amount the next month with 2 elements installed--which wud b cheapest?
    i've gotten a wide variety of answers...all different! does anybody know the answer to my question difinatively? simple question! if i install an upper element and use the same amount of hot water...will my electric bill be cheaper...higher of basically the same at the end of the month?

    • ANSWER:
      It takes a specific amount of electrical energy to heat up a specific amount of cold water to hot water. With a 40 gallon tank and only one element you will save energy because you'll run out of hot water quicker and turn the tap off.

36. QUESTION:
    Water heater mysteriously turned off and gas won't even come on to attempt to re-light?
    So I came home today and a family member told me that they noticed the water in the kitchen never got hot as it usually did. I tried all other hot water sources, and all were cold. I went down to the basement and the hot water heater itself is cold, so all water inside is cold, too. It's not on at all. It mysteriously seems to have turned itself off. It's in about a 4 ft. x 15 ft. dugout crawlspace that the FHA made the former owners dig out and put cinderblocks around it. At one end, there is the sump pump and sump hole...at the other end is the heat/air machine (working just fine) and hot water end on the far end. The sump pump is working fine. I do not see any waterline on the water heater, so I have absolutely no reason to believe that water flooded it. I followed all re-light directions on the labels. I have no idea of the model or any of that. I do know it has an electric ignitor switch. I pressed down and held the "reset" switch and had the knob turned to "pilot"...while clicking the ignitor. It's like no gas turns on at all, and when it was working properly, I remember a gas sound when the knob was turned and before pilot ignition.

    What could be the issue? I know that absolutely no one has been down there turning off any gas knobs. It doesn't appear to be related to water or flooding. I'm thinking it may be the ignition control box itself...but I don't know a thing about any of that other than how to typically light it. The water heater is probably 6-7 years old. Is it a best bet to just get it replaced completely? It's a muddy crawlspace, so they charge a fee for that crawlspace and it's one of those 0 jobs for the water heater and install, if I remember correctly from last time.

    I'm also wondering if there would be any way to get that converted to an electric, tankless water heater. It's an old house...most of the piping is galvanized, though a lot of the gas piping seems to be copper. I'm not sure how much power would be needed in addition (or if our old circuit breaker could even handle that) for an electric tankless, or how much it would cost to get it installed by modifying the current setup. I just know that tank is a nightmare...and we hate the sump setup. It's scary to think of the power going out and the hole filling with water since the pump can't pump with no power.

    Suggestions?
    Also, I know there are battery powered pumps available as backups...but they always clog since it's a dirt bottom. I've cemented most of it off, but dirt still finds a way to clog the smaller, less powerful battery powered backup pumps to the point of them not working.

    We're also planning on selling the place for what we can get for it within a few months or so (and hopefully get enough to pay off what's left on the loan)...so it's kind of one of those, "Why does this have to happen now?" things.
    How do you figure out which thermocouple you need, even if you do remove it and bring it with you? Is there a part number to go by?

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like the thermocouple. It's a fairly easy and cheap fix if you have any "mr. fix it" in you. If not, an honest plumber would be your best bet. Good Luck and God Bless.

37. QUESTION:
    how much to switch from gas water heater to electric & put in central heat & air?
    we are buying a house and in the house its gas heat and no air so we are putting in central air well the hot water is also gas so about how much will it cost to change that and put in central heat and air we are trying to eliminate the price of gas but just wondering how much we need to set aside for this other stuff
    just wanted to add the house is between 1400 to 1600 square ft
    what is the difference between propane and natural gas and either way if we keep gas we would still need central air right? because te house is only heat.

    • ANSWER:
      Buy high efficiency gas furnace. The gas is already available. Why change it? Electric heat is expensive any way you look at it. Obviously you need to do your homework. The Yahoo answers is not really the place to get your information.

      There are a ton of factors that will determine what kind of heating system is best for your application. Things like the climate where you live. The utilities available in your community. The insulation and windows in your home. The duct work that is available. Whether you have a basement or a slab.

38. QUESTION:
    Why intro E-85 if the cost is more than gas?Maybe a cheaper and more ecological sound way is a better solution
    I mean come on who wants to pay more for something that's all ready too high(fuel for your vehicle)!!! I understand that it's good for the environment but ,lets be real most of us are living pay check to pay check as it is.Even if the price of gas goes down E-85 will still be up there.Make sense to you it sure doesn't to me.What ever happened to methane,electric or even hydrogen. Maybe the best solution would be an electric/steam engine would be best with the electric helping to produce the steam with of course water.20 gallons at 160 lbs.(water)doesn't weigh much and theoretically that 20 gallons could get you 500 miles.With the steam being force feed by a turbine or some other device.the steam would be made the same way your electric hot water heater makes the water hot and produces steam maybe some thought should go to this?!

    • ANSWER:
      Creating alcohol from agricultural crops uses more energy than it creates. This is purely a political scam to give money to giant agribusiness conglomerates. Millions of tax dollars are being given to these people and millions of tax dollars are being put into plants to make the alcohol. In ten years all of that money will have been wasted. We should create a national program using the level of money and resources we used to get to the moon and solve the nuclear fusion technology. It may take up to 50 years, but it will solve the energy problem. By the way, that is the only way to solve the mid-east wars too.

39. QUESTION:
    Rewiring a house--material cost?
    I am in the southeast. How much do you think it would cost to go to Home Depot or Lowe's for the materials to rewire a 1300 sq foot, one-story range style house? 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen, dining room, living room, 1 car carport, utility room which houses the washer/dryer and electric hot water heater. Gas furnace. I got a quote, not broken down in writing yet, for approx 00 by a licensed master electrcian. Couple of others said that was a fair price.
    There is really no remodeling going to be done....just take out current wiring and replacing with new, upgrading panel to 200amps from the current 60amp, add 4 hard-wired smoke detectors, replace current outlets, replacing wiring in ceiling for lights and ceiling fans, etc. I haven't gotten his broken down quote yet, but I thought if he was going to mark-up materials then maybe I could just go buy the materials myself and just pay for him labor. What is generally the proportion of material cost to labor cost in a quote? 50-50? 50% of quote materials and 50% labor? He said it would take about a week to do. House built in 1956.
    I have talked to a couple of other pro's and they said k was very fair. But if I could buy the material myself and not have to pay for the markup of that (say 15% of 00 is a 50 savings) and now I'm down to k. I might ask the guy if I can do this if it can save me some money. I don't see why he would say no, because he would still be making a profit on the labor.

    • ANSWER:
      I know ,000 seems like a high price but in reality it isn't. I assume that you have only 2 conductor wiring in your home. Pulling out the old wire and pulling in the new can be very difficult depending on how the old wiring was installed. In some cases you can pull in the new at the same time as removing the old. In other cases it is more reasonable to just leave the old and pull in new. This is a labor intensive job. I figure materials plus 15%, my labor, my employee's labor and business profit to come up with a bid.
      I wish Kenneth could buy some copper wire for me. I'll pay the shipping!

40. QUESTION:
    Hot Water Tank(Only Slightly Warm)?
    Is there a reason our hot water tank is only putting out slightly warm (about less than lewk warm) water? We usually use an electric water heater but ours broke recently so until then we're using propane. But my dad says it could be because since we hadn't used the water tank in maybe three months, the heaters could of gotten corroded (like crusted over with drying water and what not) Is that possible? Or is there someway to heat up the water manually (like a switch/knob to increase output in heat) Before we started using the electric one the water would get pretty hot (the sink water could get hot enough to where if you stuck your hands under it for too long it'd hurt a little)

    We're most likely just going to get a certified propane guy to check it soon, but to save us the cost (which'll cost about 100$+) Is there anyway to find out for ourselves.

    Thanks in advance.
    Yes the pilote light is lit, and I'm not sure about the burner stuff. And I looked at the hot water heater myself and there is a wide-flat red knob with (Hot (on the left) and warm to the right) with a little arrow pointing at it and it's currently on warm. Is there any danger in messing with the temperature? (Like I don't want the tank blowing up on me or anything)

    And it sounds kind of stupid but that could be the whole problem (my dad doesn't like admitting he's wrong when it comes to fix-it type stuff) And he said he already turned the temp up, but you can clearly see the arrow pointing on warm.

    One other thing I noticed is lately it's been really cold (the weather) about 29°, but today it was sunny out (still is) and alot warmer today (about 73°), and since that has happened the water has went from barely lewk warm to slightly just warm.

    • ANSWER:
      Even the tank sits for long time it shoudnt have anything to do with the problem. On the front of the tank on the bottom there is a knob for the temp. If that is up all the way and you still have no hot water than the thermostat is not working. I would make sure you have plenty of propane.You call me if want 781-706-7955

41. QUESTION:
    Propane heat or zoned electric, which is most affordable?
    Our furnace and hot water heater run on propane. Due to the astronomical cost of propane in our area (upstate NY), would it be more economical to keep the thermostat VERY low and instead use electric baseboard or ceramic / space heaters in the rooms we are in? Just in general, I know its hard to calculate exactly without knowing cost per kwh etc. No need to be scientific just wondering if the spike in the electric bill using electric portable heat would offset the propane saved? Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      I'm in the propane business in Ontario Canada, not real far from upstate NY...You're propane suppliers in that area are probably also getting their fuel from the same refineries I am...

      Here today...right now, for every dollar you spend to heat with electricity, you will spend about [FAQ-ANSWER].90 to heat with propane.

      Stick with the propane. You are still further ahead....

42. QUESTION:
    Question about household hot water being heated by oil?
    Can anyone give me some info about your household hot water being heated by oil?
    I just moved in to an apartment and was ok with the heating source being oil. I've had oil before and didn't need to fiil the tank until October-April. Problem is I didn't know the hot water is heated by oil. Big mistake not checking that out before moving in. It's going to cost a fortune as I figured there was an electric water heater in the basement.

    My question is what's the average amount of gallons will I be using for 2-3 showers a day, about 1 load of laundry per day, and dishwashing.

    So far we just filled the tank and took only ONE shower at night. Did NOT use washing machine or dishwasher, and the heat is off. The next morning the tank dropped 10 gallons.

    My landlord is a liar (another thing I'm finding out) and so I'm not going to ask him what he thinks.

    Could there be a leak? Or are we paying for the other tenants oil? What could be the reason for 10 gallons gone after one quick shower.

    Please help.

    There are 2 separate tanks in basement. 1st fl and 2nd floor. So I don't understand how we are paying for the other person's oil with separate tanks?
    I can't ask my landlord this question because he talks to me like I am stupid, he is a jerk and we just moved there.

    The hot water tank is huge but very old.It's made of cement. The tank is always hot, it never cools down. I had oil before and that was fine. I just want this problem fixed. Can I tell the landlord to pay for a technician to come out and inspect it? I really don't want to move, I made a long distance move and it was exspensive and I love the apartment itself, just not this oil problem.

    • ANSWER:
      10 gallons is way too much for the usage you have indicated. It sounds like there is something wrong here. Could be leakage, could be oil is actually also doing other work you are unaware of, could even be that your tank has been wrongly connected to other apartment or that someone has stolen some of your oil. Check you have locked your oil tank & check all plumbing from your oil tank.
      one question: you took one shower, but how big is your hotwater tank? Did you actually heat 100 gallons of water & keep it hot in a non-insulated/poorly insulated tank for some time?

43. QUESTION:
    Can anyone give me some info about your household hot water being heated by oil?
    I just moved in to an apartment and was ok with the heating source being oil. I've had oil before and didn't need to fiil the tank until October-April. Problem is I didn't know the hot water is heated by oil. Big mistake not checking that out before moving in. It's going to cost a fortune as I figured there was an electric water heater in the basement.

    My question is what's the average amount of gallons will I be using for 2-3 showers a day, about 1 load of laundry per day, and dishwashing.

    So far we just filled the tank and took only ONE shower at night. Did NOT use washing machine or dishwasher, and the heat is off. The next morning the tank dropped 10 gallons.

    My landlord is a liar (another thing I'm finding out) and so I'm not going to ask him what he thinks.

    Could there be a leak? Or are we paying for the other tenants oil? What could be the reason for 10 gallons gone after one quick shower.

    Please help.
    There are 2 separate tanks in basement. 1st fl and 2nd floor. So I don't understand how we are paying for the other person's oil with separate tanks?

    I do want to call a technician but only if it's the landlord's responsibility to pay for the visit? He does not live in the same house.
    There are 2 separate tanks in basement. 1st fl and 2nd floor. So I don't understand how we are paying for the other person's oil with separate tanks?

    I do want to call a technician but only if it's the landlord's responsibility to pay for the visit. He does not live in the same house.

    • ANSWER:
      From what you are saying, it would appear that you are paying for everyone else's showers as well as your own, after one shower, there is no way that you should have used ten gallons of oil. I think you need to bring in a technician to investigate. it might be worth the cost in the long term. You just may find that your landlord's system is feeding off your tank.

44. QUESTION:
    Estimated cost of change a house over to total electric...?
    I live in a house where the only use for the gas is the hot water tank and the furnace. I want to change this over to a tank-less water heater and electric furnace. Tired of paying for a electric and gas bill. Can anyone give me ideal of how this with cost?

    I've price the the tank-less water heater already, but not an electric furnace.
    Almost forgot. I no longer want to have gas. I want a totally electric house.
    I looking for estimate from a person who has had this done. I know it will not be the same price. What I'm looking for is a range. That way when I do start calling contractors I will have a ballpark figure or a round about figure as to where it should start at. If this help the house is split foyer 1900 sqfeet heated space built in 1971 on a slab. Kitchen, dining room/living room, 3 bd rm upstair with two baths and two rooms and 1/2 bath downstairs.The circuit breaker, hot watertank, and furnace are all in the garage. According to the guy who did my inspection my electrical wire is up to date. Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      The Instant ELECTRIC tankless water heater will require you to upgrade your entire electrical service.You may need a 400amp service. The last one I did was a 24kw unit. A 24kw unit pulls 100 amps(this is the size of most house services). Make a long story short, you will spend a small fortune trying to do this. My suggestion: stick with GAS. You can get a gas tankless water heater. You need to consult a plumber for this, you need a bigger gas line coming in.

45. QUESTION:
    Does a landlord have a legal right to limit how much hot water his tenants can use?
    Our building manager informed me today that the property owner complained to him about the cost of fuel. He instructed the manager to start going to the basement to turn off the hot water heater at night and then turn it back on each morning. The manager then referenced a couple who used to live in our building, who at one time washed their clothes by hand (he was implying that by doing so, the owners fuel bill skyrocketed).

    First of all, I doubt that a landlord has the right to do this. Secondly, if a tenant wants to wash his/her laundry by hand, the landlord has no legal right to stop them. Everything is going up, inc. gas, food, electric, etc, etc. This is a small efficiency apartment building with one hot water heater that serves all 12 apartments..

    We are in the State of NY if that helps.

    This place is in bad enough shape as it is and I'm desperate to leave. I'm still looking for another home, possibly even a small house, but it will be awhile before I can get out. There are no leases here, nor did I sign any kind of agreement about what I can and cannot do here. We're not even allowed to have our own air conditioners.

    Again, whatever we're forbidden from doing is by word of mouth, not in writing.

    Thoughts, anyone? This place is a dump, it takes forever to get things fixed and it's literally making me sick because of the overabundance of dust, mold, etc, etc. Help!

    • ANSWER:

46. QUESTION:
    What is the best and most economic water recirculator?
    I've built a new house and the water heater is on one side of the house (gas lines), it takes approximately 3 minutes to get hot water to the other side of the house. I want to put a recirculator on the water lines, but I don't want it to cost me a fortune in electric,any recommendations?

    • ANSWER:
      I can't recommend a brand for you but I can tell you one downside to these things that the manufacturers fail to mention. The way these things work they actually allow warm water into your cold water lines so that your tap water is always a little warm. They also consume more energy because they are constantly causing your hot water heater to heat the water in the lines as well as the water in the tank. They are not worth the money it costs to buy and install them.

47. QUESTION:
    How can I convert from gas heating to electric?
    We use propane for heating, but because of rising gas prices, the heating costs have become outrageous (seriously, we have to borrow money to pay for heating). The home is heated with liquid filled base board heaters. The propane is used to heat a furnace which in turn circulates hot water through the base board heaters.

    Is going to electricity going to be cheaper than gas? How do I determine this? Is it as easy as replacing the furnaces with modern electric furnaces? How much does this cost? We don’t have 220 service - does this matter? Any advice is appreciated.

    • ANSWER:
      call and get a quote from a hvac contractor for a new boiler in both LP and electric and have them do an annual energy consumption (cost) it is a really easy to do calculation that can be accomplished with most new heat load software, or a pencil with a few minutes and known prices for the fuels.
      estimates are free! ask questions and get answers dont feel bad about shopping around with different contractors and getting the best value for your buck---after all you are paying for the bills and thats what the contractor is in business for

48. QUESTION:
    Electric baseboard heaters and 1 year old safety? And, operating costs of plug-in model vs. hardwired?
    There seems to be no easy solution to protecting my son from the electric baseboard heaters in my house. We will have to heat our home very soon (winter is coming), and I am sure, left as is, my 1 year old son will either burn himself, or put something in the baseboard heaters. There are these products:
    http://radiantwraps.com/
    and these:
    http://www.baseboardheatercovers.com/
    but I think the last one is only for hot water heaters.

    These options look expensive and I may have trouble ordering them from the States, as I am in Canada.

    I was thinking about a product similar to these( http://yahoo.shoptoit.ca/shop/product--catId_1000104__locale_en__catCrumbIds_1001199-1000009-1000104__productId_3144570.html ), but people have warned that they might be more expensive to operate. It would be easy to get them out of the way though. Any thoughts? I can't be the only parent with a 1 year old + and electric baseboard heater.

    PS. I'd like to avoid the "they'll only burn themselves once" method. Plus, that would not solve the fact that he would eventually put a toy or something inside to melt on the coils (he's already doing it now while it is off)

    • ANSWER:
      Since you are in Canada ,I don't think you have much choice .With NAFTA in place ordering from the great counrty of The United States of America won't be a problem .Just go UPS.They go all over the world . Keep a close eye on your baby and good luck.

49. QUESTION:
    Rent an old duplex and electric bill is VERY uneven, what can I do?
    I rent one side of an old craftsman style duplex. My side is a one bedroom with heat/air window units. I NEVER turn on one of these units. The other I keep at 72-75 degrees. My windows are terribly insulated, but I can't get the landlord to do much about it. I live by myself, keep lights turned off in rooms I don't use, and use a portable heater instead of window unit when I can.

    The other side of the house is a TWO bedroom, 1.5x the size. Two college boys live there, who constantly have lights on, as well as about 6 musical instruments plugged in and running constantly. They don't use their heat much, but neither do I. The window insulation problem is the same.

    The hot water heater for both sides of the house is on one of my outlets. I believe the washer and dryer is also.

    My electric bill for ONE month is 5. Their electric bill for the exact same billing cycle is !!!

    What could be the HUGE difference in electric costs? Could the house be wired to where I am being billed for their side? Would the hot water heater and washer/dryer add THAT much of a difference? And what can I do to get my landlord to upgrade the insulation, etc? How do I find out if they have some outlets that are being billed on my side of the house?

    Thanks for any help.
    The landlord has been notified of the insulation issues MULTIPLE times. I'm going to go to home depot and just do it myself.

    The electric company will NOT come out to examine the property when you rent. The landlord must request this action, and also has to pay 0 for an energy assessment, which she obviously isn't willing to do.

    • ANSWER:
      You seem to have separate electric bills, which leads me to wonder do you have separate water bills? If so then it would seem that the structure is set up for multifamily occupancy. But then I have to wonder about the Electric bill.
      Obviously you have determined that the bill you are receiving is for YOUR side and not THEIR side, Yes?

      But it could be that the structure is Not set up for multifamily use. If so, then it would be in violation of local building codes. Call the County/City building department and double check.

      If you had separate utilities I would think your bill would be about and theirs would be about 5. 5 + =5. Divide by 3 and you get for you and 6 for them. That sounds more like it.
      In my area the power company Will come out at the request off the person Who's Name is on the bill.
      And they will do a Free Energy assessment. Have You called them or are you relying on information from the Landlord?
      In any case feel free to verify information yourself. And listen to what the Building department has to say.
      Don't concern yourself with any cost the Landlord might have to incur to comply with code. That's not your problem.
      Don't worry about the Landlord evicting you. She might threaten to do so, but she would be foolish to try.
      Here's a little secret, a tenant that "knows their rights" can (under certain circumstances) remain in a unit for up 6 months without paying rent. All quite legal. The reverse is that a Landlord who "knows their rights" can (again under certain circumstances) have someone off of their property in as little as 72 hours. A very good friend of mine is a Landlord and I have seen both extremes as a result.
      Should the need arise, call your local "Legal Aid Society" for free legal aid.
      Good luck.

50. QUESTION:
    Water heater vs. tankless system?
    Our gas water heater is going out and needs to be replaced. Our insurance will cover the water heater and installation, but not the additional costs to bring it up to code, about 0. We can take the cash out and make our own arrangements to get it fixed instead of having it replaced with an equivalent unit. We are thinking about a tankless system.

    I presume we would put it in the water heater closet, and we do want gas, not electric. Most of our plumbing is in the "core" of the house, so none of the hot water lines are more than 20 feet, and only the kitchen sink/dishwasher line is that long. If it matters, our house was built in the early seventies, and the current water heater is about 14 years old.

    If you have replaced yours this way, what do you think? How do the costs of the two systems compare? Is there a difference in your gas bill now? What about maintenance/repair/reliability? Would it still have the same code requirements, or would most of that stuff not apply? Would it still need the new thingamajig to cut off the water if there were a leak? Would it still need a pan installed? (Either way, we're going to have to change out a couple of gas lines.) Are there any brands much better/worse than others? What else do we need to know?

    All words of wisdom appreciated! Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I only know what my plumber told me about these when we were building our house and considering the tankless heaters. He said the gas was the best/fastest/most reliable and that we would would need one for each bathroom that had a shower/bath and one for the kitchen/laundry. We opted for a large electric hot water tank and do not run out of water, and are very happy with it. (I don't mean a huge tank, just one capable of handling our needs). You might want to check to be sure your needs can be met when you want hot water, and not have to stagger what you wish to do to ensure enough hot water.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Is a tankless water heater more efficient and cheaper to operate than a conventional tank water heater?
   I am looking into pruchasing a tankless water heater but do not want to pay more to operate it than the tank i have now. I know my tank runs on 1000 btu's and most tankless heaters run at about 10 thousand. Is it worth it to switch over?

   • ANSWER:
     Your install investment will be high, it will take 4 to 7 years to recoup the investment from operation. If you can afford the tankless system, it is a better option.

     The tankless system is less costly to run, as you are not heating up a 50 gallon tank all the time, only the water you are actually using.

     Tankless heaters are not "instant" heat; if it takes 15 seconds for the water from your current heater to reach your tap, it will take just as long for the new system (unless you install a circulating pump). Once the water is hot at the tap, it will be hot as long as you have gas available.

     The high BTU figure is used, because instead of heating 50 gallons of water all the time and having a tank full of hot water on hand, you are taking 56* street water and heating it to 120* in seconds. Think of it as a blowtorch as compared to a candle. It uses a lot of energy during operation, but when you are not calling for hot water, there is no energy expended.

     If your current tank needs replacement, go with the tankless unit. The salesperson will need to know your usage demands; how many showers/tubs you have, washing machine(s), dishwasher(s), etc. I've seen homes with hot water spigots near the garage so the homeowner can wash the car with warm water.

2. QUESTION:
   Why Tankless water heater is not producing hot water?
   I have an electric titan tankless water heater its 1yr old. last night all of a sudden it quite producing hot water. no fuse appears to have blown and standby light is on but no hot water just ice cold. please help i know nothing about the new tankless heaters.

   • ANSWER:
     I believe those are switched on by a flow-sensor, so either the sensor or the heating element has failed.

     If you are experienced working around electrical devices, can access the connections, and can turn off the power to the device, you should be able to check both the flow sensing switch and the heating element with an ohmmeter or a continuity tester. The switch should close (show a very low resistance - close to zero ohms, or light the test light) when the water is turned on, and the heating element should show a fairly low resistance (few tens of ohms, or light the test light) at all times.

3. QUESTION:
   want to replace my gas fired tank water heater with a tankless water heater?
   I have a 60 gallon natural gas water heater here in houston, TX. It is coming to the end of its natural life- apprx 10 years. The house has 3 showers, 5 sinks (including kitchen), washer and dishwasher. 2 adults live here. I want to know
   1- when it comes time to replace should I use a tankless water heater?
   2- what capacity tankless heater do I need?
   3- when some turns on the hot water faucet and quickly switches it of, does the unit turn on? or is it smart?

   • ANSWER:
     Check out Takagi. 199,000BTU should work fine. They have an electric ignitor to light the pilot. Most use a circulating pump so they have hot water on demand.

4. QUESTION:
   What part on the tankless hot water heater is most likely to fail?
   Our ph is 7.8 -8.0 and a very high carbonate hardness. Have to replace heating elements often. Am unable to use a water softener to ease the situation. How does hard water affect the tankless heater?

   • ANSWER:
     Could be a scale build up inside the actual exchanger.

5. QUESTION:
   Rinnai tankless water heater total cost of ownership - Level of maintenance required?
   I just had an installer do a site survey of my home to get a quote for installation of a Rinnai tankless natural gas water heater. They said that Rinnai requires more maintenance than a tank water heater and can have small filters get blocked. They suggested I subscribe to a routine maintenance program. Has anyone have any experience with blockages of a Rinnai, and if so how frequently?

   • ANSWER:
     I am not a fan of tankless water heaters. It could be that the flow rate could exceed the heating capacity of the device if several uses of hot water were active at the same time. Calculation, using the rated BTU input of the heater, will show how much water can be drawn before the flow rate exceeds the heater's capacity.

6. QUESTION:
   which tankless water heater is the best?
   which tankless water heater is the best?
   Any comments/suggestion about following brands? I am planning to buy one of them.
   Also, Out door or indoor is better? I live in AL.
   Rheem: RTG-74DVN
   Noritz : N-0751M-DVC
   Noritz: N-0751M-DV
   Rinnai: R75LSiN
   Paloma: PH-28R DVSN
   I have a AquaStar 125, it keeps break down and I am tired of it. So I will switch to a none Bosch one.

   • ANSWER:
     I have been researching them. From postings avoid Bosch. People r having support problems. Tho they were 1 of best at 1 time.

     Since u live in warmer climate out side would be fine.

7. QUESTION:
   Will a tankless water heater work for me?
   I just moved into a condo a few months back and was excited to have a bathtub again. The only problem is that the water heater that we have only fills the tub up with an inch or two of hot water so baths are pretty much out of the question. The spot where the current water heater is is rather tiny, it's in the kitchen in the corner under the countertop. I was wondering if a tankless water heater would be a wise investment? And by wise I really only care if I can get a decent hot bath out of it. Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     Tankless water heaters
     They're efficient but not necessarily economical

     Heating water accounts for up to 30 percent of the average home's energy budget. Some makers of gas-fired tankless water heaters claim their products can cut your energy costs up to half over regular storage heaters. So is it time to switch?

     Probably not. Gas tankless water heaters, which use high-powered burners to quickly heat water as it runs through a heat exchanger, were 22 percent more energy efficient on average than the gas-fired storage-tank models in our tests. That translates into a savings of around to per year, based on 2008 national energy costs. But because they cost much more than storage water heaters, it can take up to 22 years to break even—longer than the 20-year life of many models. Moreover, our online poll of 1,200 readers revealed wide variations in installation costs, energy savings, and satisfaction.

     With the help of an outside lab, we pitted Takagi and Noritz gas-fired tankless water heaters against three storage water heaters. We didn't test electric tankless heaters because many can't deliver hot water fast enough to replace a conventional water heater if ground­water is cold. Even in areas with warm groundwater, most homeowners would need to upgrade their electrical service to power a whole-house tankless model.

     Our tests simulated daily use of 76 to 78 gallons of hot water. That's the equivalent of taking three showers, washing one laun­dry load, running the dishwasher once (six cycles), and turning on the faucet nine times, for a total of 19 draws. While that's considered heavy use compared with the standard Department of Energy test, we think it more accurately represents an average family's habits. We also ran more than 45,000 gallons of very hard water through a tanked model and a Rinnai tankless model to simulate about 11 years of regular use.

     Here's what else we found:

     Water runs hot and cold
     Manufacturers of tankless water heaters are fond of touting their products' ability to provide an endless amount of hot water. But inconsistent water temperatures were a common complaint among our poll respondents. When you turn on the faucet, tankless models feed in some cold water to gauge how big a temperature rise is needed. If there's cool water lingering in your pipes, you'll receive a momentary "cold-water sandwich" between the old and new hot water. And a tankless water heater's burner might not ignite when you try to get just a trickle of hot water for, say, shaving.

     Nor do tankless water heaters deliver hot water instantaneously. It takes time to heat the water to the target temperature, and just like storage water heaters, any cold water in the pipes needs to be pushed out. And tankless models' electric controls mean you'll also lose hot water during a power outage.

     Up-front costs are high
     The tankless water heaters we tested cost 0 to ,150, compared with 0 to 0 for the regular storage-tank types. Tankless models need electrical outlets for their fan and electronics, upgraded gas pipes, and a new ventilation system. That can bring average installation costs to ,200, compared with 0 for storage-tank models.

     Tankless units might need more care
     During our long-term testing, an indicator on the tankless model warned of scale buildup. We paid 4 for special valves and a plumber to flush out the water heater with vinegar. Many industry pros recommend that tankless models be serviced once a year by a qualified technician. Calcium buildup can decrease efficiency, restrict water flow, and damage tankless models. Experts suggest installing a water softener if your water hardness is above 11 grains per gallon. Ignoring this advice can shorten your warranty.

     Efficient storage models are pricey
     We also tested the ,400 Vertex, a high-efficiency storage water heater by A.O. Smith. The manufacturer claims its installation costs are similar to a regular storage model. But its high cost offsets much of the roughly per year the Vertex will save you. Instead, we recommend buying a conventional storage water heater with a 9- or 12-year warranty. In previous tests, we found that those models generally had thicker insulation, bigger burners or larger heating elements, and better corrosion-fighting metal rods called anodes.

8. QUESTION:
   tankless water heater won't mix hot and cold water without giving all of one or the other?
   If I turn on the hot water in my tankless water heater, it only puts out hot water. That's good because that's what it's supposed to do. However when I turn on the cold water faucet, the hot water goes off and I only get cold water. I can't understand how turning on the cold water can affect the hot water my tankless hot water heater (gas) is producing. Any info would be great!
   How can I fix it?

   • ANSWER:
     The tank less heaters I've install had a small filter on the supply side. This restriction would cause this. When the cold is turned on the pressure is reduce to the heater restricting the flow and shutting it down. Regards, Dale

9. QUESTION:
   can a solar water heater be hooked with a tankless water system?
   i am thinking about saving cost and energy. want to get a tankless water heater. i would like to have a solar water heater too, but heard that u need a stoage tank for the solar heater. not sure if i can combine the two. anyone got an answer for me?

   • ANSWER:
     you could have a 2 panel 80 gallon tank solar thermal system backed up by a tankless. but if you have a tankless, you dont need anything else, it wont work with solar panels, you must have a storage tank. if you have the money, do it. (roughly ,000) installed with a heating element in your air handler to pre heat your air in the winter. payback around 5 years pending tax credits. if thats to complicated, just do tankless, they are awesome. do both if you have the dough. your neighbors will be jealous.

10. QUESTION:
    Is a tankless water heater good for VERY cold weather?
    I'm from Canada EH! And up here we commonly get sub-zero weather in the winter - it can sometimes gets as cold as -30 oF. I heard stories that a tankless water heater was ok in the summer, but in the winter when the temp is really cold, the hot water is that much colder - i.e. warm instead of piping hot - anyone with experience on this?

    • ANSWER:
      I have heard that they will flow slower when they have to bring the water up more meaning that it takes longer to heat the water to the specified temp.. Some units will only heat the water within a specific range say 55 degrees. What I mean is that if your water is at 60 degrees it will bring it up to 115 but if your water is at 35 it will only bring it up to 90. They make larger, more powerful units for cold climates that should work. Remember that water freezes solid below 30 so the water entering your system will be no colder than that. Look for a system rated for cold climates with the maximum temperature gain.

11. QUESTION:
    why should I consider getting a tankless hot water heater?
    Our old water heater is about to go out and I've heard that tankless water heaters can save me money. Are there any other reasons I should make the switch?

    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Endless hot water is the biggest selling point among our cliental. They also allow you to regain some space, in your home. They last 2-3 longer than a tank type heater, when properly maintained. An average savings of 40% on gas usage. The key is to invest in a quality unit like Ranii or Norwitz. Return rate on the "toys" they sell in box store is over 50% because of the fact they are too small to deliver a satifactory amount of hot water. Our company installs 5-7 of these units per week, they are becoming extremely popular.

12. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost to install a tankless water heater?
    Thinking of changing our water heater from conventional one to a tankless unit. We are in California. What should we expect to pay for installation of a tankless water heater?

    • ANSWER:
      If your system was piped for a regular water heater, just changing it out for a tankless will not work. A gas fired regular water heater uses about 35,000---40,000 BTU's, compared to about 450,000 BTU's for the tankless. With that in mind, you will need a larger gas supply. Also, the flue pipe has to be replaced with a triple wall stainless steel flue pipe, and that could easily cost more than the new unit. If the water lines are plastic, then you have to replace them with copper or steel, since it clearly states in the manufacturers specs, that no plastic pipe is allowed on a tankless system. Last, the size of your water pipes needs to be checked, as too large of an incoming supply, and the water will pass over the heat exchanger too quickly to get hot. The cost could be anywhere from 00---00, so I would get a professional plumber that is knowledgeable in tankless heater installations, and let them evaluate your system. You could buy a new water heater every year for 10 years, and still it would be cheaper in the long run. Good luck!

13. QUESTION:
    Can i use a standard home tankless water heater to heat my pool?
    I was wondering if I could use my home electric tankless water heater to heat the pool as well as my home? If not could I run one just for the pool?

    • ANSWER:
      Instead of using a system that's going to cost a lot to install and drive up your utility bills you should look into a solar pool heating system. The panels go on the roof to collect heat from the sun just like solar panels for electricity but it heats the water and pumps it back to the pool. I believe you can also add a heater to these systems for days without sun. This would save money in the long run.
      Good luck
      Chris

14. QUESTION:
    Can anyone recommend a tankless water heater that does not require electricity? We use propane too.?
    Our 17 year old water heater broke. We really want to get a tankless now to replace it. We can't easily run power out to where our water heater is now so we need a new one that does not need power. The Tankless needs to run on propane and be able to be outside in a small shed on the back of our house. We only need one to run 1 shower at a time since we are a small family. Any suggestions? Do you use one and are they are they worth the money?

    • ANSWER:
      Home depot has one but they are really expensive.

15. QUESTION:
    Is a tankless water heater worth the cost and time to put in?
    Heres my main question. I'm looking at installing a tankless water heater and was wondering if anyione who had a 35 gallon electric water heater prior could give me an estimate on how much money they saved on there electric bill once they switched , If any?

    • ANSWER:
      You will start saving money right away.
      Especially if you're replacing an electric water heater.
      They use a lot of power.
      Think about it;
      instead of keeping 30-40 gallons of water hot constantly,
      day and night,
      you're only going to heat what you will be using...
      no more.
      You didn't mention if you replacing it with a gas or electric on-demand heater?
      Gas is generally cheaper.
      BUT,
      I've heard good and bad things from people who've converted.
      Firstly, they're not cheap.
      To buy or install.
      You've got to beef up the exhaust venting,
      and power lines (if installing an electric unit)
      and breakers.
      Next,
      you'll only get so much hot water at a time,
      meaning; if you plan on washing your dishes while someone takes a shower,
      forget it.
      And you'll probably have to reduce the volume of water going to the shower.
      Unless you get a bigger unit,
      you'll end up installing either a low-flow shower head,
      or some kind of flow reducer on the shower head.
      Some of them even come with their own shower heads that you have to use with their units.

      Weigh the pros and cons for yourself.
      Research it on line.

      All the best with whichever you decide.

16. QUESTION:
    Will a tankless water heater work for my family?
    I have a large family 4 of us there full time and 2 stepkids w/ friends over every weekend and I have read that the more people you have in your home the less one of these tankless water heaters will work for you. Is there a special size I should look into getting or stay with a standard tank water heater? Also does anyone know how much money it will save me our house is 100% electric.

    • ANSWER:
      do not get an electric tankless you will have to run a couple more circuts for an electric they dont work worth a crap gas do but electric noput them in and had to take it right back out

17. QUESTION:
    Do I have a tankless water heater?
    I inherited this house when my Father passed. When I started poking around I noticed I could not find the water heater. Anywhere! Now, there is a large unit of some kind in the attic. It looks to be fairly new. It's not the central units, they are both outside. While watching a home remodeling show on TV I noticed this unit being installed, a tankless water heater. It looks almost exactly like what's in my attic. I didn't go as far as climbing around in the attic to see if it had any labels on it, the attic is very small and it's pretty hard to get to. But since I seem to have no blessed water heater, is it a good bet I have a tankless in my attic?
    I have central heat and air.

    • ANSWER:
      It is interesting that it would be in the attic but if it has pipes coming out on both sides and has shutoff valves with them, you are pretty accurate that this would be your water heater even though the best place for it is near your furnace to keep the heater at a constant temperature. If your attic is not heated you might want to consider having it moved. These "On-demand" water heaters are great but they do not take to the temperature changes very well

18. QUESTION:
    how can i tell if i have enough gas for a tankless water heater?
    i have 3/4 inch piping about 40 feet from meter. also on gas are furnace and dryer. neither of which are used that often. Currently i have a 50 gallon tank water heater but want to go to tankless because it does not give me enough hot water for my japanese soaking tub.

    • ANSWER:
      aslo the tankless hot water has to be on a eprate breaker cause it is a 220 and has to be install by a pro plumber

19. QUESTION:
    Why does a tankless water heater need a stainless steel vent?
    From what I understand a Rinnai tankless water heater needs a stainless steel vent. Why can it not use the vent from my old water heater?

    • ANSWER:
      There is no reason for a stainless steel vent as the vent will be doing the same job it always has.

20. QUESTION:
    What is the maximum flue length for a tankless water heater?
    We're buying a new house and the existing hot water heater is working well, but 20 years old!
    It is about 15 feet away from the nearest outside wall.
    Can I install a tankless in the same spot, or do I need to be closer to the outside wall?

    • ANSWER:
      In checking the Rinnai heater guidelines the total equivalency cannot exceed 41 feet. This is not straight run of the pipe but includes all the elbows and the termination. 45 degree elbows = 3 feet and 90 degree elbows = 6 feet. Termination = 3 feet. These are special pipes that are both exhaust and intake. Find the local dealer for your water heater and have him go over the installation specifications and then decide what kind of water heater you want.

21. QUESTION:
    Can you use a tankless water heater to heat a house?
    I'm thinking of switching to a tankless water heater to do away with my oil burner. I am wondering if I can use a seperate tankless to heat my house.

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like you may be talking about hydronic heat.

      http://www.rinnai.us/hydronic-air-handlers/

      I know if you use a normal tankless with a circulator pump, which I think you'd need to do, it voids the warranty on some of the parts (like heat exchanger).

22. QUESTION:
    Can anyone tell me about the Titan Tankless Water Heater?
    I want to switch my old tank water heater to a new tankless unit. I have read they save money on your hot water bill and provide hot water that never ends (a girls dream). Everywhere I look on the Internet I see the Titan Tankless Water Heater with glowing reviews. Can anyone tell me about it, tankless in general, gas or electric?

    • ANSWER:
      I have a tankless water heater in my home that I bought from http://www.titantankless.com and it is the best thing ever. It provides endless hot water so you can shower all day if you want and it never runs out. My electric bill went down about 35 dollars a month also as it only turns on when you activate hot water. A tank model turns off and on all day even if you don't use it. The water is also safer as a tank can develop rust, germs and sediment in the storage tank. So you will find your hair and skin improves! Although gas can provide hotter water it is very unsafe. Rheem and other tank companies just recalled like 50,000 gas tankless units for carbon monoxide poisoning in homes. Its like car exhaust entering your house!! here is the recall link for gas units: http://www.tankless-recall.com/. Gas is also super expensive now...outta control!!
      I have electric and it works great and is much safer. It was easy to install! I can fill my tub all the way and never worry about hot water running out. I can have 10 guests over and not worry about the hot water running out!!!
      I did a lot of research and the largest selling unit and one that I use is the Titan Tankless N-120 Water Heater. They invented it and have been in business 20 years.
      All of the information on the unit and helpful things to help you decide are on their site at http://www.titantankless.com
      Please be careful about gas models as they are DANGEROUS!
      I would stick with electric.

23. QUESTION:
    How much could I save yearly by switching to a tankless gas water heater?
    I have heard that tankless water heaters are more effecient, therefore cheaper on utility costs. How much would I save in a year on my gas bill? 50%? 30% 75%? Would it be worth switching? My water heater is only about two years old.

    • ANSWER:
      First you need to figure out what size of tankless water heater, because they need to be right capacity for your home, They have gotten cheaper over the last few years, as they are becoming more common, and the cost of the unit and installation will help you determine if it is worth it to you

24. QUESTION:
    How loud is a Noritz tankless water heater?
    My plumber has warned me that the motor on the Noritz tankless water heater makes a noise when it's running. Can anyone compare the volume to a common household item? Is it similar to the fan on a computer? An electric can opener? I'm not super-sensitive to noise, but I don't want it to sound like we're drilling for oil every time someone washes their hands.

    Thanks in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      I don't think that a Nortiz TWH has a motor in it.

      They aren't all that loud, perhaps slightly louder than a regular water heater - they have a larger burner.

      Call Noritz & ask them (866-766-7489). I would guess that whatever they tell you will be on the low side, but not too far off.

25. QUESTION:
    what size / gpm tankless water heater would work for running a washer?
    The washer is in the detached garage that is too far from the house to use the hot waterheater there.

    For washing whites I would like to add a hot water heater, tankless makes the most sense since its only once a week. Not sure how much GPM a washing machine requires. Its a maytag neptune front loader with digital screen.

    • ANSWER:
      200 to 450.

26. QUESTION:
    How much did it cost you to convert to a tankless water heater?
    I know prices will vary by region, model installed and associated labor costs- but I want to know how much YOU paid in total to convert to a tankless water heater.... Was it worth it? Did you get the full tax credit? Thank you!

    • ANSWER:
      There are too many variables in your question.

      For example within the last year I replaced my water heater I was set on getting a tankless prices vary as to how many people are in the household (meaning how much water will you need at once) I have 4 and did not want to skimp so I look at models that allowed multiple uses at once. Had the model picked out, (which did get the allowable tax credit as almost all tankless models do) and the contractor came out to look at doing the job at first said it would be easy citing around 0 in addition to the 00 product cost but then realized that the area he planned on using for ventilation (tankless water heaters require additional ventilation) was blocked by the slab of concrete that is my front patio he increased his price by 0 dollars.

      So price depends on:
      1.How many people are being serviced
      2. Exactly how your house is setup (is the existing water heater near an exterior wall for easy venting)
      3. And how you use your water (Do you want to be able to use multiple hot water sources at once)

      By the way, I then checked into solar and found it to be against codes for my backwater area so I then went with a 0 highest efficiency water heater I could find (that did have a tank and at least 40 gallon cap.). I have crunched the numbers since and the water heater I bought will save me quite a bit over the inexpensive one I could have got but had I not got frustrated and worried over the initial cost, over the guaranteed lifetime of the product the tankless heater would still have saved me the most money.

      Sorry I couldn't give you the answers you wanted but without knowing how the house is setup and how you use hot water you can't say, as for the tax credit that is based off how efficient the heater is rated I have not seen a tankless model yet that was not efficient enough to get the credit.

27. QUESTION:
    Traditional water heater or tankless water heater?
    I have to get a new water heater soon. I saw that their are new tankless water heater, but they seem that they would cost more to run because they are electrical, where a traditional water heater runs on gas.

    • ANSWER:
      I was actually in this same situation. I was pondering the tankless myself until I received my first estimate 00 plus a hard wired carbon monoxide detector install by a certified electrician. I pondered the energy savings versus the initial investment. My plumber actually talked me out of it because of two reasons. The tankless came with only a 5 year warranty. The traditional comes with a 12 year warranty. Second, it takes many years to make up for the initial investment of the tankless. I paid 00 installed for the 40 gallon propane. I relate this to a Hybrid vehicle with the engine costing upwards of 00 more than the traditional gas engine. Cars only last so long and so do water heaters, so you may never see the dramatic savings that you are supposed to, if the unit fails after only 6 or 8 years. Don't get me wrong, the tankless systems are extremely efficient, but why only a 5 year warranty? Seems sketchy to me. My plumber told me this...he said if you were building a new house, I would tell you definitely! Since you have to retro-fit the system into your old house and use a power-vent out of the side of your house, plus don't know how long you will be in this house, go with a traditional 40 or 50 high efficiency tank.

28. QUESTION:
    does anyone live in the east tennessee area and own a tankless water heater?
    my husband and i are shopping around for a new water heater. many people say the tankless is the way to go, but the dude at lowe's said that it wouldn't work as well because of ground water temperature. is there anyone in this area that has one? and is water temperature a really big issue?

    • ANSWER:
      Ground water temperature is not a problem. Hard water is. The small tubing that tankless heaters have are prone to fast clogging. From what I have read, Rinnai is a good one. Tankless units are not cheap and many Plumbers will install them but not do service work on them.

29. QUESTION:
    do they make an electric tankless water heater with a propane backup?
    I am a home improvement contractor and I was told be a customer that there is an electric tankless water heater with a propane back up. I have never heard of such, nor can I find one online. If you know of one would you please paste a link for me.

    • ANSWER:
      Someone has been into the "Special" Eggnog early or eating the mistletoe. I have never seen or heard of such a heater. It sounds like the owner has been listening to the local "know it all" in the neighborhood. Sorry to see that you get some of the same nuts I do. Some of my customers want me to provide the moon and do it for virtually free. Think I will go and have some special eggnog and roll the mistletoe. Merry Christmas. I have call on Christmas Eve.

30. QUESTION:
    Is a tankless water heater worth it?
    I have an old water heater in my house, its about 23 years old believe it or not.

    It works fine, but my wife and I are having a baby and I want to replace it with a tankless water heater so when we have more children our tank won't run out of hot water.

    I was quoted about 00-00.

    Is it worth it? I don't know if I should replace it with a regular tank water heater or what!

    • ANSWER:
      Worth it yes yes yes. We had a Renai installed. It cost about 00 (installed) . But we saved a lot on natural gas. Cut our water heating portion by about 80% I figure.

      We never run out of hot water plus there have been times where I have run the dishwasher, washing machine and shower at the same time and have not had any problem maintaining hot water. Another plus is you don't have this bulky hot water heater using up space in your house and you are not getting 23 years worth of sludge from the tank. You also have the option of putting water temp controls in the bathrooms. So in the kids bathrooms you can set it so that they cannot scald themselves.
      You have to watch out for hard water though it can hurt the system.

      There are some new models on the market that are cheaper but I have heard some not so good things on them as far as reliability and performance.

      If you plan to stay in the house for a while you will definitely get your investment back.

31. QUESTION:
    Can tankless water heater be installed in crawl space?
    Currently our hot water heater is located in the crawl space beneath our house. We'd like to replace it with a tankless system but are not sure where to install the unit. It would be easiest as far as plumbing and electrical to put it where the traditional hot water heater is, but is it a real option? We live in central North Carolina where temperatures are rarely less than 30 degrees during the winter months.

    • ANSWER:
      As long as you have access to it, it should be fine. Some places would require it to be on a GFCI circuit, if it is below grade level. Make sure it is protected from freezing temperatures, as the tankless heater will not be full of hot water to keep it from freezing. Most tankless heaters use a lot more current when operating, so the electrical wire supplying the existing heater will probably not work, and need to be replaced.

32. QUESTION:
    How many GPM should I get my tankless water heater?
    I am looking to purchase a 120v electric tankless water heater specifically to be used for my kitchen sink and dishwasher. I am looking at sizes and am unsure of the size I need. I also see min flow GPM and max flow GPM. What does this mean and what size GPM will I need? Also, any recommendations on brands and places to purchase the heater? THANKS!!!!

    • ANSWER:
      It goes by the amount of bedrooms and people in your house , you need at least 40 pounds of pressure and nat gas , the electric one is very expensive.

33. QUESTION:
    Is a tankless water heater worth the investment?
    I was looking into purchasing a tankless hot water heater, in your experience has it been worth the price of changing over?

    • ANSWER:
      I HAVE A TANK LESS AND LOVE IT

      I have a gas Bosch Tank less hot water heater and I have it for 2 yrs and love it… endless hot water…. I ordered this from Lowe’s (special order) and did get an extended warranty… never have used it…. Now even though it is gas it does have a plug in for electricity…. But I have saved like you would not believe….MANY HAVE SAID IF YOU USE LOTS OF HOT WATER… YOU WILL RUN OUT OF HOT WATER…. SO WRONG…. I have let the water run for over 45 min just to see what would happen... still had hot water….
      AND THE BEST PART TAKES UP SO LITTLE SPACE…. Especially living in the east where we have to keep are hot water tanks in the house… on the wall… out of the way
      Yes you need to make sure you get someone that knows what they are doing to install this…At the time the tank was 698.00 with a 10% coupon off… and then when it arrive it had a small minor dent on the front…and did get another 100.00 back from Lowe’s due to this…then to install this .. it took a 5 hrs…because of the pipes required….venting etc… so added on it was an additional 375.00 to get this installed plus the parts…

      YOU asked
      has it been worth the price of changing over

      YES YES and YES if I had to do over would I Yes

      Just remember if you find one at Lowe's you like and some one else has it cheaper Lowe's will match the price plus take 10 % off from that but remember brand to brand model to model

      Good Luck

34. QUESTION:
    Why does the temperature fluctuate when I take a shower, with a tankless water heater?
    We have a navien propane tankless water heater. While taking a shower the water will get cool to cold every 4-5 minutes. We had it installed about 2 1/2 years ago. It used to get really hot the same way it now gets cold. I can't find anything online about why it could be doing this.

    • ANSWER:
      You should already have a "Triple Aquastat" which will gives priority to the domestic hot water zone, but make sure. There is a differential in the controls which dictate when the burners come on and when they shut down. You will see a high limit, a low limit, and a operating limit. For example, the operating limit might be 180 degrees and the low limit 140. The burners come on when the water inside the boiler reaches 140 degrees and runs until it gets to 180. Even though the domestic hot water setpoint is less than 140 degrees (at least I HOPE it is...), the ability for the tankless coil to generate hot water becomes diminished the lower the boiler temperature goes. This is referred to as "recovery rate", and it varies with boiler temperature. You might be able to get the high and low limits closer together, but it will result in higher fuel costs. There is also a possibility that you have a mixing valve and it is failing. A decent heating tech will be able to identify and fix the problem in a single visit. Unfortunately, this is not a job for the layman. Good luck

35. QUESTION:
    does anyone out have a tankless water heater and how do you like it?
    im in the market for a new heater. i have elctric now, but originally it was run by solar. now the solar ran out and it runs on electri(this is what my brother told me) so i need a new one. i can get permits to have gas put in( run a line to the house) but its a pain in the neck to go through all that. so what do you think of the tankless water heaters? do you save money?

    • ANSWER:
      I have a Bosch exterior mount model on city water and it works great. Not only did I gain the space of my water heater closet in my house (can never have enough storage) but I see the savings in my gas bill. Depending on the size of house you have and number of people living there you may need two. They require 3/4" gas line too and my plumber said that if you have hard water you would want to run a inline filter before the unit.

36. QUESTION:
    Electric Storage water heater to Gas Tankless water heater?
    With all the rebate incentives, I'm thinking about going from a 50 gallon Electric storage water heater (made in 2002) to a natural gas tankless water heater. How much will I expect to save a year? It's just two of us in the household, but we're planning on expanding the family. Our current electric bill is about per month. After all the rebates, the price to upgrade would be about 0 including installation. Is it worth the investment?

    • ANSWER:
      The savings are hard to gauge without knowing how much hot water you intend to use and how much of your present bill goes for making hot water now.

      All other things being equal and based on average costs for natural gas and electricity in the United States, it is typically four (4) times more expensive to make hot water with electricity than with gas.

      So, if of that belongs to hot water, your payback will be 900/(15 x 0.75) or 80 months (6 years, 8 months). Given that your present water heater is 8 years old, you can expect it to be near the end of its typical service life (about 10 years). So a good part of that 0 (figure about 0 to pay someone else) would be required to replace (shortly) it in kind - in reality the payback is much faster based on lifetime cost.

      Now, some things to understand about tankless units:

      a) They require some level of flow to operate. This is adjustable but only within a narrow range. So, if you usually rinse dishes with a trickle of water, this won't work anymore. So there will be some adjustment in your life-style.
      b) When properly adjusted they will provide a continuous amount of hot water without variation. So if you are given to very long showers, this will be nirvana for you.
      c) The savings are in the fact that there is no continuous maintenance of the tank temperature - you are making water only when you need it.
      d) A modern unit made by a reputable firm will have an expected service life far beyond the typical tank-type.

      Because you have electric hot water already, the fact that most (but not all) of these units require electricity to operate is less of a concern. But you might also look into the self-powered systems that do not require electricity - Bosch, for one makes such a unit. This will allow you to have hot water even if there is a power-failure assuming you are on city water, not a pump.

      We have been on a Bosch Aquastar for nearly 15 years now at our summer house - it has performed flawlessly. There are several other equally reputable companies.

37. QUESTION:
    What is a tankless water heater?
    We have always had a storage water heater but it needs to be replaced and we have heard more about a tankless water heater? Does anyone have one and can comment or know the benefits of tankless vs storage?

    • ANSWER:
      We live in the Seattle area and just decided to replace our heater with a tankless. Here's a good reference for some facts about tankless heaters:

      We have been pleased with ours thus far-good luck!

38. QUESTION:
    What is reasonable cost to install new gas tankless water heater (July 2012)?
    I've gotten two estimates for installing an external tankless gas water heater, in a different location than my current tank water heater. Both are between 00-4500, which seems really high. I've talked with others who did this last year for about half that cost. And I can find the different parts online for less. Am I being gouged?

    • ANSWER:
      Prices will vary depending on the amount of gas line and water piping...
      Those prices sound typical for here in Northern Va.

39. QUESTION:
    Does anyone have a tankless hot water heater?
    I'm ready for a new water heater and I'm considering a tankless water heater.How expensive are they and do you think they are worth it. I'm considering because I just finished my basement and Don't want water damage down there because of a broken tank plus I would like to free up some space.

    • ANSWER:
      I checked into one a few years ago when I built my house and they were about 0 installed. The only problem with them is that while they are an endless supply of hot water, they will run "cool" if you try to run too much water through it too fast. In other words, you really can't turn the water on full force in several areas at once. But, that is really only an issue if you are trying to run two showers and fill the washer at the same time, which I don't think you are doing.

      I eventually decided against it as I wanted to do upgrades in other areas of the house at the time and figured I'd upgrade the water heater when it kicked the bucket. I also read some horror stories about them exploding, but a regular hot water heater can explode, too. So, I wouldn't be too concerned with that.

      Worth it? Yes, especially when you consider what you save by not reheating the same water over and over and over again.

40. QUESTION:
    Pros and cons of a tankless water heater?
    I am considering putting in a tankless water heater, probably gas. Researching now the pros and cons of anyone who has one. How long to recoup the cost over a tank water heater?

    • ANSWER:
      I have installed the tankless (gas) in my last two houses and have had one for at least 20 years. They have greatly improved and are used in most European countries. The advantages are that they take up a whole lot less room, are extremely economical, only use gas when you turn on the faucet and NEVER run out of hot water EVER (great if you have a very large bathtub). The disadvantage is the initial cost. I would not let that deter you as the extra cost wil be recouped in less than 1 year by your savings of not reheating water over and over that is not being used (tank). I will never have a tank again, in fact I pulled a five year old tank out of my present house when I bought it that was perfectly fine and replaced it with a tankless. I would make sure that you buy the largest BTU output available especially if the hot water will be used by two or more sources at the same time, ie shower, dishwasher, washing machine, etc. If your area is prone to power outages try to get one with a standing pilot or a non-electric pilot ignitor so that you can get a shower during the power outage.

41. QUESTION:
    Rinnai tankless hot water heater?
    I recently moved into a home with a tankless water heater. When my husband or I take a shower, the water goes from boiling hot to freezing cold and back again several times without touching the tap handle. Does anyone know what the problem is or how to fix it? It is a relatively new system (3 years) and was recently inspected. The temp is set on 125 degrees F.

    • ANSWER:
      There is a problem with the temp/flow switch. It is best to call a professional. Describe the problem, and give them all the numbers (model and serial) before they come out. That way the tech should have the correct parts when he comes out.

42. QUESTION:
    Can I replace my boiler with a tankless water heater?
    We have a 3-unit multifamily home with radiator heat (about 2400 finished square feet on 3 levels) in the DC area. I was shocked at my 0 heating bill for November, but was absolutely blown away at my 0 bill for December. Can I replace my boiler (it's at least 20 years old) with a tankless water heater to save money and energy?

    • ANSWER:
      There are domestic water heaters that are also rated for heating purposes - Takagi (linked below) is one maker in this business. They run at about 84% efficiency, modulate to a degree and would work for low-demand applications. In your specific case, you would likely have to install three such systems on separate zones as one will not do the job and they do not like being ganged up as is possible with standard systems. They are also not cheap (except as relative to a heating boiler).

      You will be better served to install a high-efficiency modulating boiler of the proper capacity to heat your property. Using our house as an example, it is a bit over 4,200 square feet, was built in 1890, has 32 radiators on three floors with ceilings over 9 feet. Our December energy bill (gas and electricity) was 2 (southeastern PA, gas at .17/therm) and we keep a comfortable house. We installed a Weil-Mclain Ulta boiler (linked below) that also makes our domestic hot water.

      And, if you use a modulating boiler, there is no operating penalty for being over-sized - which you can do at a very small incremental cost for peace-of-mind.

43. QUESTION:
    what size tankless water heater would I need for a 10 unit apartment complex?
    I hear these new tankless water heaters are much more efficient and affordable. But is there one large enough to supply hot water to 10 apartments? Which one?

    • ANSWER:
      The whole purpose of tankless water heaters is to right size them. Ideally, it would be a small tankless heater per faucet but it's often one per bathroom, one for the kitchen and one for the laundry hookups. It would defeat the efficiency to get a single tankless water heater for a 10 unit apartment complex but it may be conceivable to have one per apartment.

      Consider a solar thermal water heater if you do want a single unit for the entire complex, perhaps with a gas powered tankless water heater per apartment. The vacuum tube solar collectors can get the water to temperatures above boiling even on a cloudy day. With vacuum tube collectors, the water would get hot enough to run lithium bromide absorption chillers to provide for air conditioning and ten units would be just right for the smallest such unit (absorption chillers are typically large capacity for large campuses requiring hundreds of tons of cooling but 30 ton units are available)

      The flats in Asian countries typically had one gas tankless water heater per apartment mounted out on the balcony which often doubled as an extension to the kitchen, you could often see the flare of the flames in the apartments across the street. I've noticed that the older apartment flats in Brazil had a similar gas powered tankless water heater in the bathroom tied into a central flue shared by many apartments (the flue shared not the tankless water heater), the ones that I saw were in disrepair, replaced with regular water heater tanks but it must've been quite disconcerting to have that flame flare up within the bathroom itself (those older tankless water heater had a window cutout so you could see the flame). Of course, the ones marketed in the states are much more subtle and inconspicuous and are often a sealed gray box rather than something that looked like a flame throwing jetpack for the Autobots.

44. QUESTION:
    My bosch tankless water heater stopped working?
    I installed a Bosch tankless water heater about 5 years ago and it has worked fine until this morning. The breaker wasnt tripped, the water flow is the same, but the little red light indicator on the bottom right isnt coming on and i cant get any warm water.

    It is an electric model, not gas.

    Anything I can check inside the unit or should I just assume I'm going to need another one?

    • ANSWER:
      Put an ammeter on it and see if it's drawing any power when you have a hot water tap on.

      If not, the heating element is dead. Need a new one. Double check: test heating element for resistance. If ohms = infinity, you have an open circuit; element is broken.

      You do remember to do the regular maintenance on those things, right? Those instant heaters demand regular deliming, they're really susceptible to it.

45. QUESTION:
    Tankless Water Heater - Problem with hot water?
    Hi, We are renting an apartment in Spain and we have a tankless (brand name is Neckar) water heater which is powered by butane gas. Every time we have a shower, we get only about 2 or 3 minutes of hot water and then the water turns cold. We go back to the heater and find out we have to relight the pilot light. Needless to say this is getting very frustrating. Our landlord is travelling and unable to help us. Any ideas? Are we doing something wrong?

    • ANSWER:
      Try using a wire brush and a vacuum cleaner to clean the area around the pilot light. It seems like the jet is being restricted by debris. Natural gas is typically under very low pressure, so the pilot light could be easily blocked by some kind of buildup.

46. QUESTION:
    Anyone using a tankless water heater? Any good? How about price compared to utility savings?
    tankless water heaters: worth the extra cost? how long will they last compared to traditional tank water heaters? any problems?

    • ANSWER:
      We installed a tankless heater this summer to replace a gas hog (so we thought) tank. It does take a longer time to get hot water to the master bath which is at the total opposite end of the house from the tank (lots of water going into our septic system). Our gas consumption has actually increased (therms used) since installing - very disappointing. I should have stayed with a tank for this house. If the tank were located in the center of the house instead of the basement, it might be different. One plus is that it is very quiet compared to the exhaust blower on the old tank system.

47. QUESTION:
    Where can I find tankless water heater that re-heat water in the tub.?
    I'm considering to build a japanese style bath room in my house. Does anyone knows that where I can purchase tankless water heater that re-heat water in the bath tub? I need to find it in the USA. Thanks,

    • ANSWER:
      Ask at Lowes, they can get one for you. There is a water heater made for trailers that mounts to the wall. Water comes from a line on one side, enters the heater and is discharged on demand. You can have a circulating pump set up to the heater that allows the same water to be recirculated through it. Other than that, you can install a wired sub flooring under the tub that will heat the water. Check your research. Japanese bath houses normally have a circulating system to keep the water clean.

      Dr. Tommy Skelton

48. QUESTION:
    Tankless water heater shutting off when I turn on the cold water?
    I just installed a tankless water heater in my house, when I open the hot water in my shower a good amount of hot water comes out.

    thats the good part....

    if I turn on the cold water to regulate the temperature the hot water stops coming out?? any ideas why??

    it only has two knobs one for temperature it has a little thermometer sign on it and the other one has a flame sign ??

    it sucks taking really hot showers or really cold ones

    • ANSWER:
      When water passes through a tankless water heater it turns on a flow switch which turns the heater on. When you mix the water with the cold you may not have enough flow to make it turn on. You may need to turn down the temperature so that you don't need to mix as much cold water to keep the flow higher. A quick way to check this would be to run a hot water faucet at the same time to see if the water remains hot in the shower.

49. QUESTION:
    Tankless vs converntional water heater, gas or electric?
    I have an electric water heater that is due for replacement. My range, and central heat is gas. There is no gas line piped to the location of the water heater.

    I am considering a tankless water heater. I am considering electric, because the house is already wired for it. If I go with gas, then I will have to run a pipe to it. What do you think?

    What do you think of hybrid (gas/electric) water heaters?

    Is a tankless water heater really better than a conventional water heater with a timer attached?

    • ANSWER:
      Stick with wut works.replace the electric heater.

50. QUESTION:
    What size tankless water heater would I need for a house about 1000 sq ft.?
    I'm converting my water heater to a tankless and I need to know what size would be suitable for about 1000 sq ft house. I've seen several that say they would work for a small house and I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with these and how they work?

    • ANSWER:
      it depends on how many bathrooms you have, general volume of water that will be used, how many persons living in house, etc. there are several manufactors for tankless w. heaters, noritz, rinnai to name a few. sure they have websites or call local gas company.
      basically how the water heater works is it provides hot water on demand. you have a "box" to control temperature of water in each room that uses water (bathroom, kitchen). you can "override" the set temp, moving it up or down. unit that heats up water is usually installed outside house & attached to a tank (propane or natural gas).
      these heaters are kinda pricey, however in the long run will save money on your electric bill (because you don't have to keep 60-100 gallons of water heated)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Are "hot water heater expansion tanks" required to be added to old hot water heaters in Maryland?
   Also, let's say you install an expansion tank in your condo to lessen the pressure coming into your pipes from the city water supply. Will the remaining condos in your building (that do not have an expantion tank installed) affect your pipes in any way? Will the pressure be higher in your condo since you have the expansion tank and they don't?

   • ANSWER:
     The Expansion Tank Won't Raise your water pressure. The Tanks are designed to absorb Thermal Expansion from Heating Water. The Only Time You Need Them is if you have a backflow preventer on main water line.

2. QUESTION:
   Do plumbers usually take the old hot water heater when they install a new one?
   Do plumbers usually take the old hot water heater when they install a new one?
   I was given a quote of ,400 that I assumed to include removal of the old heater, but my plumber left the old heater after installing a new one. and says that is not included and it is my responsibility to pay for someone to take it.

   • ANSWER:
     If you buy it at Lowes etc they do for free as they take your old fridge etc. A contractor from the phone book may charge you extra since they have to pay to have it dumped.

     Make sure its drained good running a garden hose from the bottom handle to outside to drain or it can make a mess in your house if someone tips it over.

3. QUESTION:
   ten year old hot water heaters are made of?
   What is the core metal on a typical 10 year old hot water heater

   • ANSWER:
     Probably galvanized steel.

4. QUESTION:
   How long should a 75 gallon hot water heater old hot water?
   I have a large home but only 2 people. after 10 minutes the hot water is not gone but I can no longer make it hotter. I flushed the system recently and it seems as though that was not the issue. I would think that I could take a shower for an hour and not have a problem as I am having. It is 10 years old.
   This is a gas water heater.

   • ANSWER:
     Considering that you do have hot water for a while you can rule out having bad elements. Since the unit is 10 years old it is more likely that you have a defective dip tube. The dip tube forces the incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank so it does not mix with the hot water near the top. If the dip tube fails the cold and hot water mixes and you get lots of luke warm water.

     Many many dip tubes were recalled years ago because they were made from a plastic that dissolves in hot water. The recall is no longer going on so if that is your problem you will not get a free replacement.

     For about you can get a new dip tube. If you are handy you can install it yourself or pay a plumber for an hour of work. Of course since the water heater is 10 years old you might be better off replacing it.

     If you have real hard water you should consider replacing it. I have seed 20 year old water heaters still going fine and 10 year old units fail. It is your choice.

     Here is a good article on dip tubes.
     http://www.thehomeinspector.com/Clients/DipTube.html

5. QUESTION:
   what in hot water heaters are worth money for scrap metal?
   I notice alot of people scoop up old hot water heaters to sell the metal to a scrap yard, what part / parts of the water heater are actualy worth money? is it just the entire thing, or do you have to take out the tank or whatever is on the inside?

   if anyone knows and could share it would be most apreciated.

   • ANSWER:
     The copper tank if you have one. Some models are bi-metal, glass lined and have insulation wiress etc... glued to the copper core. It may be not worth the hassle to tear apart, get rid of the sharp scrap, and transport the clean copper for whatever cents on the dlooar you will get for it.

6. QUESTION:
   Do plumbers receive reimbursement for the old hot water heater tanks?
   I have a relative who is a plumber and he keeps raising the costs for replacing our hot water heater, it feels shady, now he's very insistent on taking our old tank. We are easily able to dispose of it, so we wonder why he's pushing the subject on this.

   • ANSWER:
     no micheal of course plumbers don't receive reimbursement for old copper cylinders ..what are you thinking of ...they are helping you and the planet ..that's all ....next time you see him ..shake his hand and tell him how sorry you are even thinking he was taking it down the scrap and weighing it in for cash ...god bless them ..now ...have you seen the tooth fairy lately?

7. QUESTION:
   Okay to flush 13 year old hot water heater?
   Is it okay to flush my 13 year old hot water heater, if I don't know if its ever been done before?

   Moved in to the house six months ago. I'd like to keep the home well maintained, but I don't want to cause unforeseen damage.

   Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     At that age, you are best to let it be.

     Besides, most of what is in there is caked by now, and very little would flush out.

8. QUESTION:
   My 15-year old hot water heater is leaking from the drain valve spigot. What do I do?
   It is a pretty fast leak. I filled up a gallon milk jug overnight and it was overflowing. For the time being, I have hooked up a garden hose to the spigot to keep water out of my garage. What could be causing this leak? Is it time to replace the hot water heater? Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     those drain valves are pieces of junk. you MIGHT be able to get it out and replace it but it can be a pain. i have done it a few times. some have plastic inside the pipe you have to dig out. I would just try to get the whole thing out and put in a short 3/4 inch galvanized nipple and a 3/4 inch ball valve. IM or email me for more help with it.

9. QUESTION:
   My 10-year-old hot water heater is leaking small amounts of water from the bottom.?
   I have hard water and the temperature is at a lower setting. If it is relevant, whenever my washing machine begins to fill with warm or hot water, the pipes near the water heater make a very loud and violent rattling sound. Does any of this indicate that my hot water heater needs to be replaced? How long should a hot water heater last?

   • ANSWER:
     If it is leaking it needs to be replaced. That might not be the cause of the rattle but that doesn't change the fact it is leaking. Check all the fittings first.

     Good Luck

10. QUESTION:
    My 2 year old hot water heater is leaking at the relief valve, i removed it and replaced it,?
    it is still leaking at the coupleling, what now? it seems to be leaking where the male end comes out of the water heater pressure relief valve
    i sealed the threads with pipe dope and pipe tape

    • ANSWER:
      ur question is incompatible with the statements given. If u replaced the valve it should be closed unless it wasnt ever set. If it leaks where the male end comes out of the valve at a coupling then fix it. Clean it very well and try re-applying some more solder. Cleanliness is key. A wire brush is useful if u cant get it to stick. (a clean, new one)
      But your problem is if the valve was right u never should 've discovered a leak outward of the valve itself. Call a plumber...Fixed in 15 mins.

11. QUESTION:
    Can I recycle my old hot water heater?
    I'd like to do something with this old thing instead of just throwing it out. Is there something useful that I can do with it, or will a recycling center take it?

    • ANSWER:
      At the price of scrap metal today, you won't get out of it what is costs in gasoline to get it to the salvage yard. This assumes the water heater is a fairly new model, not one from the 1940's or before. One of the oldies could be made of copper or even bronze and would be worth the trip to the salvage yard but the newer glass lined steel tanks are nearly worthless once they don't hold water anymore.

      Leave it where ever you would leave a dead washer or dryer.

      Good luck.

12. QUESTION:
    How long should it take to remove an old hot water heater from my home and put in a new one?

    • ANSWER:
      Often, most of the time is spent draining the old tank. Make sure you have that done if you're hiring out the replacement.
      If a plumber comes in and you've already drained the tank, it shouldn't take longer than 1-1.5 hours on a typical installation with no unforseen special issues.

      Plumber since 1992

13. QUESTION:
    My 6 yr old electric hot water heater has a BAD-BURNING PLASTIC SMELL and has tripped the breaker. HELP!?
    6+ year old electric hot water heater.
    Has been providing EXTREMELY HOT water recently.
    The breakers have tripped and will not reset.
    Set off the smoke and co2 alarm in the middle of the night.

    • ANSWER:
      If it is so bad that you set off smoke alarm I would replace the unit.Something has burned up.T-stat,heat elements or controls for elements.Time for a new water heater.

14. QUESTION:
    I hve a 2 year old hot water heater, there is very small drip at the pressure relief valve near the top .?
    do i need a new tank?

    • ANSWER:
      get a new seal for it asap otherwise you will have to replace the whole thing as a leak in any valve will start to corroed at the metal and will not be fixable usless you can replace the part that is leaking

15. QUESTION:
    My new hot water heater is leaking out of the pressure relief valve, What could be wrong with it?
    My old hot water heater was leaking out of the pressure relief valve (16 yr old heater) so I replaced the pressure relief valve that didn't fix the problem. I bought a new hot water heater and installed it and now after about 8 hours it has also started leaking out the relief valve. What could the problem be and how do u go about troubleshooting the problem.

    • ANSWER:
      open and close the pressure relief valve quickly and it should seal ok.check the temperature setings on the thermostats,open all the faucets till you hear the air stop coming out.do you have exceptionally high water pressure coming into the house if so you might want to have a plumber come and adjust your preassure regulator.

16. QUESTION:
    Old/New Hot Water Heater Size Difference?
    So our old hot water heater went out, and we got a new one, however, they're about a foot difference in height. I'm wondering, is it safe to raise it up off the concrete in the basement, and if so, how would we do that?

    • ANSWER:
      I'm not sure why you'd want to raise it up. If it's to make the plumbing connections then you should just extend the pipes down to the level of the new water heater. If you're not comfortable soldering pipes then you should call a plumber.

      The problem with raising the water heater is making it safe and immovable, or else you run the risk of it shifting and breaking a water connection (= flooded basement).

      Some areas allow flexible water heater connectors, which might do the trick for you.

17. QUESTION:
    17 year old water gas water heater- hot water is not very hot at highest setting? Why?

    • ANSWER:
      time to break down and do it. 17 y/o you did excellent.

18. QUESTION:
    Can an old water heater cause low hot water pressure?

    • ANSWER:
      I think it can.

19. QUESTION:
    What makes my hot water heater pilot ligt keep going out?
    I have a 5 year old hot water heater. Recently the pilot light will not stay lit. I will light it and it heats the tank, then the pilot goes out. I thought it might be the wind blowing down the vent so I changed vent caps. The air intake are is clean and clear.

    • ANSWER:
      air in your lines
      a leak in the lines causing lower pressure
      a bad solenoid (gas valve)
      a partially clogged orifice (where the gas comes out for the flame)

      but most likely a problem with the thermocouple (flame sensor)
      it looks like a metal wire that sits in the flame, it is a bi-metal rod that produces electricity when heated, you can clean it off with emery cloth or steel wool, the carbon deposits may block some of the heat causing the sensor to think the flame is out and then it will close the gas valve.

20. QUESTION:
    which hot water heater is more economical electric or oil?
    I have a 13 year old hot water heater that runs from the oil furnace. I think it should be replaced but not sure if I should go with another oil fired one or an electric one. With the price of oil I am thinking the electric one would be better.. Could someone give me some feedback on it.
    We don't have natural gas here, unfortunately.

    • ANSWER:
      You are right, the cost of oil is crazy but it takes a lot of electricity to run a hot water tank. Do you have a natural gas hook up? That is much more efficient. Even energy saving models can be costly.

21. QUESTION:
    why would a hot water heater make knocking and bubbling noises?
    we have a twenty year old hot water heater. For the last 10 years it has been making loud knocking and bubbling type noises when ever the water is turned on (hot or cold) and when its reheating.

    • ANSWER:
      Actually, gas water heaters make popping, bubbling sounds when they heat the water, after they've been in service for some time. The cause is an accumulation of calcium, lime, in the bottom that heats up when the unit calls for hot water. The smaller chunks laying on the bottom get heated up and explode open, underwater of course, similar to the way popcorn explodes to get out of it's shell. The condition can be annoying to someone with sensitive hearing, but is not dangerous. The fact that there's a fairly thick layer of that stuff on the bottom of the tank is not too good though, it has been eating into the tank's walls for quite some time now and may soon necessitate the purchase of a new unit when this one springs a leak.

22. QUESTION:
    Will I save money if I replace my 1978 hot water heater with a newer energy efficient electric one?
    My electric bills are outrageous and wondered if my old hot water heater may be a contributing factor. It still heats water very well and is not leaking.
    The old one is also electric.

    • ANSWER:
      There is probably so much scale buildup inside the old water heater that I would be surprised if it was running at even 50% of its original efficiency. You would most definitely save money with the purchase of a new water heater.

23. QUESTION:
    Is it time for my landlord to replace the hot water heater?
    I'm sure, though I haven't asked my landlord yet, that the old hot water heater in my basement is needing to be replaced. My boyfriend drained it to get all the gunk and sediment out but it still is popping and banging really, really loud! I heard if you drain it like that it shouldn't be making those noises anymore, but it does! Should it be replaced?

    • ANSWER:
      Amazing. Seven previous answers and none of them right. If your main problem with this unit is that it pops and bangs when it heats your water, then you probably don't need a new unit. You mentioned draining the unit to get rid of this problem, that's what people who don't know anything about water heaters will tell you to do, but it doesn't work, as you've now demonstrated. And it's not air in the lines either, that's ridiculous. What you have is lime scale sediment that has built up in the bottom of the tank from the water supply. This lime scale accumulates into large chunks lodged in the layers of sediment and they occasionally explode like popcorn does when you heat it. Sometimes the popping and banging can get pretty loud. However, other than the nuisance factor, there's nothing dangerous about it. It is annoying and it's a sign that the heater tank will fairly soon be leaking. This doesn't happen in electric units because the water being heated is mostly all above the level of any lime scale accumulatons. If your landlord is smart, he or she, will start looking for a good sale and get a new one to be replaced as soon as needed.

24. QUESTION:
    My hot water heater is only a year old, but I almost run out of hot water during a 15 min shower. Why is this?
    It's a Ruud Gas Hot Water Heater (40 gal). Mod # P40-36F1. I recently moved into this house. I replaced the heater in my old house, with a similar model, at about the same time this one was replaced, but I never had any issues running out of water at the other house. I've tried turning up the temp but it doesn't seem to help. I have little ones so I don't want the temp up that high.

    • ANSWER:
      Ok a 15 minute shower is rediculouse in the first place save some electricity man where running low in this world and oil to we are running low cut back to 10 man. ~Element~

25. QUESTION:
    Looking for an old school hot water heater?
    It would be used to submerge in a bucket of water, the metal would have a wire which would be plugged into an electric circuit. it was used to heat up a bucket of water. I think it was called an emerging heater but not sure, can't find it any where. any suggestions would be really helpful. thanks to all in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      It's called an immersion heater. Lots out there, here's just one, you will have to scroll down a bit:

      http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.net/accessories_heaters.shtml

26. QUESTION:
    Why does my new water heater run out of hot water faster than my old one?
    We replaced an older 40 gallon water heater that was starting to leak with the same size new water heater. Now it seems that I will run out of hot water faster with the new one. For example, while taking a normal length, normal temperature shower I will run out of hot water when I didn't with the old one. Why is this happening? Would turning up the temperature help? It seems like the hot water is plenty hot enough when set at the 130 degree mark. Any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      Assuming the new hot water heater has a
      recovery* rate greater than/equal to the old heater's,
      the new heater's thermostat is prolly set lower.

      Take care when raising the thermostat setting.
      http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080115054901AAvviy8&r=w&pa=AptqD2bwHTHc7uGOYqgyt8O5tCos98Ml2ufVMjw9plJZVA--&paid=voted

      * 'This is the amount of hot water the heater is capable of providing in a given period of time. The Recovery rate is the number of gallons that can be heated to that level in one hour. The higher the number, the better (greater) the rating.'

27. QUESTION:
    i have brand new alliance gas water heater and it wont light with my old a o smith power vent?
    I took the old power vent off my old hot water heater and put it on my new one. The vent worked on my old one. My new hot water heater won't light with vent on

    • ANSWER:
      Does the new heater require a power vent? if not the power vent will suck the pilot out

28. QUESTION:
    Why does my hot water run out so fast?
    I have a roughly 5 year old hot water heater, lately its been running out of hot water in 15 minutes or so. Now a year ago we would have hot water for probably about an hour or more and never run out! There are no particles in any of the faucet heads and our shower head is 2.5 gallons per minute. Does anyone have any clue about this?

    • ANSWER:
      if your water heater is more than 6yrs old, you may have a problem with the dip tube that goes into the tank from the hot nipple (it was corroding). a lot of water heater company's had to pay for replacement of this tube (different company's bought the dip tube from the same manufacturer). instead of pulling the water from the bottom of the tank the water came from the top where the cold water is at. goggle diptube.info.

29. QUESTION:
    My 1st floor hot water baseboard heaters are cooler than the 2nd floor heaters. Is there an adjustment knob?
    This is my first winter in an old house with hot water heat. The heating unit does not look as old as the house, or as old as the newest addition (50+ yrs old), and the old radiators have been replaced with baseboard heaters. Unfortunately, the upstairs heaters are so much warmer than the downstairs heaters. Is there a valve to control the amount of heat to the different heaters like there are on hot air ducts? I also noticed that my thermostat has to be set about 4 degrees higher than the temperature I desire. I have limited knowledge of this kind of thing, but also have a limited income. Did I mention the basement floor is half dirt? Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

    • ANSWER:
      You may well have a gravity feed boiler and that is why the 2nd flr. registers get hotter. If there is not a circulator pump on the system it would explain the problem. If your system still had radiators it would balance itself, but baseboard units dont act the same. Heat rises naturally and that would explain the diff between the 2nd flr. temp and the 1st flr temp. If there is no circulator pump, then have one installed. Your boiler is wasting a lot of energy without it.

30. QUESTION:
    what do I do with my old gas hot water heater?

    • ANSWER:
      take it to the dump

31. QUESTION:
    i was looking to put in a hot tub and wondered what the water heater pump was?
    A guy was telling me about some kind of water heat pump and that it can replace hot water heaters in homes and takes up 1/4 the space of older hot water heaters. I do not know what they are called but I want info on a site about them.also any info on installation. If u have one any details on how it works compared to older units. Do you like it?

    • ANSWER:
      A couple of things right away - the heater in a hot-tub is an in-line unit of approximately 5,000 watts. It will do a fine job of keeping a the water hot - but it absolutely does not have the ability to heat sufficient water instantly so as to serve as your domestic water heater.

      What you are asking after is called a "Tankless" water heater and/or "Instant Water Heater". They are available fueled by natural gas, propane or electricity, and the two top makers (in the US) are Bosch and Rinnae (linked below). They are substantially more expensive than a conventional tank-type heater but cost far less to operate and *typically* have a much longer service-life if properly installed. Many may be direct-vented and some use sealed burners as well. Some require power, some do not.

      We have an 15 year old Bosch that has performed flawlessly and is still going strong.

32. QUESTION:
    Should a 13 year old 40 gallon hot water heater be able to fill a garden tub w/ hot water?
    I have a 13 year old gas water heater in a home i just purchased. The house is also 13 years old, and the previous (original) owners were an elderly couple. Point being, though it is 13 years old, it hasn't been supplying hot water to an active young family of five or anything.

    That said, the hot water runs out in a shower of any extended length. I would say it's good for 15 minutes give or take. And it definitely can't fill the garden tub w/ hot water. The tub is average size for a garden tub - maybe 2x the size of a normal shower tub?

    So I called the gas company who sent someone over to have a look. He said:
    - the water heater has a good amount of sediment in it, and will need replacing in the near future, 0-3 years.
    - The "pan" has a good amount of water in it, so there is a leak somewhere
    - even a brand new 40 gallon tank wouldn't be able to provide a hot bath in the tub, and he remarked that the garden tubs in these type houses are for "looks".

    Well - I would really like to take advantage of the tub and have a hot bath! I would also hope to not need to replace the hot water heater if i an help it.

    Should also mention I have a home warranty policy on the house, so if it needs replacing (at least for the next 6 months), I won't be spending a lot to have it fixed. The warranty will cover it.

    Is a slowly leaking 40 gallon heater with a good amount of sediment one that should be replaced?

    What do you think?

    • ANSWER:
      If the heater is actually leaking, use the Home Warranty now. It won't be long before it lets go and the warranty may not cover the damages it causes, just the heater. Garden tubs are a thing of the past. Many people thought they would use them but found they used too much water and were a pain to clean. A water heater replaces the hot water used with cold water to keep it full and flowing. Consider a typical shower of 10 minutes. Most shower heads allow 2-1/2 gallons per minute. This means that if you used only hot water, you would use 25 gallons of water in 10 minutes. This is over 1/2 of a 40 gallon tanks capacity. The 25 gallons of hot water is being replaced with 25 gallons of cold water which continually changes the temperature of the water in the tank.

33. QUESTION:
    What is the estimated price of a 13 year old 50Gallon Bock hot water heater in excellent condition?
    I am changing my existing boiler system and wanted to find out whether the above unit has any value?

    • ANSWER:
      There is little value in a used water heater. It does not matter what it looks like on the outside it matters what it is like on the inside and I am sure 13 yrs. of mineral deposits have built up inside the tank.

34. QUESTION:
    i just had a knew hot water heater istalled now the water is a rusty color?
    i just had a hot water heater rusted out i had the old hot water heater replaced with a new one. i took a shower this morning and the water was a rust color anybody know why

    • ANSWER:
      Sky is right. When the water system is shut off, debris inside the pipes will dislodge and flow out where it can. It shouldnt take long to work itself out. Just keep running the water. It wont hurt you either. The stuff is inside your pipes to begin with.

35. QUESTION:
    Furniture in front of old-fashioned hot water heater?
    Would it be safe to put furniture in front of it?

    • ANSWER:
      dont you mean a old fashioned hot water room heater ? yes you can put furniture in front of them. they do not get hot enough to burn anything.

36. QUESTION:
    Trying to change the element in a 20 yr old hot water heater. I can't get it out.?
    When it broke down it got very hot. I'm told it nearly caught fire. it's hooked up to a well. Short of calling a plumber what can I do? I've used every tool I can find plus wd40 and liquid wrench. It acts fused. Ideas?
    Good suggestion, what I think as well. Just not in the budget. We have a heavy amount of lime and calcium in the water here. Thanks for the input.
    Appreciate all the input, after a couple of hours of beating, twisting, banging, hernias and fussing. The thing gave way and came out.

    • ANSWER:
      First, I have to agree you probably need a new water heater. Before you trot right out and buy one I'd buy a socket and breaker bar and try again to get it out. If you can't, you've only lost to . If you can, test it for continuity. If it's got continuity you have another problem. A new one's gonna cost you about 0. Figuring in the electricity cost savings and the safety issue for your family, that could be a reasonable investment. Either way, think about putting a filter in the water line before the heater and draining/refilling the tank once a year.

37. QUESTION:
    Hot water heater - element keeps burning out. Only a three year old water heater.?
    We have replaced the element a month ago and it burned out again two weeks later. Any ideas on what could be causing this??

    • ANSWER:
      I suspect the replacement element is the wrong size. Make sure it is the proper wattage and voltage for your unit.

      Another potential issue is that the element is not immersed in the water causing it to overheat. Make sure you have bled out all air from heater.

38. QUESTION:
    why should I consider getting a tankless hot water heater?
    Our old water heater is about to go out and I've heard that tankless water heaters can save me money. Are there any other reasons I should make the switch?

    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Endless hot water is the biggest selling point among our cliental. They also allow you to regain some space, in your home. They last 2-3 longer than a tank type heater, when properly maintained. An average savings of 40% on gas usage. The key is to invest in a quality unit like Ranii or Norwitz. Return rate on the "toys" they sell in box store is over 50% because of the fact they are too small to deliver a satifactory amount of hot water. Our company installs 5-7 of these units per week, they are becoming extremely popular.

39. QUESTION:
    fuse keeps blowing for hot water heater?
    My father replaced our old hot water heater which was like 30 years old....he wired it up and now when ever it turns onto to heat the water it pops the fuse. The old one was 80 gallons with 4 wires going to it on a 20 amp fuse, the new one is 40 gallons and only needs 2 wires so my dad connected the 4 old wires to the two on the 20amp fuse and now it pops the fuse. What did he do wrong?

    • ANSWER:
      Simply remove one pair of Red & Black wires from the heater.

      Use caution here before applying power.
      Apply wire nuts to ends of open wire ends for added safety.
      Better yet, cut the bare ends off, then use wire nuts.

      He was basically running the new single heater @ 440 Volts vs 220 Volts.

      Go back to the panel & inspect the circuit breaker.
      If two switches are ganged together with a pin going through both triggers,
      remove second switch from the circuit and the wire leading from it.

      This now spare switch can be used as a back-up, or a new circuit.

      Go back to water heater & inspect the rating.
      Is it 20 amp, or 30 amp heater element.
      You may have to up-grade the panel switch to match.

      What country your in makes a difference on colors.

40. QUESTION:
    On Demand Hot Water Heater Owners: Do you prefer your On Demand heater, or miss your old tank?
    I want to hear from current users of On Demand hot water heaters. I have to replace my tank, and would like to make an environmentally friendly choice. But, I want to be sure that I will be saving energy as told by actual users of the product, and I want to know just how much convenience I will be giving up, if any. Thanks for your input.

    • ANSWER:
      On Demand has its faults. I do not own one but work in a big box store and sell them. I can answer you by customer feedback. Even though they are called On Demand they can still only conjure up a certain amount per minute or hour sort of speak. Most people that get them are people that are installing multiple water sucking devices such as body jets etc. They have told me that they miss their normal tanks. It is better to kick up your regular water heater ie. get a 90 gallon instead of a 60 gallon. They do not use much energy as they are all rated as energy saving units now if you shop smart. GSW is a reliable brand.

41. QUESTION:
    how to installa atwood hot water heater the old was gc6aa9e the new is a gc6aa10e it has 4 wires old had only?
    the new water has 4 wires the old one only had 3 wires which wires get hooked together

    • ANSWER:
      1 of those terminals is most likely an earth, and marked in europe with horizontal lines... the terminals should be marked for you... also have a look to see what way the old 1 was wired and you might be a little bit wiser... some more info would be great too.

42. QUESTION:
    I have a hot water heater that is about 5 years old.?
    I noticed rusty water has collected just below each area where the thermostats are located. I soaked up all that water and two days later no water has returned. What is happneing to my hot water heater? Is it leaking and do I need to replace it. I have never seen a hot water heater leak like this. I have replaced many hot water heaters that were leaking but never seen one like this. Can you give me insight here into what is happening?

    • ANSWER:
      you have a slow leak i would think about replacing it before winter comes or it breaks down altogether.

43. QUESTION:
    Best brand/place to buy a tankless hot water heater?
    I want to buy a tankless hot water heater to service the entire house (let's say 4 GPM range or up). I'm looking for a recommendation where/what to buy. I prefer electric but could do natural gas/electric. I would also like someone else to install it and remove the old water heater.

    If you have links to any other material that might help I would appreciate that as well.

    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Bosch is a great brand...

      I sent you some helpful sites to give you more ideas... Good Luck!

      http://www.tanklesswater.com
      http://www.hotwaterheater.com
      http://www.noritz.com

44. QUESTION:
    How do I know if the thermostat is out on an old Montgomery ward's hot water heater?
    The water is extremely hot, almost scalding and we have it on warm. Anyone know how to change it also?

    • ANSWER:
      Check for a leak. This happened to me once. I had mine set on warm. All of a sudden my hot water became steaming hot. What happens is the with a leak, water is constantly running through the tank and the cool water coming in causes the thermostat to keep the tank heating the water until it becomes scalding. As a mater of fact, the tank never stops heating and because of the leak is heating constantly, so when you turn on your hot water faucet the water comes out almost boiling.

45. QUESTION:
    how do I service a hot water heater. As far as draining the old water and ?. I will not do the oil burner.?

    • ANSWER:
      turn off the inlet valve and open the drain valve on the bottom, simple really

46. QUESTION:
    Hot water heater hissing and discharging water constantly?
    I have a 6 year old gas hot water heater. It is a GE brand 75 gal tank. Initially the pilot flame went out a couple of times and I had to reignite. Now, the hot water seemed to be getting too hot and water was being discharged from the pressure relief line into the floor (basement). I turned the temp down, but now i noticed the water discharges constantly and their is a hissing noise from the relief valve. I have been in the house 2 years and not performed any maintenance on the unit.

    • ANSWER:
      Pressure down the WH by closing the "in" water supply gate valve & opening the closest hot water valve. Turn off the gas to the WH, attach a water hose to the bottom boiler drain spigot & open that valve, allowing the level of water to go below the level of the T&P valve. While you are waiting for the water to cool, head to your local plumbing supply or Lowe's and purchase a Watts T&P, & a can of Rectorseal #5. Get a big ol' pipe wrench and replace the T&P valve, only placing the pipe dope on the threads of the new valve. Get it tighter than you think you can and still be able to connect it to the drain line......

      Close the boiler drain, close the closest hot water valve, open the supply water gate valve, go to the furthest hot water valve & open it and wait for the water and the air to bleed off. Re-light the heater, .....enjoy.

47. QUESTION:
    Can someone help me to decide which On Demand Hot Water Heater to buy?
    I want to simply replace my old standard hot water heater with an On Demand for the whole house. Which is best and how much should I plan on spending?

    • ANSWER:
      If you have hot water, why would you need to heat it? But aside from the wise guy answer, a good on demand water heater is Rinnai, they were one of the first and are a good name brand. They run in price from around 0 to about 00, depending on the size, you can probably count on spending 0+ for the average size. There are others out there and since you will likely have a professional install it ( it's not a good DIY project), ask the what brand they recommend.

48. QUESTION:
    Do tankless hot water heaters work with all houses?
    We just bought a house that was built in 2001. It still has the original tank water heater (electric) so it's about 10 years old. We want to replace this because our current hot water only lasts about 15 minutes. We would really prefer a tankless hot water heater, but we don't know if there are any special circumstances that would prevent us from being able to install a tankless hot water heater. Any help would be appreciated!

    • ANSWER:
      I would have somebody check the existing tank first. Unless it is very small or you are a whole lot of water in that 15 minutes it should give you more hot water than that.

      In fear of scalding they do tend to set them very low these days. It may only need to be turned up. A hotter tank lasts longer because you use less. But you can't turn it up too high if you have young children or elderly that scald easily.

      If it is a large tank you lower element that does most of the heating normally could be out and you are only getting a half of tank of hot water from the upper element. Or bad thermostat can do it also. First check the temp at the faucet.

      But a service call would be much cheaper.

      A tankless electric I recently saw requires three 40 amp circuits. Your existing probably has only one 30 amp to it so you would need extensive wiring work as well as plumbing. It would be an expensive proposition unless your tank is very close to the panel and you have enough spare capacity on the panel. Still costly though.

      Well worth trying to fix the existing. I am not sure the small savings would ever cover the cost of installing the tankless. I wouldn't do it unless it was changed to gas.

      Maybe a larger tank would suit you better. But start with a service call.

      Good Luck.

49. QUESTION:
    Broken Hot Water Heater?
    I have an old hot water heater in our house that desperately needs to be replaced (rust, won't heat properly, makes noise, etc.), but my husband doesn't want to spend the money for a new one. If we did we could get a credit on our taxes and lower our heating bill, but he reasons if it's not broke (completely) don't fix it. How can I "break" it without him knowing I did anything to it?

    • ANSWER:
      when he's not looking go to your hot water heater and turn the gas valve off until the pilot goes out, then turn the gas back on. when he gets up to take a shower and you have no hot water, he may not be so happy. Make sure you turn the gas vale on that way he doesn't suspect anything. Keeping up with it for a while and he'll get sick of cold showers real quick!

50. QUESTION:
    Elements for Hot Water Heater-five Years Old?
    I have a 5 year old Reem an my plumber came out to turn up the thermostats and I will last through one shower and that it is it and he charged me to do this, what do I need to do?
    I have a 40 gallon tank hot water tank.

    • ANSWER:
      First kill the power to the water heater. It would be a double pole 30 amp breaker. You will need a multimeter with a continuity beeper on it. Remove the access covers on the side of the tank. You will see the thermostat on top and the element will be round with two wires hooked to it. Take your meter set on AC 600 volt and make sure the power is dead . Back one of the screws off a little on the element and take the wire off of it. You need to remove just one of the wires.

      Then put your meter on the continuity beeper setting and touch the two leads together. You should hear a beep. Touch the two leads to the two screws on the element where the wires hooked. If it beeps the element is good. If not it needs replacing. Do the same thing on the bottom element. This will verify that your elements are good or need replacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Hot water tank vs. Instant water heater?
   I am thinking of installing an instant hot water heater (electric) for our whole house (1600sq. ft.).
   In your experience, is it worth it? Does it save money? Any downfalls?

   • ANSWER:
     I have one customer that bought a top name electric whole house tank-less water heater, and had nothing but problems with it.

     The manufacturer would allow no one but a licensed plumber to do the warranty work, so every time the owners would get the next part in the manufacturer sent, they had to call me to do the work requested by the manufacturer.

     On paper, the system looks like it should work. But reality shows otherwise.

     Here is a very important point, if you do not have soft water, the unit will always be failing on you.

2. QUESTION:
   I am thinking of installing an instant hot water heaters (electric) for our whole house (1600sq. ft.).?
   I am thinking of installing an instant hot water heaters (electric) for our whole house (1600sq. ft.).In your experience,Does it save money? Any downfalls?

   • ANSWER:
     nope
     too many items to go bad, [they wont last for ever]

3. QUESTION:
   Which is more effient to run with oil heat? An electric instant water heater or an indirect fired water heate?
   It would be for the whole house...2.5 baths, dishwasher, washer, 4 people.

   I have forced hot water now and oil heat. I am replacing an oil inner coil now.

   • ANSWER:
     due to the fact that you'd have to force yourself to think water conservation i recomend the elec instant water heater due to the fact it wont handle multiple hot water demands at once

4. QUESTION:
   which electric water heater is best INSTANT or STORAGE, eighter elec. consumption wise or hot water?

   • ANSWER:
     INSTANT
     for every thing.(consumption wise or hot water)

5. QUESTION:
   No hot water. Would a electric tankless water heater work?
   I live on the second floor of a two story house. The whole house hasn't had any heat or hot water for the past few years, no sink or shower hot water. I've been going to the gym to shower every other day.

   If I purchase a electric tankless water heater would that provide hot water for showering and cooking? I don't care if it's not instant, I can wait for my water to heat up AS LONG AS IT GETS WARM.

   Also, if I buy one, how do I install it exactly?

   Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     Unless you have an uncontrollable penchant for wasting money, your best bet would be to simply replace or repair the existing water heater.

     As far as the installation of either goes: YOU don't. That kind of work requires plumbing, & electrical skills. If the W/H is gas or propane fired, working with the respective gas equipment requires certification(s). In Texas, DO NOT be caught working on propane equipment without a Railroad Commission card...

6. QUESTION:
   Electric or gas to heat water for showers, which is cheaper?
   I currently heat my water tank for our power shower/bath with gas. i have three daughters and they all shower in the morning, the gas is on for three hours to ensure there is enough hot water for all of them. However, our tank has an electric switch connected to the immersion heater in the tank which gives us instant hot water (like using and electric shower). My question is, would it be cheaper to have the water heated by the electrics for 30 minutes while the girls have showers or to heat the whole tank for three hours with gas. I know gas is considered cheaper than electricity but even in this case? And what about the environmental issues?
   Does anyone know what it would actually cost to heat with gas for three hours and with electricity for thrity minutes? Please give a reason for your answer!!! Thanks
   I live in North London

   • ANSWER:
     Sorry to say you seem a bit misinformed?? If as you say , you have an immersion heater in your hot water cylinder, it cannot be 'instant' there is no such thing. It will heat the water in a similar way to the coil in the cylinder. The gas boiler that you use will probably not actually be heating the water for the full three hours , assuming that you have a cylinder stat and other controls, conversely, the immersion heat will never heat enough water for 3 showers in half an hour! I guess that your cylinder is 40gallons or so?? The immersion heater will cost about 36p per hour when heating. If you want quick recovery, I suggest you put both gas and electric on for the duration of the showering period, this will leave the hw cylinder pretty well full of hot water when you turn off.

7. QUESTION:
   Cheapest way to heat water for taps and shower?
   At home I have an electric shower, and an immersion heater for all other hot taps in the house. I usually put the immersion heater on for one night every 3 days. This does the trick. However, I'm tempted to buy and have installed, an electric hotwater point at the kitchen tap, and one for the bathroom tap. This would give instant hot water to the three main points in the house. It would also mean a quieter house, because the immersion heater wouldn't grumble away quietly through the night, and when running hot water through the pipes (ie to the downstairs kitchen) it wouldn't make that indescribable noise. (pipes expanding?) On Ebay, you can buy an instant hotwater tap for about £40 from China. Or a more expensive bigger unit to go under the kitchen sink, for example. Ignoring this initial outlay cost, would it be cheaper to have instant electric heater water points? - There are 5 adults in the house. (no baths)

   • ANSWER:
     Gravity system is bestway Where a space-heating water boiler is employed the traditional arrangement in the UK is to use boiler-heated ("primary") water to heat ("secondary") water in a cylindrical vessel (usually made of copper) containing potable water supplied from a cold water storage vessel/container, usually in the roof space of the building. This produces a fairly steady supply of DHW at low static pressure head but usually with a good flow..............

8. QUESTION:
   Question about electricity?
   An instant gas hot water heater is capable of raising the temperature of 2kg of water by 50K each minute.

   What problem might there be in designing a instant electric water heater which is to work from the ordinary mains supply instead of gas and achieve the same rate of heating ?

   • ANSWER:
     Use induction heater.
     It is capable to do that instantly.

9. QUESTION:
   Solution to propane furnace discharging soot throughout the home?
   New Colman furance and new instant hot water heater, also converted propane cloths dryer and cooking range to electric.

   • ANSWER:
     It should burn clean. If you have soot you should check if the ventilation is blocked somehow.

10. QUESTION:
    Central Heating System?
    I've just bought a house that only has electric storage heaters working off an economy 7 supply. Hot water is from immersion heaters in the hot water tank.

    I would like to perhaps install a different system that will be more cost effective, and am wondering what the best options might be in the UK.

    The house is a 1940's semi-detached in Glasgow (so solar power might not work, though rain power might!!), has a main fireplace downstairs and one up stairs that can be opened up (good condition, just need the metal work and wood to burn), large front and back garden. Nearest gas supply is 200m away so will cost a few thousand to install gas main plus a few thousand to install gas appliances. The house has cavity wall insulation and double glazing, loft insulation is about 100m deep (haven't had chance to check yet) and can put additional insulation in there (I want to board out the loft, insulation can also go under the tiles). I have no idea about underfloor insulation - probably none. Instant heat will have to be from electric fan heaters.

    So there it is. What are the best options for me - I want to make the house warmer, have hot water and cost less over the next 5 years or so.

    If you can give me an estimate of cost and potential savings that would be even better.

    The answer might be to leave it as it is and have higher electricity bills but not spend thousands to reduce the power costs

    • ANSWER:
      Air source heat pump and water filled central heating system.
      Will be more economical.
      Alternative is air conditioning units in heat pump mode. Will cool in the summer too.

About the author:

Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/home-improvement-articles/energy-efficiency-articles/how-improve-energy-efficiency-your-heating-cooling-system-1061031.html

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Will I save money if I replace my 1978 hot water heater with a newer energy efficient electric one?
   My electric bills are outrageous and wondered if my old hot water heater may be a contributing factor. It still heats water very well and is not leaking.
   The old one is also electric.

   • ANSWER:
     There is probably so much scale buildup inside the old water heater that I would be surprised if it was running at even 50% of its original efficiency. You would most definitely save money with the purchase of a new water heater.

2. QUESTION:
   To my eco friendly associates which is more energy efficient use of an electric water heater and water usage?
   A. Water heater set at a temp so when you shower you use only hot water.
   B. Water heater set at a temp so when you shower the mixture is 50% hot and 50% cold.
   c. Water heater set high enough so when you shower you use mostly cold water and minimal hot water.

   • ANSWER:
     >To my eco friendly associates which is more energy efficient use of an electric water heater and water usage?

     A.

     Pretty simple, the heat loss from the water heater tank increases with increasing temperature. Option A keeps the tank at the lowest temperature so it has the least heat loss. Less heat loss means that the least amount of energy-kWH-money is needed to maintain the temperature of the tank.

3. QUESTION:
   I need a new hot water heater ASAP. what is the best place to get one ? And what is the most energy efficient?
   Also, my electric bill is very high, and soon i need a new a/c.
   Does anyone know what best a/c is ? Not most expensive on either item-im strapped now. Help appreciated

   • ANSWER:
     Go to Lowe,s right now they have them in stock it,s tell which one is the most energy efficient. they will install it for you or you can do it .cut the watter off .cut the power off to the heater . on top is a plate three wire,s red black green hitch the wire,s back just like they come loose green to green this is the ground. black to black red to red. now hitch up your watter supply turn on watter check for leak,s let fill up then turn on the power to the heater, should have watter in one hour,

4. QUESTION:
   Is it time to replace my hot water heater?
   We have a gas hot water heater that is about 10 years old. Lately the pilot light has been going out. We've been turning the unit off and turning it back on to restart the pilot light and that has been working so far. Regardless, we know that its probably at the end of its life span and are planning to replace it. Just a few questions:

   1. Could we replace our gas water heater with an electric one? Would we want to do that? Which is considered more energy efficient?
   2. Is 9 a reasonable price to deliever and install the new one (and take away the old) assuming all our connections are up to code?

   • ANSWER:
     why replace it over a part ? (you need a new thermocoupling) . Do you have hard water ? is it making gurgling sounds? that will plug it up but you can acidize that, they have no life period, dont replace it just because it is dirty on the outside, clean it. the insulation surrounding the tank will not disappear into thin air unless rodents decide to nest in it. remember repairmen are also salesmen. but if your a yuppy and think you need to, go ahead spend your money.

5. QUESTION:
   The cobb famiy of fremont is looking at ways to decrease thier home water and energy usage.?
   The cobb famiy of fremont is looking at ways to decrease thier home water and energy usage.Thier current electric hot water heater raises the water temperature to 140 F, which requires 0.20kWh/gal at a cost of [FAQ-QUESTION].10/kWh. Each person in the family of 4 showers once a day for an average of 10 mins per shower, The shower has a flow rate of 5.0 gallons per minute.
   (a). Calculate the following. Be sure to show all work and include units in answer.
   (i) find the total amount of water the family uses per year for taking showers.
   (ii) find the annual cost of the electricty for the famiy showers assuming that 2.5 gallons per minute of the water is used from the hot water heater.
   (b) The family is replacing thier hot-water heater with a new energy efficient hot water heater that costs 1000$ and uses half the energy that the current one uses. How many days would it take the new hot water heater to recover the initial 1000$ cost?
   (c) Describe TWO practical measures the familty could take to reduce thier overall water usage athome,
   (d) Describe TWO conservation measures(other than reducing hot water use) that the family could take to reduce the total amount of energy they use at home.

   • ANSWER:
     How about a holding tank in the basement to contain that shower water
     and then an exercise bike powered water pump to transport that water to
     a tank in the attic and then use the grey water to flush the toilet.

     good stuff ... no?

6. QUESTION:
   Is solar power an answer to my high electric bill?
   I live in the state with the highest electricity cost (.24 per kWh). Last month I turned the electric hot water heater temperature down down, bought a new energy efficient clothes washer, I didn't use my clothes dryer, I have a gas stove, I don't have air conditioning, and I didn't run any fans in the house. I just received my bill. It is over 0.00 again! Could a solar electric system really help save me money?

   • ANSWER:
     the initial hit to the pocket book is still staggering but is going down. eventually it will pay for itself. tv's computers use alot of electric if left on all the time. as well as all the lights on in the house hope this info helps you :0)

7. QUESTION:
   Energy saving idea...?
   I've often thought about how much water/energy you waste getting hot water in the sink/shower. Wouldn't it be more efficient to have some kind of mini water heater right at the spigot? A small, efficient electric heater with no tank that heats water as you use it. That way you never run out of hot water and it gets to the right temp immediately. No more running and running water from the basement, no more heating water that you don't use. Whaddaya think?

   • ANSWER:
     I installed a small water heater under my kitchen sink which is furthest from the water heater. It is very efficient and gives almost instant hot water. There are different types of recirculating systems out there that are supposedly very easy to install. One such system is shown here:
     http://www.redytemp.com/hot-water-recirculator-how-it-works.htm

8. QUESTION:
   how can i do something about my water heater?
   i have absolutely no idea how to go about this.

   my problem is this: me have water-tank-heater thing, and im trying to make my house as energy efficient as possible. the water-tank however, gets reheat 2ce a day, and only when the heating is on. and im sure that this is the only way it can be done ... on the same time-settings as the stupid heating!!!! so we have this boiler that is heating water twice a day, inappropriately!!!! because we only use hot water to do the dishes with; we have an Electric low-flow shower. im also unsure if the boiler itself has insulation around it, because its in a cupboard with a wooden cover nailed around it.

   so my question is this: can i get another programmable thermostat that will control the 2 items independently, not dependent of each other? or will this require extra expensive hardware? i have absolutely no idea with this kinda thing cos im a young adult and have always had parents and such to control these things until now where i have my own house with my girlfriend.

   btw, we had a gas bill (quarterly), and it was extremely high, and im sure its down to the stupid boiler.

   any help would be greatly appreciated, however, please don't waste time by telling me to go to google ... i have come here for a specific reason.

   • ANSWER:
     Hi I had exactally this problem In a house I bought, I solved quite simply. I uprated the system too whats called a fully pumped system with a thermostat controlled 3 way valve. The full system I installed was a new fully programable Room stat So when I was a work, and the house was empty the heating was just ticking over, An hour before coming home it raised the tempreture too make it comfy( plus in the summer it didnt really come on at all ) . A thermostat on the hot water tank that, A new boiler controller. Briefly what this all did was the boiler came on heated the water, the thermostat on the hot water tank turned it off, If the house was cold the room stat told new boiler tprogramer to start the pump and fire the boiler, The hot water tank thermostat , told the Boiler programer to close the 3 way valve too the hot water tank as it didnt need heating. When the house warmed up the boiler stopped and just the pilot light was burning. As soon as you used enough hot water the thermostat tells the boiler programmer,this then turns on the boiler and pump closes the 3 way valve too the heating and diverts the hot water too the hot water tank. As soon as this heats up the boiler stops again, untill either the house gets colder or some hot water is used. If the house is cold and the water tanks needs too be heated the valve goes too a middle position and heats both .I am thinking your system just has a thermostat on the boiler and one in the room. When it calls for hot water too be on the pump doesnt run and the hot water from the boiler naturally rises and flows around the hot water tank, With only the thermostat on the boiler too regulate it. I Put in the system above and cut my heating bill by 2/3 as the boiler doesnt run with this system unless it has something too do ., Ps if your in the uk as I expect I used a controller 3 way valve programable room thermostat and hot water thermostat from wicks, not the best quality but good enough too get the job done and affordable as they do some in combined packages Here is a link describing what you need the wiring the pipe lay out etc and the different kind of systems you can use http://www.gasman.fsbusiness.co.uk/fully_pumped_systems.htm
     I hope this helps and dont panic it looks more frightning than it really is

9. QUESTION:
   Why is my electric bill so high? 0!?
   It has never been under 0 ever in the last 5 years!

   1400 sq ft. home, ranch.
   I keep the air at 74

   I am always turning lights off.

   I have a brand new washer and dryer.
   The refrigerator is 8 years old.
   We have an hot tub it's set to economy mode and that only ever added max to the bill anyway. It doesn't work as hard in the summer since the cover keeps the heat in anyway.
   Could it be the well pump?
   Our attic fan is older, we thought it was broke and it's running again...?

   2 years ago we upgraded the old electric hot water heater, to propane and the old electric dryer to an energy efficient propane one and never really saw much of a decline in the bill?!?

   Our lights dim ever now and again, was the house wired wrong? Some serious experienced advice would be greatly appreciated!

   • ANSWER:
     Depending on how hot it is where you live, I would guess it is your AC unit and possibly the lack of enough insulation in your home.

10. QUESTION:
    Tax credit Energy Star appliance?
    I bought a new hot water heater in December and I was just reading about a 0 tax credit. See below

    "Heating, Cooling, and Water Heating Equipment
    Purchasers of qualified energy efficient property are eligible for tax credits up to the total expenditures on such property. The credit can also be applied to labor costs for assembly and original installation of this property. Eligible property and maximum credit amounts are as follows:
    electric heat pump water heaters: 0; "

    My question is do you get this credit only if you itemize?

    • ANSWER:
      There is no credit.

      You bought it in December 2008. The credit SKIPS 2008 and comes back in 2009.

      (Don't feel bad, the water heater probably didn't qualify anyway. Most of the models being sold weren't efficient enough to qualify.)

11. QUESTION:
    Why is our apartment electric/gas bill so high?
    I live in a Kenmore Square apartment on Commonwealth Ave right next to Fenway Park in Boston. It's a very nice building, and although most people living here are professional doctors, lawyers, etc., my college friend and I got a 2-bed 2-bath here. We are both very studious and work hard, and never have parties or people over except for writing songs (we're musicians who go to Berklee).

    Our energy bill each month is .00!! This is for 2-bed 2-bath with a kitchen and living room. Our HEAT and HOT WATER is supposed to be FREE. We can't figure out what's costing so much. We have a dishwasher, but don't use it at all. We wash all our dishes in the sink. We have all energy-efficient light bulbs (fluorescent) and turn them off when we're gone/if we don't need them on. We have one TV which I don't watch but my roommate does every once in awhile.

    Our water heater is a 30-gallon electric...could we be paying to heat our water when we shouldn't be?? Also, our heating/AC unit is really nice and built into the wall with a thermostat so we can regulate it...but we're supposed to get free heat and we obviously haven't used the AC since a few months ago and our bill is still the same - .

    If anyone can help us out with what might be the problem, it would be much appreicated! I'll post updates here if you have any other questions about the apartment. All my other friends pay only -20/mo. for their electric/gas bills (and one of them has the same thermostat!)
    Hmm yeah I think the thermostat/heater is electric...its really odd that they tell us we get free heat. Also, we never have enough hot water so they're installing a new 50-gallon next month.

    For the water heater we have right now...its brand new less than a year old.

    • ANSWER:
      A few things you could do. Do you have computers/cell phones/cable box/vcrs? all these things usually have power cords that are plugged in and using electricity even when they are not turned on. The cable box is usually one of the worst offenders, they can use as much as 20W even if the TV is off. Do you have an old refrigerator? if the compressor is constantly running that might be where the juice is going to. You can adjust the temp settings on it.. most people keep their refrigerators colder than they need to be.

      I'm a bit suspicious of this heating/AC unit you mention... usually if you have heat and AC in one unit it means you're heating with electricity. Which means there's no way the heat is included.. same goes for your water heater. If it is really electric then unless your landord is paying your electric bill I dont see how it could be included in your rent. It doesnt make sense that you are getting a gas bill if this is supposed to be included.

      One last thing you could check is make sure the thermostat on the water heater is not set too high.. since usually thats a big waste of energy. Check to see if your hot water is scalding hot.. if it is you can probably turn the temp down.

      One trick you can use is to turn everything off in the house, and then look at the electric meter and see how fast its running. That might help you pinpoint the energy hog.

12. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost me to do one average size of laundry?
    I’m trying to figure out how much it costs me to do one average size laundry (washer and dryer).

    I ONLY use cold water and there is not a sensor on my machine that requires X degree to wash. Friends new washer requires a minimum temperature of 72 degrees for cold water wash, so even if cold water wash is selected, the washer/hot water heater will kick in to raise temperature of water to 72 degrees.

    Washer Electric:
    Standard, Top Loader, designed to handle 5 lbs. of laundry per load
    There is no evidence that the Maytag Model LAT8705AAE is energy efficient.

    Dryer Electric:
    Sears/Kenmore 800 color is golden rod. The color golden rod screams the ‘70’s
    Sure bet this dryer is not energy efficient. Can dry a full load in 45 minutes.

    Water:
    Price for Water (increased 6 months ago). Town charges the following:
    Minimum .00 (whether one gallon or one thousand gallons are used) for 2000 gallons of water (cost also includes, sewer $.75 DHEC fee and garbage fee). Based on a Google search, top-loading machines use up to 40-gallon tub nearly full of water in each cycle. Wow that’s a lot.

    Power:
    Last Month my power bill was for .00 and 781 KWH was used over a 30
    Days. I understand cost varies (+/-)
    Electricity Usage:
    Total KWH: 781
    Days: 30
    Average KWH per day: 26
    Average cost per day: .17

    Detergent: $.07 per wash

    Every time I try to figure this myself, I get a different price each time (I think my math trying to figure the price per KWH is throwing me). Thanks so much.

    • ANSWER:
      This is a great site for all things electric/cost. You can usually figure your cost within cents. Great site to save to Favorites.

      How much does it cost to run a washing machine/dryer?

      http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/laundry.html

13. QUESTION:
    why is my power bill still so high?
    we have no electric heat, clothes dryer is broke not running a/cs, reduced all light bulbs to new energy efficient brand , turned down hot water heater and unplug everything thats not in use and also do not use 220 stove. what could it be. power company says its not their meter either.

    • ANSWER:
      check your bill...ours has a graph on it covering the last 18 months of usage. Our power consumption went down, but our rates went up, which meant higher bills anyway.

      Just the power company's friendly way of saying "Where else you gonna go?"

14. QUESTION:
    Why is my electric bill so astronomical?
    I have lived in my house for about 3 years and have consistently high electric bills, 0 plus in winter and 0 plus in summer. I have a gas furnace, gas stove, gas dryer, compact fluorescents, etc. The major appliances I have that are electric are the water heater and a hot tub. I have no a/c. We are a family of five with average water consumption and nobody home from 9-5. We are extremely conscious about leaving lights on and have taken many measures to be more energy efficient, yet it doesn't seem to make much difference. My highest gas bill was only 0 despite having most of the biggies running off of it. My kilowatt per hour rate is right at $.087. My electric company isn't much help, just telling me my bills have been historically high for my house. My meter was tested this summer and shown to be accurate according to the electric company serviceman. Does anyone have any ideas why I would have such a huge bill? Help!!!

    • ANSWER:
      make sure your not being billed for someone Else power,it happens do you have any big street lights in your area,power co. are known for sticking you with the bill,i have over 800 plus apts in one area that i have to really watch the bills on the vacant units because they will put bill for street lights and if someone skips out and doesn't pay the bill they will try to put it on a vacant unit,but i catch it most of the time

15. QUESTION:
    Why aren't the baseboard heaters working well?
    My wife and I live in a large apartment complex with more than 30 apartments. We moved into the building in July 2007. At first, our electric bill was only around a month until winter came along. The only electric appliances we have are the usual lights, kitchen appliances (stove, frig, microwave), a small hot water tank which is on our bill every month. During the summer months with the air running the bill was still only a month. Last January we received our first winter heating bill which was near 0 for a tiny 2 bedroom, 1 bath apt. which is approximately 700 square feet. My wife nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw the bill. We use the spare bedroom for storage and do not use the baseboard heater in that room. We heat the master bedroom and livingroom/kitchen area. Which means we probably only heat around 600 or so square feet. The heaters are as old as the building. The building was probably built in the late 1970's or early 1980's. We had baseboard heating in the rental that we had before the apartment and the bill only ran around 0 a month. We had a washer/dryer and dishwasher also included on that bill. My neighbor today got her bill and started cussing. It was over 0 and the month of December wasn't really that cold. We live in NE Ohio.
    One neighbor said that the heaters should be replaced with newer more energy efficient ones. Also, the landlord does not heat the hallways or lobby area. My sister-in-law was waiting one day for my wife in the main lobby and said it was so cold that she was shivering. By the way, we are planning to move next spring. What we pay for heating and rent we could live in a luxury apartment. Should I contact anyone about the condition of the heating in these apartments? Is something wrong with the heaters? Thanks for any answers.

    • ANSWER:
      There are a number of things to consider.

      1. Heat loss is generally greater through windows and doors. Check for drafts; if cold air is coming in, then warm air is also escaping. You can address problems using weather stripping and expanding foam. You'll have to remove the trim around the windows and doors to properly seal the units. But this can be accomplished using simple tools; flat bar hammer and knife.

      2. To reduce power usage, check to see if your appliances are operating efficiently. Fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers use large amounts of electricity. You can help them run more efficiently by not hanging about with your head in the fridge and by only washing and drying full loads. You can reduce it further by hanging clothes to dry as well.

      3. Utility rates are usually not fixed; meaning the costs fluctuate. Look at your past bills and see what the per units costs are and determine if the rates have changed recently. Some utility providers do offer the option of averaging out the costs over a year; you pay more in the summer but less in the winter. A customer's overall usage is averaged out over a 12 month period and the monthly charges are adjusted to reflect this calculation.

      4. If the problems are widespread, you and the other disgruntled tenants can file a grievance with the landlord. Check local "Landlord and Tenant" acts within your jurisdiction for more details and options available to you and the other tenants.

16. QUESTION:
    What obligation does a landlord have to provide adequate heating?
    Have been wondering this since the last awful winter we had -

    We rent a 15th century old horrible cold house (even in now in May its cold).

    We have storage heaters in living room, master bedroom and kitchen. If on full they will last until around 9pm if doors are kept shut.

    In two children's bedrooms we have convector heaters - we can't use these because the house is so draughty the thermostats dont work meaning they dont switch off plus they cost too much to run (one month landed us a bill of 250.00 when we had them at setting 3 out of 6)

    The bathroom has a rubbish fan heater attached to the wall that faces straight down meaning the sink and toothbrushes get warm and not much else.

    We have an old electric boiler that only provides enough hot water for 1/4 of a bath and a sink full for washing up.

    No double glazing, the doors don't fit in the frames properly and the loft insulation has not been put down correctly.

    Now what I ask is what obligation does a landlord have at ensuring the heating inside the property is sufficient for the type of property? - It would appear they slapped the convector heaters in just to tick the box and say they've put heating in knowing full well they can't be used.

    And also what obligation do they have to ensure the house and appliances are as energy efficient as possible as well as the insulation of the house?

    We're at our wits end again (what with a newborn on the way) and are concerned as to how cold this next winter will be.

    This last one was so bad we'd be walking around in several hoodies and jumpers and water would freeze if left in the sink at night. We'd have to go elsewhere to have showers and baths because it was too cold to use the house one.

    To put it in perspective as well our winter electric bill was 369.00 for 3 months and the house was still freezing.

    Any landlords or tenants have experiences they can share? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would benefit from some answers.
    Thank you to those who provided sensible answers.

    Simply responding - 'if you don't like it move' is not very helpful. Comments such as 'you must have money if you're having a baby' are also not very helpful.

    The money we earn goes straight on saving for the winter months. If we could move we would but due to all sorts of reasons we can't.

    1) My partner and daughter are both disabled and need to be near family for when I am at work for long periods of time

    2) No other property in the area is suitable

    3) We managed to get a half price deposit on this property in the first place and finding another landlord who will offer this is next to impossible.

    So no, moving is not as simple as some people would like to make it seem and we are not simply 'whinging.'

    • ANSWER:
      Have you actually spoken to your landlord to ask if he would put new night storage heaters in the bedrooms instead of the convector heaters.Maybe you could meet halfway and pay some towards this.Also you can contact the local council as your wife and daughter are disabled they might be able to give you a grant towards this or help you financially with a deposit for a better house.
      Can I just ask why no property in your area is suitable for you.
      Your landlord is under no obligation to provide more adequate heating as long as all the heaters that were in the house when you signed the tenancy agreement are in good working order.My in laws are in a similar situation to you,ancient house so cold in the winter,ice forms on the insides of the bedroom windows and they only have a coal fire in the lounge,no heating anywhere else.
      Your best bet is speaking to your landlord or the council,but if you speak to the council,they may inform your landlord especially if they think he needs to upgrade the heaters and some landlords will evict tenants for this.Good luck.

17. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost to heat a house? 820 sq ft?
    I currently do not pay for heat. It is inlcuded in my rent. Also, (Strange) but I do not know what I pay for electric either. Can you please tell me what these bills usually cost?

    My lawyer won my disability case. I have a payee person that pays all the bills for me. I'm actually buying a house. I need to make a budget for the the heat and elect. My payee will help with the budget, but all she said about the bills is that "it varies". Could someone please suggest some reasonable numbers for me?

    Also, #2, The house that we are considering moving into has a TECHNICALLY "Michigan" basement, so it is musty. I said "technically". It is actually built into a man made hill? It's very attractive, actually, as it places us above the neighbors yards, and... our basement * should * stay less dry than our neighbors' basements, as it is technically built "on the level" of the neighbors' actual house. There is no insulation on the upper part of the basement. The roof is brand new with very good insulation. The furnace is about 30 yrs old (yeah, we will probably contemplate getting a newer energy efficient model. I have some $ to work with now, for the down payment on my house, buying a car, or buying a new Wacky GeoThermal heat - we want to be energy efficient, or hot water heat with solar panals or some wacky hippie stuff. I'm allergic to "everything" so, We like the idea of alternative heat sources. I don't think we can use a wood burning furnace because there may be city laws about the pollution... but I'm open to the idea. Heat rises. My Grandfather had a wood stove in his basement. It was always SUPER HOT in his two story house. Both of my child's Grandparents both have wood stove heat , currently, so, we can get lots of tips and insider info about his style of heat.) So, how much does it cost for any of the above mentioned furnaces? I do not know for a fact that the current heater is "bad", it is simply "OLD" and inefficient, I was told. The house also has central air , so, that may affect your answer. Isn't central air hooked up to the heating ducts? So,it would collect dust all winter, if I used alternative heat, and blow all that nasty dust out in the summer? EW> I'm allergic to all that dust. And the mold too. It's pretty musty in our whole entire future house. "musty smells" I can leave with, but not mold. Michigan basements are musty smelling... Just have to live with it? I guess? How much does it cost to "seal" your basement? would that even be worth the price? Our basement floor is very uneven due to settling of a 1920s house.

    We would like hard new flooring, how much does that cost? I'm interested in real honest to goodness wood planks, or bamboo? I heard that is ecologically friendly..... or just cheap vinyl? how much does any of this cost? I have some money to work with, but it depends on if I need to purchase a new furnace or not???? and how would I know ? about the furnace? Will it conk out next winter? or last for many more years? how long does a furnace last?

    The house currently has brand spanking new carpet. I hate to tear it out..;. but I don't know if the previous owners had furry pets. I love my pets... but I'm allergic. (as always), mostly just mild itching. But sometimes, I have asthma too. So, I heard that a "special" allergy helper vaccuum costs like 0? Is that a good deal? shouldn't I just put down new flooring? in the long run, it will need to be replaced anyway!!!!

    http://www.karawynn.net/mishacat/toilet.html
    My cat is trained to go potty on the human toilet. (True story!! Yeah, wierd, huh?) but I am afraid he will make kitty messes on the carpet!!!!! He might stop his toilet training if he sees carpet!! yikes!!!!!!!!
    please help!!!!

    THANK YOU , sorry so long! 10 pts for best answer,
    THANK you everyone! Why don't we go ahead and vote?

    • ANSWER:
      Electric would be around 0
      heat 100-300 depends on type, installation ,doors ,windows, outside temp.

      If you are allergic to everything i would find a new house.you will not like being in a musty house. there will probably be issues with mold

18. QUESTION:
    Electricity / kwh usage through the roof for no apparent reason. How do I find out what's causing it?
    My husband and I live in a newly constructed (2003 build) loft/condo community in an urban area. We moved here in Oct 2008 and our energy usage has gone up almost exponentially every month. This month alone, my kwh usage is listed as 2,627! That's almost a 0 bill here in TX.

    This absolutely cannot be right. We are pretty energy-conscious people. Our unit is approx 1500 sq ft (2 bedroom, 2 bath) with EnergyStar appliances including the central heat/air units. I keep the hot water heater turned on its lowest setting, and turn off the power strip for things like the computer when not in use. We have energy efficient/"green" bulbs in almost all of our fixtures, I'm always careful to not leave lights on, and even keep one of the two thermostats Off unless the weather is extremely nasty (thus only heating/cooling half of the house about 75% of the time). We have a plasma TV in the living room which I know uses a lot of power, but we had it at our old residence and certainly were not paying 0/mo power bills there.

    Of course I have contacted my electric company and of course they offered little in the way of assistance. All they said they were "able" to do is send someone out to re-read the meter. And of course, the second reading was the same as the original.

    What could be causing this? Could they be reading the wrong meter (we live above the fitness room/game room/office of our complex which I'm sure uses a ridiculous amount of power)? Could someone be stealing/pirating our electricity? If there is a short or faulty wiring or appliance somewhere, how would I find this out?

    Thanks in advance for any tips on how to find out what's going on here.

    • ANSWER:
      A lot of times these hydro meters are all located in a metering closet somewhere near the main service. Your meter could be labelled incorrectly, so you are paying for someone elses hydro and they are paying for yours. I would start there. Have a contractor trace it out and give you a definitive answer... Somebody could be stealing your power but the contractor could tell you that as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Why do I need an installation kit for my Rennai tankless hot water heater?
   I recently ordered a tankless hot water heater (Rennai R35i PLUS). When I picked it up I was informed that I also needed an installation kit that cost half as much as the unit. In my opinion, any required accessory that costs more than 10 percent of any original item should come with the original item and the cost adjusted accordingly. This is a almost a "bait and switch". I might have decided on a different manufacturer if I had known I was going to get hit with a 50% price increase. What does this kit actually do?

   • ANSWER:
     I hope you didnt get a electric unit since this usually requires a service upgrade due to the high amperage

2. QUESTION:
   Price of tankless hot water heaters?

   • ANSWER:
     You will find that they are around 3 times more expensive than regular water heaters. But, after a few years you will get those dollars back. The cost of using a regular water heater is around a month. Using a tank-less is under a month, plus they last for at least 20 years, versus 7 to 10 years for a regular water heater. If you check with your accountant, there is some type of tax credit that you can get by installing a tank-less water heater. When checking for prices, look at both plumbers and gas companies to give you quotes. They both install them and you may find the gas companies to be cheaper because the plumber has to buy a regulator from the gas company which is very expensive, but if the gas company installs it the cost of the regulator is much less. Good luck.

3. QUESTION:
   Is a tankless water heater worth the investment?
   I was looking into purchasing a tankless hot water heater, in your experience has it been worth the price of changing over?

   • ANSWER:
     I HAVE A TANK LESS AND LOVE IT

     I have a gas Bosch Tank less hot water heater and I have it for 2 yrs and love it… endless hot water…. I ordered this from Lowe’s (special order) and did get an extended warranty… never have used it…. Now even though it is gas it does have a plug in for electricity…. But I have saved like you would not believe….MANY HAVE SAID IF YOU USE LOTS OF HOT WATER… YOU WILL RUN OUT OF HOT WATER…. SO WRONG…. I have let the water run for over 45 min just to see what would happen... still had hot water….
     AND THE BEST PART TAKES UP SO LITTLE SPACE…. Especially living in the east where we have to keep are hot water tanks in the house… on the wall… out of the way
     Yes you need to make sure you get someone that knows what they are doing to install this…At the time the tank was 698.00 with a 10% coupon off… and then when it arrive it had a small minor dent on the front…and did get another 100.00 back from Lowe’s due to this…then to install this .. it took a 5 hrs…because of the pipes required….venting etc… so added on it was an additional 375.00 to get this installed plus the parts…

     YOU asked
     has it been worth the price of changing over

     YES YES and YES if I had to do over would I Yes

     Just remember if you find one at Lowe's you like and some one else has it cheaper Lowe's will match the price plus take 10 % off from that but remember brand to brand model to model

     Good Luck

4. QUESTION:
   what is the cost of a direct oil fired hot water heater?
   I have been looking into a new hot water heater. Tankless won't work. I can find prices on lp and electric but nothing on a direct oil fired. Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     First, it's called a water heater. If the water was hot, you wouldn't need a water heater.

     An oil fired water heater is not a good choice. If natural gas isn't available, the best choice is LP (propane). Almost no maintenance, more reliable and cheaper to buy.

     If you just have to have oil, do a search for "oil fired domestic boiler"

5. QUESTION:
   Help! Think we need to replace electric water heater - tankless vs. regular? Brands you recommend?
   We are trying to pick a water heater to replace our old one. Our hot water currently smells/tastes metallic, the heater we have is 12 yrs old, & the problem has been going on for almost a yr, so I'm thinking the prob. is more than just the anode rod at this point. Any thoughts on the contrary?

   Our cold water also sometimes smells metallic. Most of the time it's just when the hot water's "warming up" & coming out cold at 1st, but I'm worried there may be rust or metal buildup in our pipes now. What to do? How to tell? We tested our h2o, it came back ok - maybe test was bad?

   If we do need to replace it, got any input on tankless vs. regular electric? We have no access to gas. Have heard tankless can get buildup faster. I know w/tankless, w/out electricity we'd have no hot water, but that is ok. We like the space & electric conservation. I've been researching & think we could afford one, prices have dropped.

   What brands - tankless or regular - would you recommend?

   Thanks!
   We'd also be taking out the old one and installing the new one ourselves, so any advice on that would also be appreciated!
   We do have enough amps, that I do know. I think it's 200, but whatever the case it is something my husband checked before we started shopping for one, in case we needed to rule the tankless out.
   Luc, thank you so much, that is very sweet, and I may be emailing u!
   As far as how it tastes ... I should clarify - we aren't drinking the hot water from the tap, but you can sort of 'taste' it in the steam from the shower, and, our dishes out of the dishwasher have a metallic taste to them, because of the residue or something I'm guessing. Also, our cold water also has a weird flavor. Like I said, we tested it, but got normal results. So that's even more confusing.

   • ANSWER:
     Tank style would prolly be your best bet.

     The primary differences in hot water heaters/heater warranties is a 'self cleaning' feature,
     the equivalent of an insurance policy,
     number (and material) for anodes,
     heat recovery rate and
     for electrics, upper heating element sheath material (copper v. SS ).

     As long as there IS a cold water inlet dip tube, AFAICT,
     a dip tube is a dip tube.

     Brand name doesn't seem to make much difference when viewing longevity.
     The components (tanks, etc) are prolly the same regardless of model/warranty.

     If one anode is good, two just has to be better? *L*

     Review the heat recovery rates. For the most part, let your wallet be your guide as electrics are way slower than gas.

     A SS sheath theoretically lasts longer than copper.

     Have yall had your water analyzed for the metallic taste problem?

     Edit-
     Tried a second lab?

6. QUESTION:
   How can you cakculate the cost of heating hot water in a domestic household situation?
   I would like to compare natural gas to propane gas to electric water heaters in a way that is understandable to a lay person. I understand that heating water is one of the highest energy costs in a home but how would I compare the price of a tank to a tankless water heater?

   • ANSWER:
     A British Thermal Unit (BTU), is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. Multiply the BTU output of the heating appliance (found on the nameplate) by the number of gallons it holds (also found on the nameplate) and multiply that number by 8.35 (The weight in pounds of one gallon of water) Tankless water heaters are instantaneous, but they have to heat cold water because they don't have any storage capacity.
     You also have to determine the cost of Electricity (sold by the Kwh), propane (Sold by he gallon) and natural gas(sold by the cubic foot) in your area and use those figures to calculate the cost of energy.

7. QUESTION:
   Tankless water heaters for apartments?
   I am considering electric tankless water heaters for each of my 28 2-bedroom 1 bath apartments. What type is recommended? I don't want to recirculate the hot water. The hard water kills the 30-gal tank versions pretty fast plus I am trying to save my residents some money on their electricity bills. I have seen them priced from 350-2000 and would like to get by with as inexpnesive as practical (remember - 28 units lol) without buying junk. Is the Tankless1 a good make and model for this application?

   • ANSWER:
     I would check with a company that manufactures and sells these units. They produce hot water on demand only, and that saves money. In Europe we have used these type of water heaters already 50 years ago, however, in the USA they are fairly new on the market and not cheap, as we found out. When checking the water heater prices, we were disappointed with their high cost, and left things as they were for the time being.
     We live in New York State where the local electric companies are charging outrageous prices for electricity. In time we also like to come up with an energy efficient way of heating our water.

8. QUESTION:
   Baseboard hot water heating system's furnaces haven't been improved in 40 years.?
   Why haven't they been improved to operate the same way as a 'tankless' domestic water heater works?... With all this talk of "Green living" & the price of oil throught the roof. Whats the reason?

   • ANSWER:
     Says who? My new boiler only fires when the wall thermostat asks for heat and the boiler is below it's setpoint. It does not fire when there is no need for heat, even when the furnace cools off. In other words, it does not fire just to keep itself hot like my old boiler.

     Basically that is what a tankless system does, only heats when there is a demand..

9. QUESTION:
   House renovation finishings and selling?
   Our home has recently been reno'd with moderate end finishings (I.e. maple kitchen, granite bathroom countertops, laminate flooring, higher end faucets, fresh paint, tankless hot water heater, new plumbing, electrical, high efficiency furnace already in place, 2 new full bathrooms with jetted tub, stainless steel appliances, etc). Our home inspection report was good, with only a small handful of minor suggestions (no actual deficiencies). Our electrical, plumbing, etc. was all professionally done.

   Our house is older and smaller but has been completely renovated inside and out. We are priced fairly based on the market. Most of the other comparable homes in our price range have little to no upgrades or renovations. Our agent says we need to be the best in our price range, which confuses me because it looks like we are.

   Overall, our house looks good but there are some minor (cosmetic) issues with drywall finishing, paint, moulding finishing, etc. in some areas.

   My question is, would we be expected to list much lower to get an offer if the problems are minor cosmetic issues? Overall, the house looks very nice.

   We had one person say they hated the house, that it was unprofessional, and that it was priced too high. Another also complained about the finishings, so we tried to do some touch ups. We have had some pretty positive feedback too.

   Do finishings really make or break a sale, or are these people simply trying to get us to lower our price? Based on what we've seen, our house is not perfect, but it's fairly priced and a good value (based on comparable listings).

   What makes more sense, to lower the price, or fix the finishings (which it looks like we will have to save up to hire someone to do)? What is the real problem here and how to fix it?

   Thanks!
   As a buyer, would cosmetic finishings stop you from putting an offer on an otherwise good house?

   Also, our kitchen and bathrooms look pretty professional aside from the minor finishing issues.
   Thanks everyone for the feedback. We've been on the market just over 1 month. The market here is slower(buyer's market) , but not at a stand still. We are priced similar to other comparable houses. The house does show well overall, it is spotless, clutter free, and staged. Our house has decent curb appeal overall, but since it's winter and we have 3 ft snowbanks we can't really stage much outside until spring.

   I guess what I'm really asking is, are people being "picky" about a wall finish, trim that needs to be siliconed, or paint because they are not happy with the price, or would that *really* break a sale if the house was otherwise good? I need to figure out if we should drop the price to "compensate" or if it would be smarter to actually fix the things being complained about.
   The reason why I ask is because we obviously would need to save up and hire someone to touch up the areas that need the work. We obviously are not good enough to do it ourselves. I don't want to lower a fair price either if people are still going to complain about the same things, then we are no better off. But would you still buy a house for the "right" price if you didn't like the finishings? Or not?

   • ANSWER:
     How long has your home been on the market? How does the price compare to other listings in the area and recent sales?

     My personal opinion is that renovations with the purpose of selling are not a good idea. It's better to just fix the things that are broken and then list the house in line with comps. You run too much risk of the people looking not having the same tastes as you if you do a lot of cosmetic work.

     Do some research on other homes for sale and recent sales, then decide to lower the price or not. Keep in mind, that the market is very soft right now, so you've got an uphill battle to sell the house no matter what.

10. QUESTION:
    How do I determine dwelling insurance needed on Condo?
    Dwelling coverage only - not personal property or liability coverage. Apartment-style condo. Responsible for drywall inward (each unit has its own central air, furnace and tankless hot water heater within the unit). No lender involved, so I get to set the amount. My research so far has indicated a range from ,000 (way to low if my unit was gutted by a fire) to the full purchase price (which is too high since this includes builder profit as well as my pro rata share of the entire building which would be covered by the Homeowners Association's insurance).

    • ANSWER:
      The homeowners association insurance likely has a ,000 deductible on their policy. So factor THAT in, divided by the number of units, and whatever else you do, be sure to also have "loss assessment" coverage in at LEAST that amount, on your policy.

      If it were me, since I know what the deductible on the master policy is, I'd be sure that my dwelling limit was AT LEAST the amount of the deductible - if there's water damage to your unit only, and you're looking at an amount under the deductible - like ,000, it would stink if the master policy didn't kick in AT ALL, wouldn't it.

      So. Depending on the square footage of your unit, if it's around 1,000 or so, I'd guess that you'd need at least ,000 of dwelling, OR, the deductible of the master policy whichever is MORE. Plus, the loss assessment coverage.

      You should be discussing this with your agent, though.

11. QUESTION:
    Should I buy a home that needs these repairs or not? what do I do?
    we found a home we like,in escrow, should close n fund soon, but we have not yet signed last final docs. 2003, beautiful landscaped front and back yard. back yard, is big with, very nice patio n slab, nice sprinkler system. house is 2230 sq ft, 4 bed, 3 bath, with loft and office. needs new carpet, paint, throughout. house needs a lot of cleaning as far as scrubbing bathrooms, windows and floors, garage has lots of mice droppings and kitchen n house has some. the inspection was yesterday and there are some things.....leak in attic at spare bathroom, small leak at near water heater vent on top of house, deck in master bed unsafe railing and floor is lil loose, rest were minor such as loose bolts, rusted frame in shower, loose toilets, dryer vent clogged, pipe vent in attic for condensation needs to be cleaned/blow out...they had a spa but it has leaks, and it kept kicking on n off, inspector said we needed to have a someone come look n give us an estimate to see if it can be repairable, may be too much to bother with. oh and noticed lots of big spiders in house that were caught on sticky pads we left out a month ago, and a saw a huge live one in the house, spiders are big and scare me too. but i guess terminex or someone like that can take care of that?
    my feelings are, we love the area/city....it is on a very nice cul de sac, sits near the end of one, school is walking distance for spring n summer ( 1 mi). we would walk our kids/i would drive other wise, house is not open when you come in, like it lacks a family room, formal living lacks dining room. there is just a small living area with electric fire place that is open to kitchen, open to the sliding door that leads to the back yard. so you can see kids playing in yard from kit and living room (good). master bedroom small, but bath area big, one of my child's room is small, plus their bath is super small. we have been looking for months, and cannot find a yard that big with privacy, there are nicer homes that are open and have move in ready feel, but neighbors house are close together and most lots are very small front n back. in the house we are looking at, we have to put in carpet + paint+ fix repairs here. hubby is very picky on yard tho, likes large yards n privacy. we would have to finance the carpet and repairs.

    OR we buy a brand new home that are not yet built will be built this spring, we are renters, so no pressure on moving with in a time frame....prices are at top of our budget, a lil smaller, will lack loft and office,school is on other side of freeway, no park near by to walk to, larger living room but No formal, or formal dining,larger kitchen and eating area, may be able to choose lot, lots nice new features such as.....

    All these premium features come standard in The New House at no extra cost.
    In the kitchen

    • Granite counter-tops
    • Euro-style cabinetry with knobs
    • Whirlpool stainless steel appliances
    - Energy Star dishwasher
    - 30” 5-burner gas range
    - Microwave with built In ventilation
    • 20 gauge stainless steel sinks
    In the bathrooms

    • Integrated sink with cultured marble tops
    • Vanities with built In drawers
    • Tri-view style medicine cabinets
    • Dual flush toilets
    • Separate tub and shower
    Mechanical technology

    • Tankless hot water system
    • Non-corrosive PEX plumbing
    • Optimized heating and air conditioning
    • Home Run electrical harnesses
    • CAT5 and RG6 cable throughout
    Premium trim work

    • Dual pane low-e vinyl windows
    • Paneled window boxes with casings
    • Extra tall 3 1/4” baseboard trim
    • Raised panel interior doors
    Structural enhancements

    • 2" x 6" exterior walls with R-21 insulation
    • Structural sheathing around the entire house
    • Reflective radiant barrier attic sheathing
    • 11” R-30 attic insulation
    • Laser-leveled foundations
    Outside the house

    • Electric garage door opener with remote
    • Vinyl maintenance-free fencing
    • Lanscaped front yard with xeriscape watering
    none of these repairs were disclosed and it is a short sale, bank will not pay for repair, due to they have lost over 100k from sellers not keeping up on it.
    kids tub is small not bathroom, they have double sink as well.
    there is room to "add on" to 2003 home in living room, in future.. out side on side is large to put a extra 20x20.

    • ANSWER:
      You better off buying a new one or something that does not need this much...! Anyway my advise to you as former Rochester, NY investor banks won't give you any financing on this property. The only way you can buy it is with your own cash money and this involve lots of risk. Good luck...!

12. QUESTION:
    Should I buy a home that needs these repairs or not? what do I do?
    we found a home we like,in escrow, should close n fund soon, but we have not yet signed last final docs. 2003, beautiful landscaped front and back yard. back yard, is big with, very nice patio n slab, nice sprinkler system. house is 2230 sq ft, 4 bed, 3 bath, with loft and office. needs new carpet, paint, throughout. house needs a lot of cleaning as far as scrubbing bathrooms, windows and floors, garage has lots of mice droppings and kitchen n house has some. the inspection was yesterday and there are some things.....leak in attic at spare bathroom, small leak at near water heater vent on top of house, deck in master bed unsafe railing and floor is lil loose, rest were minor such as loose bolts, rusted frame in shower, loose toilets, dryer vent clogged, pipe vent in attic for condensation needs to be cleaned/blow out...they had a spa but it has leaks, and it kept kicking on n off, inspector said we needed to have a someone come look n give us an estimate to see if it can be repairable, may be too much to bother with. oh and noticed lots of big spiders in house that were caught on sticky pads we left out a month ago, and a saw a huge live one in the house, spiders are big and scare me too. but i guess terminex or someone like that can take care of that?
    my feelings are, we love the area/city....it is on a very nice cul de sac, sits near the end of one, school is walking distance for spring n summer ( 1 mi). we would walk our kids/i would drive other wise, house is not open when you come in, like it lacks a family room, formal living lacks dining room. there is just a small living area with electric fire place that is open to kitchen, open to the sliding door that leads to the back yard. so you can see kids playing in yard from kit and living room (good). master bedroom small, but bath area big, one of my child's room is small, plus their bath is super small. we have been looking for months, and cannot find a yard that big with privacy, there are nicer homes that are open and have move in ready feel, but neighbors house are close together and most lots are very small front n back. in the house we are looking at, we have to put in carpet + paint+ fix repairs here. hubby is very picky on yard tho, likes large yards n privacy. we would have to finance the carpet and repairs.

    OR we buy a brand new home that are not yet built will be built this spring, we are renters, so no pressure on moving with in a time frame....prices are at top of our budget, a lil smaller, will lack loft and office,school is on other side of freeway, no park near by to walk to, larger living room but No formal, or formal dining,larger kitchen and eating area, may be able to choose lot, lots nice new features such as.....

    All these premium features come standard in The New House at no extra cost.
    In the kitchen

    • Granite counter-tops
    • Euro-style cabinetry with knobs
    • Whirlpool stainless steel appliances
    - Energy Star dishwasher
    - 30” 5-burner gas range
    - Microwave with built In ventilation
    • 20 gauge stainless steel sinks
    In the bathrooms

    • Integrated sink with cultured marble tops
    • Vanities with built In drawers
    • Tri-view style medicine cabinets
    • Dual flush toilets
    • Separate tub and shower
    Mechanical technology

    • Tankless hot water system
    • Non-corrosive PEX plumbing
    • Optimized heating and air conditioning
    • Home Run electrical harnesses
    • CAT5 and RG6 cable throughout
    Premium trim work

    • Dual pane low-e vinyl windows
    • Paneled window boxes with casings
    • Extra tall 3 1/4” baseboard trim
    • Raised panel interior doors
    Structural enhancements

    • 2" x 6" exterior walls with R-21 insulation
    • Structural sheathing around the entire house
    • Reflective radiant barrier attic sheathing
    • 11” R-30 attic insulation
    • Laser-leveled foundations
    Outside the house

    • Electric garage door opener with remote
    • Vinyl maintenance-free fencing
    • Lanscaped front yard with xeriscape watering
    none of these repairs were disclosed and it is a short sale, bank will not pay for repair, due to they have lost over 100k from sellers not keeping up on it.
    kids tub is small not bathroom, they have double sink as well.
    there is room to "add on" to 2003 home in living room, in future.. out side on side is large to put a extra 20x20.

    • ANSWER:
      If the price is right, and if you both agree this place would be great once fixed up, I would not let the problems you saw deter me. However, if the lot size is going to make your husband unhappy, let it go.

      Before moving in, pull up the carpets or pay someone to do it. (We do it ourselves, but it's not fun at all.) Next, either do the work yourself or hire a cleaning service to scrub the place clean. When all that's done, schedule the exterminator for mice and insects/spiders, including blocking points of entry. Let a few days go by for odors to dissipate, then it's time to get in there and paint while repair people come and go, doing what needs doing. Deal with gas and water issues first, since they can be damage-makers or dangerous.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Who made Kenmore Water Heaters for Sears in 1998?
   Having problems. Pilot wont stay lit. I have changed the Thermocoupler. Pilot lights and burner lights for about 2 minutes then it all shuts off. Some say to change Gas Control Valve. Local Sears does not have a parts department. Model #153.333832. Any ideas? I believe Whirlpool or GE made the water heater but would like confirmation. This is not a good year for me and I really don't have 0.00 for a new W/H when I will be moving soon. Thoughts appreciated.

   • ANSWER:
     Whirlpool.

2. QUESTION:
   sears water heaters? yes or no?
   dose any one own or trust buying a water heater from sears i looked on there website and some of the reviews were not the best i just wanted to get a hands on opinion. or if any one knows the best place to buy one. looking for at least 50 gallon natural gas and 0 tops thank you

   • ANSWER:
     Rheem, Bradford White, and AO Smith are the 3 major manufacturers of water heaters in the U.S. and make most of the store brands. AO Smith makes the Sears/Kenmore heaters. Rheem makes GE water heaters. The following is an excerpt I took off a website I usually find very informative. I'll link the site in my source

     Several reviews and plumbing forums agree that Bradford White water heaters have the best reputation for build quality and rapid repairs. Rheem/Ruud, which also makes water heaters under the GE, Marathon and Richmond brands, comes in a close second. One of the largest water heater manufacturers, A.O. Smith, makes some very energy-efficient water heaters under its own brand name, as well as Kenmore, Whirlpool and several other water-heater brands. However, contractors rank A.O. Smith water heaters well below average, and owners reviewing Kenmore and Whirlpool water heaters agree.

     Something to consider. Hope this helps.

3. QUESTION:
   How much does Sears charge to install electric water heater?
   I am considering buying a Sears water heater and am curious about installation costs.

   • ANSWER:
     I think they had a flat rate of like 0 to deliver and do a "normal" install.

     BUT! In my state they added a new regulation requiring expansion tanks to be added. Those can cost a chunk of money. Then too often the valves are bad or other plumbing may need to be changed. That raises costs a lot. I have seen that 0 jump to 0-0 with the other plumbing and parts added.

     There is also new requirements for earthquake strapping that must be well secured. And they now require a permit ( here) from the city/state, too.

     Then the city may come out to inspect to ensure that all codes are being met.

     All that extra work changes it from being a "normal" installation and that costs, it can get pricey.

     So it will cost a lot less if you already have an expansion tank, the proper earthquake strap and the plumbing and valves are good.

     Good Luck.

4. QUESTION:
   Did any one had a bad experience with Sears water heaters? What about the timing services?
   I buy a water heater kenmore two years ago. ,000. Bad decision it break all when it do not have the second years and the services is very bad.
   Tell me about you experience ... only bad experience me mad with costumer services of Sears.
   I buy an extend guarantee. I write this in the time of waiting for the technician. the assigment was for yesterday but for some musterisly reason they say i had my zipcode wrong. They came before to fix it 3 week ago and they cannot still discover what is wrong.
   *** when they came the 3 times before the zip code was correct.

   • ANSWER:
     Our water heater came from Sears. It made it five years before we had to change the thermocouple. I changed it myself so we haven't had any dealings with Sears Service. I don't think I would personally go through Sears for service unless it was warranty service. Any plumbing service company can be called to service a water heater problem.

5. QUESTION:
   What other stores sell furnaces and hot water heaters besides Lowes and Sears?
   ................

   • ANSWER:
     You local Hd'we stores; Home depot, Rheem, Trane, Ruud, Your local Gas company. Ace hardware...

     Papaw

6. QUESTION:
   Who makes sears model 33443 water heater?
   Seems like a very energy efficient heater.
   Any comments?

   • ANSWER:
     This question can probably be answered only by Sears, and good luck trying to get a real answer. Salespeople will tell you all sorts of things. The real answer is that I doubt Sears makes much of anything except money on the products they sell. Nearly all of their stuff is subbed out and you never know to whom.
     A case in point is a simple cable for a power lawnmower. The serial number on the cable is a Sears cable number, not one from real manufacturer. This keeps you from buying an original without having to go through the hassle of ordering from Sears.
     I think this is one of those cases of "trade secrets" and you will probably never find out unless there is some kind of sticker hidden inside a compartment, but I even doubt there would be one of those.
     Hope you do find out. I would compare SEER, amps, recovery time, etc., to other brands and go with the one that best meets your needs.

7. QUESTION:
   Which is better - gas water heater from sears, lowes or home depot?
   50 gallon - natural gas with 12 year warranty

   • ANSWER:
     Lowes. Good grief, don't ever buy anything from Sears. You'll pay half again in price, Lowes carries good quality appliances(I think just about all of mine came from Lowes) they will deliver and set it up, and you have just as much warranty. I've always found their service people to be helpful and knowledgable.

8. QUESTION:
   how old is a sears and roebuck water heater serial # 653166-3A05182?

   model # 150-36531

   • ANSWER:
     I work for Sears and unfortunately am not able to locate any information as to the age of that water heater. I can however tell you parts are no longer available for it. You may contact us directly at 1-800-424-2047 and the person you get on the phone might be able to find out how old it is by using the address it's located at. I'm guessing it must be atleast 30 years old.

9. QUESTION:
   i have a sears electric 50 gallon water heater. and i constantly have to push the red reset button.?
   the bottom wires were some how too close to each other and began to arch. i had to replace one wire, wrap them both in electrical tape and reposition them father apart, but after that the reset button on top next to the top wires keeps tripping, is it ruined now? or does something need to be replaced? i need help here!
   in between the resets i have my water heater turned down to the lowest setting and my hot water comes out super hot, like 140 150 degrees.

   • ANSWER:
     The water coming out very hot when the thermostat is turned down is telling you there is a problem with the thermostat not turning off when it reaches the set temperature and the high limit safety is tripping[red reset button].Most water heaters have an upper and lower thermostat and elements,if this one does it could be either thermostat that has failed.Only one works at a time and the bottom does the bulk of the work so it is most likely the one that is bad.They are not that expensive and so I would replace both if it has two.

10. QUESTION:
    I need prices for gas water heaters from big stores that get the tax credit?
    I am going to be buying a new water heater next month and I'm trying to find prices at major stores (Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, etc) for natural gas water heaters that qualify for the tax credit (Energy Factor >0.82 OR a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.) I want to see how much more they are compared to normal water heater. Anyone know pricing and/or can you provide links to them?

    • ANSWER:
      Most of the water heaters that qualify for this tax deduction are going to be Tankless Water Heaters. Some of the qualifying ones are:
      486-148 180k N Gas DV Indoor Tankless Water Heater
      486-265 180k LP Gas DV Indoor Tankless Water Heater
      486-311 180k N Gas Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
      486-487 180k LP Gas Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
      100658427 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 7.4 GPM Natural Gas Indoor Tankless Water Heater
      100658426 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 7.4 GPM LP Gas Indoor Tankless Water Heater
      100658424 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 7.4 GPM Natural Gas Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
      100658420 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 7.4 GPM LP Gas Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
      100658428 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 5.3 GPM Natural Gas Indoor Direct Vent Tankless Water Heater
      100658422 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 5.3 GPM LP Gas Indoor Direct Vent Tankless Water Heater
      100658419 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 5.3 GPM Natural Gas Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
      100658425 Rheem EcoSense On Demand 5.3 GPM LP Gas Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
      538-827 50 Gallon Electric Heat Pump
      These products are made by Rheem & can be purchased @ Home Depot. If you would like to view the link explaining the tax credits, then go to: http://www6.homedepot.com/taxcredit/hvac.html?cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-TaxCredit09-_-Home_HTML-_-Nav_hvac. Here, you'll find everything you need to know...Best of luck to ya!!!

11. QUESTION:
    Have7year old sears 50gallon 40000btu ngas water heater.How long beforeit dies?Are new ondemand type any good?
    To all who answer...thank you.

    • ANSWER:
      The old one should last at least 3 years. The on demand units are good. You save money by not trying to keep a tank of water hot all the time.

12. QUESTION:
    Sears, Lowe's.. what other major stores might sell Water Heaters for the house? Please help!!?
    i just can't think of any more stores... well, i tried home depot but eh....

    • ANSWER:
      Walmart.(Unfortunatly i used to work there. I would know) K-mart might too.

13. QUESTION:
    why does my gas water heater pilot light keep going out?
    I have a Sears gas water heater which i purchased less than a year ago and for some odd reason the pilot light has gone out a few times. Anyone know why this could be?

    • ANSWER:
      A standing pilot ( a small flame that burns continuously whether the burner is off or on) that goes out several times has three possible explanations, some already mentioned
      1. A draft strong enough to blow it out - rarely happens
      2. Defective thermocouple - very common
      3. Defective gas valve coil - common in older appliances, virtually unheard of in new.
      4. Out of adjustment pilot flame height. Usually preset at factory rarely problematic
      This is done by a small screw found on pilot assembly or gas valve body if it is there at all. Check to see if the flame is weak or just the opposite, too strong. (Should be a blue flame about 1/2 inch long)

      If you have a warranty, contact Sears service for a claim and field tech assistance
      If not, replace the thermocouple. They are cheap and usually do the trick first time out. Failing that and adjustment of pilot, the gas valve is the most expensive part left.

14. QUESTION:
    How long does it usually take to have a hot water heater replaced. Been 5 days and sears is dragging feet.?

    • ANSWER:
      If the unit is under warranty and Sears is replacing it free then wait. However this could be a very busy time of year for their contractors. Call their customer service department again and (politely of course) ask to speak to a supervisor if you cant get a firm date from the rep. If warranty is not an issue, go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy one with huarantee of one day installation. As a last resort, look up plumbers in the telephone directory and see if you can get one to come out. 5 days is an awfully long time to be waiting for this type of repair.

15. QUESTION:
    i have kenmore water heater from sears, with auto pilot light, which it keep turning off, any suggestion ?
    sears told me it will take 2 weeks to get parts (los angeles) is this normal ?

    • ANSWER:
      It sounds like you have a high efficiency heater with an electronic ignition and likely a forced draft fan. The part is probably a factory order. And they are waiting for the part to arrive before scheduling a return trip and they are backed up that much.

      Okay...... 2 weeks may be normal for a repair where they have to order a part but I will clue you in to how the "game" is played. (Don't ask, wink-wink).

      First hot water is considered a "Health and welfare" situation. They have 48 hours to respond if they take the job and 48 hours more to fix it BUT only if YOU declare it to be an emergency type situation.

      They actually have a separate system of people that hunt up parts they can buy locally or can call the factory direct and have it shipped second day air directly to you. That is for "emergency" calls but declaring it an "emergency" is up to you.

      So here is what you want to do. First, call their national number. The first person you talk to will be what the consumer advocate on the radio used to call "The customer no service person" whose job it is to make you happy without doing anything.

      The key words you want to use are "emergency" and "health and welfare issue". If they don't declare it an emergency and don't switch you to somebody that takes care of it quickly ask to talk to a supervisor. Use the key words.

      Sometime they will switch you to a local complaint person. Those people are very good at resolving such situations. If they don't give you such a person ASK if you can talk to a local person. You might have to call more than once. To save costs they try to handle most things in a national center but local people still exist.

      You can also ask to talk to a local supervisor. You may or may not have luck with that but usually they will respond.

      Be aware, all that special handling for parts as in shipping or buying local or scheduling a return call for "emergency" service means they will probably lose money doing the service. So be nice. They are in the customer service business so they do want to make you happy and the special handling system does already exist for just this purpose.

      It was really the fault of your particular technician who should have declared it an emergency service and emergency ordered the parts on the spot. But that takes extra time I know he doesn't have so they are reluctant to do it unless you complain.

      And last but not least, if you don't get a satisfactory response, then threaten to contact the "State Attorney General" over the failure to fix it in a suitable time. That really scares them as it is that person who enforces that 72 hour rule for emergency service for health and welfare issues. But don't use that unless you need to. Remember the honey vs. vinegar rule.

      I think if you squawk they will take care of you quickly. You just need to get your service call declared an emergency in their system.

      And last, in some cases it can be a factory order part on backorder. The part is just not available immediately and that is out of their control. That is rare and I would assume that is not the case.

      Good Luck.

16. QUESTION:
    sears.com need electric hot water heater?
    I need to replace my electric 50 gallon hot water heater. I need some prices to compare . today if possible. Thank you

    • ANSWER:
      Go to web sites for Home Depot and Lowe's for comparison prices. I bought my last one at Sears, and saved about ten percent.

17. QUESTION:
    My sears 2004 series 9 hot water heater thermo couple failed. Got new one some new pezio ignitor,?
    Now it lights and fires and brings water to temp, but won't refire after useing hot water

    • ANSWER:
      It's either bad or you made a mistake when you installed it. Read the installation instructions very carefully and retrace your every step. In my own experience the root of the problem is often my own human error.

18. QUESTION:
    what are some stores that carry electric hot water heaters?
    that are like a 20 30 or 40 gallon AND IS A 110??? thanks? besides home depot and sears ?

    • ANSWER:
      im pretty sure lowes does

19. QUESTION:
    Gas Hot Water Heater shuts off?
    I have a 7 year old Sears Gas Hot Water Heater. Several times when we have gone away for a day or more it seems as if the water heater went off and we only have luke warm water for a shower, etc. I go down to check the pilot lite and the burner is then working fine, and the hot water heater continues to work properly. Does anyone know what the problem might be?

    • ANSWER:
      It is going into "Energy Saver" mode. Just turn on a hot water tap for a few minutes when you first get home to "wake it up" and you will get a nice hot shower in 20 minutes or so.

      Bert

20. QUESTION:
    2003 International Plumbing Code question, hot water heaters...?
    Does this code require hot water heaters to be elevated on a platform? I currently have a 40 gallon tank that has a slow leak. I would like to replace it with a 66 gallon tank from Sears, which is 14 inches taller than my current tank. In order to NOT have to do extensive modifications to the piping, I would have to install the new tank WITHOUT the platform that my current tank is sitting on (steel, 18 inches tall).

    Question is - can I do this and still meet code? Or do I have to install the new one on the platform as well, and just suck it up and have the modifications done to the plumbing?

    My current hot water heater, sitting on its platform (and inside the drip pan) is 65 inches above the floor of my garage. The new tank is 61 inches tall, which means I could elevate it maybe 3-4 inches by sitting it on some bricks or something.

    • ANSWER:
      slappy, the only elevated ones are the ones in a garage and that would be GAS. electrics need not be elevated.
      in an enclosed cabinet the gas has to be vented to the roof, the air vent in the door at top and bottom, but not for electric.

      If you have this leak, you should build yourself a little elevation of bricks on floor, square of wood, metal tray with PVC drain in it, or anything of any height to keep it out of a puddle of water that rusts the water heater pan and destroys the heater further.

21. QUESTION:
    My water heater's burner will run for about 45 sec, then it and its pilot light go out. What might be wrong?
    This is a mid-1970's vintage Sears water heater... 55k BTU, 40-gal. It serves the guest bath, so we don't use it every day. We noticed it was cold this morning. I re-lit the pilot light and got the burner going with no trouble, but after about 45 sec the burner cuts off and the pilot light is no longer lit. Tried it twice. What are the things that might cause this, and how could I track down the problem and fix it ... without calling a repair person, of course.

    • ANSWER:
      Replace the thermocouple

22. QUESTION:
    how much does it cost to have a 40 gallon water heater installed?
    i live in north florida and was just quoted by Sears 9 to have a 40 gallon water heater installed that costs 9.
    excuse me for not being clear. sears wanted 9 for the water heater and an additional 9 to install it.

    • ANSWER:
      I would imagine where you live plays a part in how much it will cost.
      On average I would venture to say a average of 0 labor + the cost of the hot water tank. The tank itself will vary in cost --- depends on quality ---- around 0 to start , and up .
      It's not really difficult at all for a homeowner to do it --- if he"s a little bit handy --- either installing a 220v model , or gas. It's really not that big of a thing , and quite a simple,quick task to make "easy" money , in most cases.
      In some areas --- you are required by code to elevate the tank up 18"inches off the floor to the point of ignition on the tank --- this would be generally where the flame is. This is to prevent a "flashback" if you're using a solvent,etc. in the garage -- since fumes tend to stay closer to the ground level.
      There are some other things to remember ---- common sense mostly.
      If you own/buying your home --- then you may be able to do the job yourself.
      Anyway ----- just a few thoughts .
      +++Spock+++

23. QUESTION:
    Gas furnace and water heaters.?
    I am around Vancouver, BC area. Could somebody please advise me as which is the best place to buy and install a new gas furnace and water heater. Is it okay to buy from Sears or Home Depot or use a gas furnace contracting company????? Any suggestions will help!!!

    • ANSWER:
      I would suggest that you speak to neighbors, check with your local Better Business Bureau or similar organizations and see whom they recommend.

      For the record, there is nothing particularly wrong with purchasing through a one Big Box or another - but get at least three bids from three separate contractors for the same equipment at the same rating and efficiency before making your decision. Make sure you get a warranty in writing and that the contractor is fully insured (and get that in writing as well). Make sure that the work includes all necessary sheet-metal modifications, a condensate pump, wiring, gas supply plumbing, any/all required valves, flue modifications and so forth. In other words, make sure you are getting a 100% complete job including all material, labor, demolition and removal of any old equipment from your house with proper disposal. While you are at it, you have an opportunity to install state-of-the-art equipment which will, in turn give you maximum efficiency and the lowest operating cost. You might also consider installing a tankless demand-type water heater for additional savings.

      Good luck with it.

24. QUESTION:
    Are there reverse threads on an Anode Rod for Hot Water Heater or not?
    I have a sears 30 gal hot water heater...need to replace the Anode Rod. Could not remove it with the Sears tech, as he thought iit was reverse thread...tried to turn clockwise to remove and could not.
    I think he may be incorrect about the reverse thread.

    Thanks,

    RD

    • ANSWER:
      Reverse threads often have small notched cut in sides of the nuts. You'll see this on torches, gas appliances, motorcycles, bicycles,.....

      If the anode has any indication like that then it's probably reverse threads. Reverse threads are usually used to two reasons. They do not want you to ever possibly get things mixed (as in the case of oxygen acetylene torches), or the vibration or rotation of moving parts is such that reverse threads are the best mechanical connection.

      A hot water heater is not a moving or vibrating machine. You are not going to get that mixed up with anything else so I don't know why they would use reverse threads.

      Try some penetrating oil. If that don't work the use some heat. If that don't work then get out the cheater. If you don't know what a cheater is then you might want to call for help.

25. QUESTION:
    where should the thermo coupling be positioned on a gas heater, should it touch the flame when the heater lite?
    I've replaced all new parts on a sears gas water heater(Thermostate and all), the Pilot goes off after about 15 minutes and will then re-lite after I go thru the motions. This unit has 0.00 in parts new, Question is where should the thermo coupling be in relation to the flame when the water heater lites off om full heat, This one is in the main flame, is that the correct position?

    • ANSWER:
      A Sears water heater isn't enough info for knowing what model you have and what kind of controls it has.
      If it is just a standing pilot type water heater the pilot flame should be the only flame touching the thermocouple.
      If you had a leak in the pilot tubing where it connects to the pilot you could have another small flame hitting the thermocouple tubing which impedes how the thermocouple works and drop the pilot out. I have seen this a few times but should be obvious if it is the cause.
      If this is a sealed type unit they usually have a push button spark-er for lighting the pilot you could be loosing oxygen after the burner lights off.
      Gas water heaters are being manufactured with anti explosion type design.
      Different manufacturers use different designs for this. Some screened areas for the air inlet that can get plugged off by lint. This would allow everything to start and light off but would soon snuff out due to a lack of oxygen.
      This should be obvious to the experienced eye just by observing the operation.
      Not too long ago I had one that had a spring loaded damper just below the burner that had a pin type plunger with some linkage attached that would spring the damper closed if there was any delayed ignition. The damper had to be depressed and the linkage reassembled . This damper was not visible only the plunger pin and small linkage could be seen.

26. QUESTION:
    Ok to put a upright freezer right next to a gas water heater?
    Want to make sure that the back of my upright electrical freezer being only 2 inches away from my water heater presents NO FIRE HAZARD.

    The water heater is 3 years old. The upright Sears freezer is 20 years old. Both work well...just want to know if there is any reason not to put them so close together in the same room.

    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      That's OK.

27. QUESTION:
    hot water heater only give 5 gallons of hot water then gets cold?
    i have a 3 year old Kenmore 40 gallon electric water heater it was only putting out about 5 gallons of hot water then it got cold sears came out and replaced the lower thermostat and it worked fine for a couple days then it started to give a little hot water then it got cold again any one know what could be wrong with my water heater?thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      4 possibilities
      1)The lower element is burned out.
      2)The lower thermostat was not installed securly or went out again. (Just because it is new does not mean it is not faulty)
      3)The water inlet tub broke off. Cold water is supposed to enter the heater from the bottom. If it is fed from the top there is a pipe inside the heater that continues to the bottom. This is to help prevent the cold from mixing with the already hot water and diminishing your supply of hot water to a luke warm.

      If the water gets cold gradually then this is a good indicator of the problem. If the water puts out hot then a sudden change to cold then you are looking at a lower heating element problem, Either stat or heater.

      4)One other thing to investigate. Does the sink STILL have hot water after you loose it in the shower?
      If so it is possible you have a faulting scalding regulator in the shower fixture.

28. QUESTION:
    Kenmore Water Heater burner and pilot light go out every couple of minutes?
    I have a 5 year old Kenmore 50 gallon water heater ( a Power Miser 6). It shut off the other day and I have been restarting it to get warm water since, and the burner comes on fine. After about 3-5 minutes or so of heating the water, it shuts down and the pilot goes out. I have a parts warranty on it from Sears, but I'm afraid they'll charge a ton in labor. Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      bad thermocouple. If the thermocouple does not correct the problem you may have a bad gas valve. The thermocouple is on the high side 40 bucks. But from sears I have no clue. This unit was famous for problems like this. so a net search on it. Good luck.

29. QUESTION:
    Kenmore or GE electric water heater? Which is better?
    I need to buy a new water heater and I was debating between a GE from Home Depot or a Kenmore from Sears. They are about the same size and price but which is better, more reliable?

    • ANSWER:
      Trust me ! Kenmore is made by Whirlpool, and GE is made by Rheem. Rheem water heaters have had alot of problems due to their design with the suppression system. Whirlpool is a much better heater, so stick with Kenmore. A even better water heater is Bradford White, if you want better.

30. QUESTION:
    old electric water heater with no (T&P) pressure valve?
    Hi,
    I just moved in to an apartment where the water heater is actually in the apartment.. It is a 30gallon water heater with no t&p valve to release excess pressure...

    There seems to be a closed/covered valve (or the place to put a valve in?) on top of the unit... I read somewhere that this is ok as that valve will bust open if the pressure gets to high...

    But on the unit itself it says a t&p valve needs to be installed.... Is it just for extra security? or convenience??

    Could it still be considered safe without that valve as that thing on top should open (hoping to see somebody answer yes, i am terrified!)

    Please say yes!!

    My second question is.. This is a 10-15 yr old water heater from sears... is it worth replacing ? (if it leaks it would be pretty messy as there are no drains (it is an apartment!) near by... But who is to say a new heater wont leak...

    Please help..
    Thank you!!!

    (i'm trying to decide if i should just replace it ... the thermostat is set at the lowest temperature, but the water burns my hand in about a second... i dont have a thermometer but i dont think it should be that hot!! )
    it's been here 10-15 yrs .. and it boggles my mind(and terrifies me) that some plumber installed this ..without the valve..

    thanks.. i'll replace it asap.

    • ANSWER:
      turn the thing off until it gets one ,the thing right now is a bomb

31. QUESTION:
    In terms of bang for the buck, who makes a good electric water heater?
    Are the ones at Sears reasonable?

    • ANSWER:
      Rheem is the best.
      One electrician's opinion.
      I say this because out of all the water heater elements I've changed, none of them were by Rheem.
      Again, I say this is my opinion.

32. QUESTION:
    Finding water heater replacement?
    My old gas water heater model ttw-1 from bradford-white gave up after 12 years of service. I need new one ASAP but I have trouble finding similar model in stores (Home-Depot, SEARS)
    The old heater was automatic. It was plugged in AC and whenever the water temperature goes below worm it turned itself on. I see bunch of heaters in stores , but every one hes 'ignition button' which has to be pushed in order for heater to start. What model I should look for. The old one was 40gal 40K btu and short (~53")
    AC explanation:
    the heater is one with power vent, so it is needed for a turbine. Now I understand more about the heather technology. I could ot the original one soon, so I had to buy GE with similar characteristics.
    Thanks everybody for answers

    • ANSWER:
      The ignition button is just used to light it initially (or re-light it if it goes out.) The old ones you had to light with a match. What would really be nice is to have one that didn't have a pilot light and ignited electronically, but I wasn't able to find anyone that made those. That would save using gas to keep the pilot light going all the time.

      The ones at Home Depot and such will do you fine.

      Tankless is an excellent idea if you're up to doing all your homework. Good luck.

33. QUESTION:
    I need a houston, texas area plumber to install a gas water heater...?
    i have an a.o. glass water heater. it no longer works, and i need someone who is willing to either repair or replace it (like i buy a new one & pick it up, they install) and take the old one away all for less than 600 bucks. any suggestions? are these "permit" and "shut off" fees sears quoted me really necessary?

    • ANSWER:
      just look in the yellow pages under Plumbers

34. QUESTION:
    What do I need to test on my failing hot water heater?
    I have a Kenmore electric hot water heater bought from Sears almost 10 years ago. I replaced both heating elements about a month ago. When I did that, I also cleaned all the hard water deposits out of it. It was working just fine. Then this last week I noticed that it isn't heating the water at all. I tested both the top and bottom heating elements for continuity, and both were good. Then I checked the voltage on them. Each terminal on both elements tested at 125 volts. I tried the reset button on the top thermostat, and it had not been tripped. I tried turning the bottom thermostat up all the way, and it is still not heating the water. What else could it be? There's got to be something I'm not testing, but I can't think of what that is or why it's not heating up the water. Would appreciate some advise on it please. Thank you
    In case I didn't make it clear, when I replaced both heating elements, I took the tank outside and cleaned out all the sediment(it was about a foot deep in it). I made sure all of it got flushed out of there. And it's full of water. And there's no need to wait til any water cools, it's already cold. It worked fine until the middle of last week, about the time the electric company cut my power off for about 5 hours to do some work on the power lines.

    • ANSWER:
      turn off the heat to the tank, let the water cool until it's manageable, shut off the main, drain the water out of the tank via the drain valve, while leaving the drain valve open turn on the main and this will stir up the sediment that may have deposited into the bottom of the tank, let it continue draining until the water looks clean coming out of the tank, then shut off the drain valve and let it fill back up... turn the heat back on.

      you may need a garden hose to drain it from the tank to the nearest floor drain

      http://home.howstuffworks.com/water-heat...

      there is a sacrificial anode rod that get eaten away to save the tank, this is usually the deposits at the bottom of the tank making it harder for the element to heat up the water and causing it to stay on longer than normal and eventually burning it up

      if your heater is on and there is no water in it, it could burn it up, shut off the breaker while its empty

      ........... at 10 years old.... it may be time for a new one.... they rarely last that long

      you could check the relay that turns the elements on.... you may have bad contacts, with the power off push in the relay and check continuity through the contacts, it should be around 2 ohms or less (max around 7 ohms) .... or the thermostat is broke and it thinks the water is all ready hot and never turns on. or the thermostat is calling for heat but the coil that pulls in the relay contacts may be open... to check the coil on the relay, shut off the power, remove the wires to the coil but label them so you know where they go.... check resistance, it should be pretty high, if the reading is less than ?30? or open it may be bad

35. QUESTION:
    Our new water heater is making weird noises and it's leaking. What's wrong?
    Our last water heater completely detereorated. It was breaking off in pieces inside and one day it decided to leak a whole bunch of hot water so we had to turn off all the water and gas and buy a new one. Our friend (who used to work at sears doing installations) helped us install our new heater. It's a GE. I'm not exactly sure what he did but I know that where the top two pipes connect to the water heater he used Plumber's Putty around the connections. We got back at 6 tonight at tried to use the hot water but all our faucets started sputtering and groaning and then a huge surge of water comes out, runs for awhile and then sputters and then runs. None of the hot water is working. Our toilet isn't flushing right. When we went to check the water heater it was leaking at the top, mostly from where the pipe with the blue (cold water?) is connected. We turned off the gas and the water since we weren't quite sure what it was doing. Help? More info advailable upon request.
    Nothing is wrong with my neighbor's water pressure. My mother was at home watching them install it and nothing catostrophic happened.
    Yeah, he did turn off the water to install the water heater. My mother insisted. I'm sure he turned on the water again before he left.

    I'm not sure about the pilot thing. I had to go to work and my mother was left to supervise. She doesn't know a bit of english. She was just there to make sure they had all the toosl they needed. I asked her if they ever turned it onto pilot. She just started ranting about how she doesn't know and why the heck I left her there.

    What does pilot do anyway?

    • ANSWER:
      I just reread your question. It sounds like your friend really *beeped* things up! Good heavens! It is obvious he turned off the water in order to install the water heater. This is why there was a bunch of air in your pipes. It also sounds like he didn't use Teflon tape when he attached the pipes...... and thus the leaking. The reason there was no hot water is because he didn't turn the water onto the tank before he left! It sounds like he didn't know what he was doing! Was he drinking beer or smoking pot when he did the work? Good heavens! I can't believe he lit the pilot light with no water in the hot water tank! The tank should have come with instructions. Read the instructions and redo the job yourself! What a nightmare!

36. QUESTION:
    My water heater is 18 inches in diameter. A wider one won't fit. I want to replace it with the best.?
    Most water heaters are too thick, because of their insulation etc. I'm willing to pay more to get an 18 inch one, but want it to be the best, with the best thin insulation, the best warranty, the best first-hour rating, etc. It can be any height, up to about 5 1/2 feet. It uses natural gas.

    Is there a website where I can compare brands, and search by the diameter? For example, if I go to the Sears website, I get a list of water heaters and have to look at each of them to get the specs, and each turns out to be wider than 18 inches.
    This question is about ordinary tank water heaters, not tankless. Tankless require a category III vent, and all my local plumbers charge 00.
    It's as thick as three average rolls of paper towels. But the surface area of the top is enough to hold 9 rolls of paper towels, because the area of a circle increases in proportion to the square of the diameter. Just to give you a feel for how big it is.
    My concern about the insulation is not just how thick it is but also how effective it is. In other words, it should be made of special insulation material that gives a lot of insulation per amount of thickness.

    • ANSWER:
      it wont fit through the opening? I run into this with mobile homes all the time. several suppliers have switched to the squatier version but the talls are still available, check with Mobilehomestuffstore.com. and ask for the physical dimensions. electric or gas will make a difference as well. the first hour rating will depend on the element rating or the burner size and can be changed if the manufacturer allows it.

37. QUESTION:
    interested in a news cast on channel 7 in Indianapolis approx.April 07 about whirlpool water heater defect?
    I have a whirlpool hot water heater that will not stay lit I purchased it in Feb of 06 , sears replaced a thuomocupler in Jan 07 because it wouldnt stay lit now it is doing the same thing ,I am getting the run around from Whirlpool and I have to pay to get it fixed but no one can decide what is wrong with it I feel it is def.I have heard there was a newscast saying these heaters can have parts replaced and after a few months they quite again would be interested in seeing this newscast

    • ANSWER:
      http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/whirlpool_water_heaters.html I don't know about the specific news cast you are seeking, but check out this link about the Whirlpool water heaters. Mine just blew about a week ago and I saw this which is why we didn't buy that brand. Evidently, there have been a lot of problems...

38. QUESTION:
    Anyone else have a horrible experience with Sears and their customer service?
    My water heater I bought from Sears only like 3 years ago wouldnt keep its pilot light . I called Sears and they came out to service. They couldnt fix it and had to order a part but they said to call ASAP when I get the part and they would schedule another service call. Well I had to wait a whole WEEK for an appointment and had no hot water. They came out the second time and STILL couldnt fix it and had to order ANOTHER part. I started calling and complaining and all I get is that they are "sorry" and it cant be helped. This is RIDICULOUS!! I pay good money for them to service my applance and they dont know what they are doing!!!!!!! Very frustrating.

    • ANSWER:
      YES!!!!! I bought a push mower from there and had nothing but trouble. It was less than two months old and would not keep running. We took it in for warranty, and was told I'd be without it for at least two weeks because they had to ship it over two hours away. So in two weeks it was returned. I was told my total was . I asked why and they said the air filter was completely clogged. All I used this mower for was trim work, had several mowers for years that I mowed whole yards with and never replaced filter. I contested it but said fine. Then they said the rest of it was that my blade was wore out. I never mowed over rocks or roots, but my blade was wore out. I complained but paid the bill, and was told to call the service center about my complaint. Called them and they gave me the run around and said my blade was wore out and that was it. I asked for my old blade back and said they could not ship sharp objects. I asked if that was the case how were they able to ship new blades for sale, to which no answer was given. I was gonna just deal with it but when I got home and went to start mower found out the full tank of gas I came in with was completely empty. I took mower back and demanded my money back. Got some grief bc mower was 91 days old. Finally got money back and was told to call customer service for money on repairs. Got the run around and lied to for over two weeks by them, asid they would call my cell phone right back and then would call house phone. They would say they'd call back within 24 hours and would have to call them after tired of waiting 72 hours later. Was told by CEO assistant that there was no one higher to talk to than her and gave me ru around about getting at least my dollars back. Finally they put me back through to memphis and they said they could not give me back my money but to go to store and they would.

      Baiscally they lied to me and lost a customer over , which all they had to do to begin with was refund my money and I'd been happy. Sears customer service is a nightmare and they are a bunch of crooks!

39. QUESTION:
    had gas valve replaced a few months ago on our water heater.it is acting up again.?
    we were having trouble with our water heater not staying lit, so we called sears and they came out looked at it for awhile and said the gas valve was bad so he replaced it, well today I noticed the hot water was cold so I checked it and the burner was out, so I lit it back up and it took me a few minutes to get it lit and after it lit it ran for about 30 to 40 minutes and went right back out. so what else could be the problem?

    • ANSWER:
      its the thermocouple,
      sears riped you off a gas valve will last for 20 yrs

40. QUESTION:
    How to inspect my old Sears Automatic Dishwasher?
    I have an old Sears dishwasher (about 10 years old) and here are the symptoms: water leaks into the cabinet under my kitchen sink and now out of the right front of the dishwasher on the floor. If I have to replace it I will but I'd hate to get rid of the thing without knowing if it was salvageable.

    The main problem is that we cannot pull it out because there is some type of grate or floor heater directly in front of the washer and we can't get it to come out.

    How do we get behind it to check the hoses?

    • ANSWER:
      Most of the time when dishwashers leak it is the door seal or the pump seal. It could be the hoses but not likely. There should be a removable panel on the front bottom. To remove it from the hole you may need to adjust the feet to the right height to raise it high enough to clear the floor. and most of the time there will be screws at the top (under the edge of the counter). remove those and it should come out for inspection.

41. QUESTION:
    Advice on buying a hot water heater?
    I am trying to find a hot water heater to replace the outdated 30 gallon model that is currently in my house. We are a family of five, and going to have 3 teenagers in about ten years so I would like to buy quality that lasts. From my research online I am assuming that I should buy an 80 electric gallon tank with a 12 year warranty.
    My questions/ concerns are as follows:

    - Other than Lowes, Home Depot and Sears, where can I shop for a hot water heater at?
    - What brands are considered the best?
    - Is a 6 year limited warranty worth it, or should I pay more for the 12 years?
    - Is this model/brand listed here a good option?
    http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-12-80-DART-Electric/dp/B00310ZERU
    I haven't heard of Reliance, so I am weary of buying it.

    Please and thank you for all advice, I haven't had to do this before and am worried about making the wrong choice and wasting my money.

    • ANSWER:
      Forget tanks and quick recovery heaters. Go to the gas company and get a 'water on demand" -catalytic- heater that only heats water as you need it. It saves power, and gas and you ALWAYS have as much water as you need, on demand, no matter how many people are using it (as long as the line size can supply it.) They cost quite a bit more, but last much longer, and the cost-per year is awesome, and the unit pays for itself in just a couple of years with your energy savings alone. I have one, I'll never own another 'tank' model and my unit has paid for itself many times over. It's 10 years old, and other than annual maintenance like changing the gas nozzles, etc I've had no problems whatsoever, and it looks brand new , as well.

      Papaw

42. QUESTION:
    Why does my gas Water Heater pilot light keep going out?
    I have a Sears Kenmore (2008 model) Power Miser 6 gas 40 gal. water heater. It has the gas vent pipe vented through the roof with a roof cap. My water heater pilot has gone out about 8 times in the last 2 months. I have no problems at all relighting it with the switch, lights every time and almost every time - on the first try. What would cause it to go out so much? I don't think it is the thermocoupler since it relights so fast and easy. It seems like on windy day is when it tends to go out. Could so much wind be going down the roof pipe that is is blowing out the pilot. The roof vent pipe does have a cap on it, but this is the only thing I can think of why it is going out. Water Heater works great when it is lit. May be wrong about the wind theory, just don't know. Appreciate any help!
    Water Heater is not in basement. Is in a closet with removable panel. One side of the closet walls has vent in it. Cover is not left off. The pilot window is just a very small window you can see into and is a sealed unit. You have to take off 2 screws to get in under water heater to pilot light and gas plate. This is electronic ignition. Water heater closet is in corner of kitchen and no drafts can get in there except from roof vent or maybe even where vent goes through attic floor. Would I still need a new thermocoupler even if this one is lighting right away? The only reason I know the pilot light is out is because I discover I don't have hot water. Keep the ideas coming. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      The pilot jet or the vent needs cleaning. Either it is not getting enough gas or it is not getting enough air.

43. QUESTION:
    My water heater is leaking. I probably need a new one.?
    My water heater is leaking. I probably need a new one. I asked Home Depot and Sear.(40 gal gas heater) They both quoted around 0. Does anyone know if these are good deals or I can get it somewhere else cheaper? (They charge around 0 for labor) Also I heard the brand Home Depot uses (GE) is a bad brand and Home Depot often uses cheap pipes and doesn't install it right. Is that true?
    Does anyone have any recommandation?
    Thank you so much!
    I live in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago.

    • ANSWER:
      Yup, you probably need a new one. Yes, they charge a fortune for labor so that's likely about right for the price, unfortunately! They wanted 0 to install my 0 dishwasher! Needless to say a friend installed it for me. I'm assuming having a friend install it is not an option for you... Do you have a Lowes near you? I've heard nothing but good things about them. Home Depot also couldn't deliver my new stove. After 3 attempts (and 3 personal days from work!) I gave up and went to Lowes, they delivered it the next day--a SATURDAY even!

44. QUESTION:
    Water Heater Broke, started spraying water, what happened?
    I heard my water heater in the basement, suddenly started spraying water from the top of the canister. there was also steam coming off it as well and water on the floor.
    Is there any ideas what may have went wrong with it?
    It kind of looks like this, only a lot older:
    http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q197/spryor712/04233916000-1.jpg
    (sears 53 glassline)
    I did turn of the main water supply and that stopped the water from spraying.
    I assume the tank is still holding water, as it's not pouring out from anywhere.

    • ANSWER:
      You told us what was wrong with it, it sprang a leak.

      They don't last forever. You're lucky if you get 10 years out of one. Have a plumber come out and take a look at it, if you're real lucky it might be something repairable like the relief valve, but you're probably going to have to get a new one.

45. QUESTION:
    Any ideas about our water heater continuing to pop the reset button?
    We installed a water heater 3 weeks ago. Ever since it keeps popping the reset button or tripping the breaker. First my husband turned the water all the down. Didn't work. Then we install a new breaker. Now it only popped the reset button. Sears came out Wednesday a replace 2 elements. Thursday night is popped again. Yesterday Sears came back a installed a new thermastat and my husband install a new breaker attached to the heater. The water was turned down all the way and still it was scalding. Well, it popped again tonight. What next?? Any ideas.

    • ANSWER:
      sounds like the repairs are not good. consider getting something other than sears (who do not stand behind thier products) and getting a contractor to install.

      if the water is too hot, I'd bet it's wired incorrectly.

46. QUESTION:
    Ok was told I have a new water heater and I can take a shower for about five minutes and then run our of hot?
    I have a landlord's handler since lady who owns house is in switerland. Anyways I've asked her a million times to call sears back and have them look at it again. Nothing still hot water runs out in about five minutes or less. And it's a huge hot water heater.
    I did notice the shower head is really, really old and having a hard time replacing it since arm is stuck in wall and is threaded on inside since the water comes out so fast and hard could this also be part of the hot water running out so fast I didn't think but I'm trying to figure out what the hell is going on

    • ANSWER:
      try turning the water down a bit when you shower and go to the hot water heater and turn it up it may be on low turn it to HOT

47. QUESTION:
    Help! my hot water heater isn't working, who do I call to fix or how much is cost for new one?
    ...please help, for some reason my hot water heater stoped working (cold showers for a week brrrrr!). How much does it cost to fix, who do I call to fix it, the electrician...???

    how do I find good deals on a new or refurbished one, please help.

    If you suggest a new one, what shops are best to locate one, there is a Walmart, Home depot, Sears in my area, thanks in advance for your help.
    ...what if there is a little water under the water heater...mayby about 1/4 to 1/2 a gallon would it still be a heating element problem.

    • ANSWER:
      It may just be the Heating element. I don't know if it is gas or electric. I would ask around to see if a friend knows how to change out the heating element (if it is electric) I know nothing about gas water heaters. If you have an electric write down make and model. Check to see if you have one or two elements. Take it to Lowe's or any hardware store. They will sell a tool to help remove the element if you have trouble removing it. Once removed take the element with you and get a replacement for it. It is very simple. One you have seen it done you will never forget. If a grandma in her 50's can do it you can too. I had someone show me, step by step. I have had trouble removing the element. If all else falls call a heating and cooling company or look under water heaters in the yellow pages. Remember I gave instructions for electric only. I hope it helps.
      PS: make sure you turn off the electric before doing anything. Keep it off when you fill the water heater or you can ruin your new heating element when the cold water hits a hot element.

      If it leaks, Have it replaced ASAP try to put something under it to catch any water. If you have a wooden floor it will rot your floor. Older water heaters can and will rot out at the bottom and fill with deposits.
      Never buy a used water heater, you would be buying someone else's problem.

48. QUESTION:
    i need a houston, texas area plumber to install a gas water heater...?
    i have an a.o. glass water heater. it no longer works, and i need someone who is willing to either repair or replace it (like i buy a new one & pick it up, they install) and take the old one away all for less than 600 bucks. any suggestions? are these "permit" and "shut off" fees sears quoted me really necessary?

    • ANSWER:
      hey its a better question than some in the politics section so....

49. QUESTION:
    why do i need a water softener? and what exact is it?
    i am from an area that doesn't use water softeners. never even heard of them before. so i moved to the San antonio area and the house we bought has pluming for one. i hear people talk water softeners but i have no idea what they are for and why i would need one. the guy at sears tried to explain it but basically said it doubles the life of my water heater. that isn't cost effective if they need to be replaced every so often.

    the water in my area has just been named one of the best in TX. we drink straight, and it taste good.

    so can anyone explain what a water softener actually does... and please don't say it softens the water. cause i have no idea what that means.

    do i really need one???
    everyone is being so helpful. yes they say i have "hard" water. but i don't notice any extra soap usage. my skin seems a little more dry but lotion taks care of that. the main thing is the film the dish washer leaves.

    does not haveing a softener bad for my house? if i get one for the house, is the hose water outside not effected? what is the upkeep? adding salt?

    • ANSWER:
      "Hard" water has a relatively high amount of dissolved mineral salts in it, primarily calcium or magnesium salts from limestone or gypsum aquifers. Properly, dissolved metallic salts such as iron or copper and others do not add to 'hardness' but cause the water to stain plumbing fixtures. In some cases there are also salts of aluminum or manganese. If you are in parts of Canada and some parts of New York state, these may be a concern.

      Hard water is treated most commonly by replacing hard calcium salts with 'soft' sodium (less often potassium) salts. These salt-based ion-exchange systems are typically whole-house and treat all the water going into the house both for washing and cooking. There is an increasing amount of very good data suggesting that ion-exchange softened water is not particularly healthy *and* that hard water has some protective qualities against heart disease. But, on the other hand, ion-exchange systems are effective with very hard water when alternatives are not.

      Other methods include what is known as "nano-technology" systems - useful only when hardness is very low, so low as to be almost negligible for practical purposes, "reverse osmosis" which is very effective but will not handle high volume applications, and finally "magnetic technology", otherwise known as smoke-and-mirrors or snake oil. Magnetic systems are very nearly useless even by the maker's own admission.

      If I were to advise anyone on the use of water softeners, I would suggest that they were useful for flushing, washing and cleaning in general, for the filling of heating systems, automotive radiators or similar applications. Extremely hard water would also suggest that one would _not_ use softened water for watering plants as the salt content would be quite high. And if one were on a septic system with a leach field large amounts of salt could affect ground water and so forth. But for cooking, drinking or any other food use - even the watering of plants - un-softened water would be best and most healthy. I have done a couple of separations for friends - running home-runs from the service to the kitchen sink cold water side and hose bibs - understanding also that one should _never_ use hot water for cooking anyway. This would be good for a dishwasher as well, by the way as it is fed exclusively with hot water.

      Hope this helps.

50. QUESTION:
    Plumbing question: how long will it take to get hot water?
    I am having my water heater replaced. Once the new one is in and filled, how long will it take before the water is not enough to shower in?

    Data:

    --The water coming out of the tap is COLD. Probably no more than 45 degrees F.

    --The temperature in the utility closet is around 65 deg.

    --The water heater is a Kenmore 40-gal natural gas model 33947

    See the link below for the details and specifications page:

    http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04233947000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

    • ANSWER:
      2 hours. Even a "quick recovery" model only recovers 30 of the 40 gallons in one hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Rheem Hot Water Tank?
   We bought our home in Montgomery, IL 5 years ago, I'm on my third hot water tank. Rheem told me it is my room it is in and I had my builder out and the room is the correct size. The last few months I have been relighting the pilot. The cause of all this is my dryer is right next to the hot water tank and Rheem says that is what is causing my problems. Does anyone have a solution or ran into this problem before. I clean that room and still have dust from the dryer.

   • ANSWER:
     why did you replace the previous 2 tanks? were they leaking water? or did the 1st one leak water,and the next one fail on the non-resettable burner box safety?...anyway,,the dryer is only a problem if it is not vented,or the vent pipe has seperated from the dryer or elswhere,causing lint to come into the room,then find its way into the water heater,also room could fill with the fumes from dryer's gas burner,starving water heater of fresh air..water heater needs fresh air for combustion,,is there plenty of air available to the room via openings in the wall/door?..so 1st thing is to make sure dryer is venting to the outside.............then you may have to clear the "flame arrester plate" [perforated metal plate under burner that air for burner passes through] of any lint that has accumulated..on a rheem,,this requires removing the burner assembly and blowing compressed air through the plate from the top down,dont use too much pressure,always wear goggles and dustmask when using compressed air...if you think lint will still be in the air of that room and its unavoidable,,then perhaps you could wrap window air conditioner filter material around the lower part of the tank where the air intake holes are,,but you would have to be good about cleaning/replacing that material or it will cause a problem... dont remove burner assembly unless you know how,and steer clear of the safety fuse link that sits under the burner.........dan

2. QUESTION:
   I have a Rheem gas hot water tank that keeps shutting off; how do I fix this?
   I have model 41VRP50NT hot water tank. Gas pilot is lit; no error lights; starts up and then shuts down within minutes. Any ideas for a fix?

   • ANSWER:
     Make sure the combustion vent is clear. Make sure there is sufficient combustion air to the heater. Like clean the screen in the bottom of the water heater. If both of those are good. You will have to replace the gas valve.

3. QUESTION:
   Where do I attach the hose on my Rheem hot water tank?
   I need to drain our hot water heater. All the instructions I see tell me to attach a garden hose. I do not see a place to attach a hose as the pictures and instructions guide me to. It's an old Rheem, probably installed in 1991.

   Now, there is a white plastic screw type cap on the bottom. Obviously, this is where I should be looking, but I don't understand it. The outside is just a knob. The top center is open and deep inside the hole (maybe an inch and a half) there is what looks like a "key hole" that is rectangular with rounded corners.

   Is the place I need to attach the hose under this cap? I have started to unscrew it and water starts to come. Is leakage normal? I really need to drain, but can't flood my laundry room. Ugh? Do you think that plastic thing is the cap to my hose attachment?
   There is no valve handle like outside. No handle...nothing to turn...just a white cap. That's it.

   There is no place for a hose to thread onto. Is it ok to remove that plastic white cap?
   There is no threading at all on the white cap.

   mermeliz.....yup, that's it. But ours has no threading on the front. just a hole in the center.

   • ANSWER:
     Yes! That's some manufacturers cheap crumby drain system. There should be male threads protruding from the center of that stupid looking white cap.
     http://www.wikihow.com/images/d/de/Wet.-4490.jpg
     Screw your garden hose onto the threads and lead it outside. Then open the cap (counter clockwise) like you were doing. Drain away!

     Turn your water heater off so that it doesn't try to turn on while you are draining it.
     ------------------------
     No threads huh?
     OK take a look here and see if any of these images are of your type of drain thingy: http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&biw=1005&bih=597&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=water+heater+drain&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=g4g-m2&aql=&oq=
     Is it possible that the threads got whacked off at some time in the past? Look real close at it to see if you see uneven lines that would indicate that something was broken off of it.
     ---------------
     The drain cock is threaded into an ordinary 3/4-inch NPT port in the sidewall of the tank. It may be that your drain cock is damaged and you will have to find another way to collect the water in order to drain the water heater. You may have to replace the drain cock/valve after you have drained it (if your trying to save the water heater). If the water heater is of 1991 vintage, then it is high time to replace the water heater. Get some buckets or whatever and hold it under the broken drain cock and open it each time to drain off some water to fill the bucket and transport it to outside (or to a toilet if it is closer). Do a kind of bucket brigade exercise to get all of the water out of the water heater.
     -----------------------
     The idea of this stupid cap was that it being plastic would not corrode and leak like the faucet type valves. In reality, they just aren't durable enough and eventually create more problems that they were suppose to solve. Hopefully, the water heater manufacturers are going back to the old style brass valves.

4. QUESTION:
   hot water tank heater flooded at least 1 feet?
   If there are any plumbing experts out there, I would really appreciate your input.

   I have a Rheem hot water tank (2006 model).. It operates on an auto-pilot. My basement was flooded and now the burner won't light up. The pilot is blinking a green light.

   What should I do? Does this mean that I have to replace for an entirely new hot water heater? If so, what are your thoughts on a tankless water heater? Any recommendations?
   I've had a plumber come by, charged me for telling me to get a brand new tank because Rheem will void the warranty (for parts) if they run an electrical test and find out that it's due to flooding... This plumber doesn't do electrical stuff. =/
   And I don't have flood insurance. =(
   Nope.. it was a sump pump issue. I don't have a backup pump neither... Where should I place this blowdryer? towards the electrical wires and inside where the pilot is??

   • ANSWER:
     It sounds like maybe its not lighting back up because its wet, maybe the wires for the igniter are soaked and its just a safety feature to avoid a fire. How long ago did it flood? If its still wet a hair dryer would help dry it up, I'd try that before getting into replacing the entire unit.

     Yes you need to blowdry the wires that got soaked, and the pilot light area.

5. QUESTION:
   Any homeowner using only tankless water heaters ??
   I currently have like a 60 gallon Rheem hot water tank, but I was wondering if anybody out there uses only tankless water heaters for each location where hot water is needed in the house. If yes, how do you like it, and also what do you for the washing machine? Thanks for any feedback about this.

   • ANSWER:
     i install tankless water heaters well actually both. i will guarantee if you bought a medium sized tankless if you install it in a 2 bathroom house you will not run out of hot water even if you turned every faucet on at once.what a tankless is is a small boiler but the system employs a water circulating system that constantly moves the hot water Thur the system by means of a small circulating water pump.kind of like the way your cars water pump works so when you open a tap the cold water enters the boiler and immediately is hot water and the pump makes sure that the hot water is always at the faucet OS soon as you open the valve

6. QUESTION:
   Which Tankless Hot Water Heater is better? Rheem or Rinnai ?
   Replacing a tank hot water heater with an on-demand 2.5 bathroom tankless NG heater.

   Which is better choice for parts and maintenance? Rheem or Rinnai ?
   Please state briefly why ...

   • ANSWER:
     Rinnai

7. QUESTION:
   Rheem Gas Water tank heater - shower uneven water heating ?
   This unit is about 11 years old. Always worked fine. Lately, the hot water is only coming in the last few degrees of the turn in all the showers. It used to be that about half way turning the knob would start the water getting warm. Nowadays I have to turn the knob almost 80% of the way to get it warm. To get comfortable temperature,I have to adjust within the last 20% of the knob turn.
   Water pressure is normal and hot water temprature is normal. All of the other faucents in my house have 2 handles and work fine.
   Both showers have the same problem... so I am guessing not a shower handle issue..

   • ANSWER:
     Your shower has the highest hot water demand. Drain your tank to remove sediment at the bottom. It sounds like you have some buildup which is preventing the water from being heated. Drain 1-2 gallons every year. But today drain the tank until the water runs clear out of the hose you attach to the drain cock,

8. QUESTION:
   Noise coming from new hot water heater...is there a problem?
   About a month ago, I replaced an 18 year old, 30 gallon Rheem hot water heater due to the age and location (attic). When hiring a plumber for the job, I learned that to maintain the warranty of the hot water heater, I needed to also have an expansion tank installed. I have noticed that the hot water heater is making a loud noise after water is ran/used. It only lasts 5 - 10 seconds, but the old model never made a peep. Is this something I should be concerned about. My home is only 1,200 sq. ft., but to me the noise is very detectable and concerning. It is a repetitive thumping noise. Any ideas???

   • ANSWER:
     Thump with an edge (little bit of 'snare drum)?

     Deep thump (little bit of soft bass drum)?

     If the former, it is prefecty normal and related to the cold water hitting the warm tank (as you run hot water) and causing the tank to contract suddenly. As it heats slowly, the metal elements re-heat and the stresses are relieved with a series of metallic clicks and clanks.

     If a soft bass-drum thump - and if this is a gas-fired unit - there is a chance that the system is misfiring as it starts up. There is always a bit of a *whoosh* when these things fire initially, but that is not repetitive. So, get that checked ASAP.

     Good luck with it.

9. QUESTION:
   Hot water tank heater wet due to flood, auto-pilot won't light up again?
   Hi,

   My basement was flooded due to a broken sump pump, and no backup sump pump was available. This caused my hot water heater to get wet. I have a 2006 model of Rheem auto-pilot. It won't light up again. I've tried to dry it with a blowdryer, leaving it there for 3 days straight. The blowdryer even heated up the tank and gave me enough to take a quick, warm shower...

   My question is, what should I do now? The pilot won't light up again. It is an auto-pilot gas heater. I've seen Do It Yourself videos online, instructing how to light up a pilot.. But the model they showed in the video was not an auto-pilot. I am scared to light up mine because the manual's instructions says "Do not light up the pilot manually."

   If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

   I've had a plumber come by, and he told me to get a new tank. I want to try to get it to work first.

   • ANSWER:
     The spark igniting unit is still wet but not to fear. The newer units, you must follow the instructions to the letter or you will not light the pilot. There is another thing which i can think of and that is to call your gas company they may take awhile to get there but they will also attempt to light the pilot for you, you may also go on line to the manufacturer's web site usually they have a problem solving Q&A section.

10. QUESTION:
    How Do I Set Up A Secondary Water Pressure System?
    I've got well water and it's pumped up into my cellar into a small plastic/fiber tank via 1" black plastic pipe. The well pump is set to kick on when the pressure drops to 35psi and kick off when it reaches 50psi. From what I've been told the well is 300ft deep and the pump was replaced a few years back but it's pumping at it's maximum right now so I can't turn it up anymore.

    The cellar supplies water to two houses. My mothers house next door and mine. The water currently isn't hooked up to my house as I had to re-run the plumbing. I'm running 1" pex into the house and making my own manifold after which 3/4" pex will be running to everything else. I've got a Rheem tank-less hot water heater that has a 3/4" water inlet and outlet.

    The tank-less water heater manual says it needs a minimum psi of 14 to work but it says for well water systems it should maintain a minimum constant pressure of 40psi. Being that the tank in the cellar goes from 50psi and drops down to 35psi and also the fact that my mother uses the water as well, I'll need to maintain a good constant pressure. With the tank-less water heaters the fluctuations in pressure could often result in fluctuations in water temperature as well from what I've heard and I would like to avoid that.

    I'm running 1" into the house and 3/4" throughout because of the fact that I want good strong water pressure. My mother's place takes like a minute or more to fill the toilet. I'm looking to avoid nuisances like that. I have enough room in the cellar to set up a separate tank and pump and I've been told that as long as I put a check valve or even a double check valve in the line between the first tank and the pump to the second tank that it should work no problem.

    Could anybody give me any advice on whether I should actually use a double check valve and if as a double check valve that would mean just putting 2 check valves pretty much in line with each other or if I need to get one piece that is called a double check valve. A site was given to me but there were many double check valves and they seemed pretty complex. I'm not sure if I need something that hardcore or not for this application. Also, what kind of pump would be needed. Just a water pressure booster pump? Are there any cheap places to get them other than ebay? If a base of a pump is cracked would it still work as I found one like that? It's hard for me to tell where the base is from the pics. I'm assuming where it screws down.

    Thanks in Advance

    • ANSWER:
      We have been on a Bosch tankless heater for nearly 15 years on a well system that operates at 30/80 without difficulty. What you do not want to happen is that the pressure drop to 0 - something that can happen if the bladder tank is overpressurized. But if you think you really do need to run at a minimum 40psi operating pressure, you have a bunch of options. The very simplest option is to change the settings on your pressure-switch from 35/50 to 40/60 - assuming your system is capable of a 60-pound standing pressure (most are and PEX certainly is). I would be surprised that any in-well pump cannot make 60psi. Try it before relying on 'what you have been told'.

      Here is the basic issue with the second tank option: Your start-pressure will remain 35psi unless you alter the settings on the pressure switch to a minimum of 40psi. All a larger tank will do is allow a longer period between when the pressure drops below the optimum 40psi and the pump kicks in at 35psi. And check-valves will not change that. Booster pumps are an option - you could simply add an additional shallow-well type pump in the system fed from your existing tank. But it seems needlessly complex to me.

      Now, there is a difference between a check-valve and a back-flow preventer designed to prevent water from flowing back into domestic systems from possibly contaminated systems such as fire sprinklers or irrigation systems. The former is a very simple fitting the latter is much more complicated and also more expensive. Two of the former will cost about 20% of one of the latter. All you need as a simple back-flow fitting.

11. QUESTION:
    How do You fix a hot water heater?
    The breaker that goes to our hot water heater kept tripping off several times a day, and then all of a sudden no hot water at all. We replaced the breaker and are waiting to see if we get hot water back. If however it ends up not being the breaker can anyone tell me explicit directions on how to replace the elements? First of all we have a Rheem hot water heater (about 2 years old) I know to shut off the power, and drain the tank, but how and where do you drain the tank? Next where do you find the wires to take them off the elements? In fact where exactly are the elements, and what do they look like? How do you get them out, and how do you put the new ones in? Then after hooking the wires back up how do you fill the tank back up, and how do you bleed the air from the system? As you can tell I've never done this before and don't have a clue, so any help with detailed instructions would be very helpful.

    • ANSWER:
      2 years may still be within warranty:
      http://waterheating.rheem.com/dotcomWeb/pageflows/warrantyverification/WarrantyVerificationController.jpf

      My guess is, though, that you've got an electrical problem someplace that you may have fixed with a new breaker.

      http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/trblsht_hwh.htm

      http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20047047,00.html

      The incoming water supply (look for a pipe heading off to another waterline with a valve on it) will need to be turned off before you do much work on it. The drain is near the bottom of the heater, and looks like a small garden hose faucet. To drain, connect a garden hose to this faucet, put the other end of the hose in a drain, and open the faucet-thingie.

      The heating element (and you may have a couple) are gotten to by unscrewing something that looks like a bolt after you dig down into a panel, and then through some insulation. There's a special wrench that helps, but if you've got a good basic set of wrenches, you may be able to make one of them work. Pull out the old one, put in a new one after making the threads water-tight with pipe dope, tighten things up, put it back togehter.

      http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Water-Heater-Elements

      Shut the drain faucet, open the incoming water valve, open a hot water faucet in a sink, and watch for leaks.

12. QUESTION:
    switched to tankless gas water heater and my bill is high. Why?
    I just moved into the house about 3 months ago and for my first month living here I bought a tankless water heater and replaced my regular gas heater because the tankless takes up less space. I have it mounted on the outside. I paid a plumber to install it. It is a rheem water heater. For the past 3 months my bills have ranged from 300-400 in just gas alone. I had the gas company come out and I dont have a leak and the meter isnt running constantly. It only runs when I use the gas in the house. I dont have a kitchen yet installed so I don't use a stove. I havent turned on my ac/heat for the past 2 months so the only hting that could be using the gas is when I take a shower which is a 5 min shower daily. It's just me in the house. So why is my bill so high?? I am so concerned b/c I paid for the water heater got it installed and now it is costing me a lot of money. I checked to see what the previous owner used to pay in gas bills and it was way less than what I am paying and she used the regular hot water tank (not tankless). I threw out the old tank which uses a lot less BTU's than the tankless. I think the tankless uses 180k BTU's and I had a 40 gallon tank. I don't know what to do. And my plumber also checked for gas leaks and I don't have any.

    • ANSWER:
      the reason is the tank-less heater must cut on everytime you use water this isn't the case with the old tank type, it holds hot water until the overall temp drops then heats the water, these devices are just unnecessary in most cases, had it been an electric one it may make more sense but gas? just put a high efficiency gas (tank type) water heater and you bills will decrease or switch the tank less gas heater to an electric one. however I believe these devices are oversold.the old types worked fine if insulated properly( if it ain't broke don't fix it)

13. QUESTION:
    How long does it take a water tank to heat up?
    A friend of mine's hot water unit was leaking. It was the cold water inlet into the tank. We drained all the water out and changed the socket which stopped the leak. However 5 hours later the water is still has not heated up. Please help. I dont know much about the unit except that it is gas operated and rheem brand. We didnt do much besides changing the socket, please help!!

    • ANSWER:
      It shouldn't take more than 20-30 minutes to heat the water. When you drained the water out, the gas should have shut off automatically. If you didn't light the pilot and turn the gas on, it won't heat up. Rheem is a reputable company and make a good unit.

14. QUESTION:
    Why do we not have hot water and the water is orange?
    We recently had a snow storm yesterday that left us powerless and waterless for the night. Today, we got power and water, but the water is orange and we have no hot water. We have no idea on what the cause is. Our water heater should be working since we have electricity, but we only get cold water. And we don't know if iron, rust, copper, or mud has gotten into our water supply. We need to know if we need a new heating element, water heater tank, if we need to call a plumber, or whatever. Right now we financially can't afford to do anything but we need some major help on this. We have a Rheem Warrior Glass water heater if that helps.

    • ANSWER:
      If there was maintenance being on on the water lines, it's possible that rust or other material was knocked loose into the pipes. It's also possible that when there was a drop in water pressure, your water heater shut off its heating element (or pilot lamp) to prevent overheating. Just find the water heater and reset the thermostat on it (relighting the pilot light, or resetting the temperature/pressure safety switch)

      Run your water for at least 15 minutes to clear out whatever it is that's making it orange. It's probably safe, but call your local utilities agency about it anyway.

15. QUESTION:
    Replaced both elements, thermostat, pop-off valve, drained my tank and still no HOT WATER..what Next?
    03 Model Rheem Fury Electric 50 gallon Water Heater had stopped pumping hot water. Now even with repairs it still shoots only on the Cold water side and Now No Hot Water comes out at all!
    My so called repairman says its because of the lime build up in the lines...but its not stopping cold water from coming out. Also the water is not heating at all...every so often I'll get a little burst of water and some air ...but that's it! Should I Junk it...or is it even repairable...He says my lines need to be blown or flushed out by a "Professional Plumber Now"! HELP...as Jerry Clower once said...This Thang Is Killing Me!
    Category

    • ANSWER:
      If power to the heater was turned back on before it was filled with water than the elements will be burned out. They have to be immersed in water before they are energized. Is it cold water coming out of the hot water spigots or no water?. If it's only cold water coming out the hot side, than it can only be 1 0f 4 things. The elements are bad, The lower thermostat is bad, The upper thermostat is bad, or there is no electricity coming to the heater. If your tank is not leaking, I would not buy a new one because the cost of a new one is considerably higher than all the parts that could be bad cost total. If there is no water coming out of the hot water side than it may be a valve thats been cut off in-line that wasn't turned back on. I've never heard of scale building up so much that no water at all will come through. I've also never heard of blowing out or flushing out water lines because of lime.

16. QUESTION:
    Drain valve gushed water in basement! Electric h/w heater + radon sys. Bypass & breaker off=No leak~No water:(?
    Basement plumbing sprung a leak! Hopefully someone can help me out First, here are the good we’re working with:
    Private well. Well pump was replaced Jan 2010. Copper pipes, Rheem electric hot water heater, Well-X-Trol Pre-pressurized Water System Well Tank.
    NEEP CleaRadon-PI aeration/reverse osmosis system for air and water radon mitigation (installed in 2004) w/ Grundfos pump (replaced in 2007), and Pentek sediment filter R30-BB (30 micron, pleated polyester) replaced in 2007.
    Our water cycle: The main line enters the basement wall, past pressure gauge and PumpTrol box, followed by the 1st drain valve w/ a red knob attached to it, then a 2nd drain w/ no knob attached to it. This 2nd drain is where water was gushing from. Just after the 2nd drain, the line goes in/out of the Well-X-Trol tank. There is a blue knob a foot or so down the line from there.
    There are 3 (three) 3/4” bypass valves that bypass the radon system – I shut off the MIDDLE of the 3 valves. I also turned off the breaker in the electrical panel that goes to the pump. This stopped the water from gushing, but is obviously a temporary save as it leaves us with no water. The bottom and top bypass valves can be open (some water does drip from the first drain valve -red knob- but not much).
    If I turn that middle bypass valve AND/OR the breaker back on, the water begins gushing again from the 2nd drain valve.
    I'm not sure if this is more info than someone needs or if more info/different info will help, so I'll end here and see if there are some good souls out there that want to help
    Endless thanks in advance.
    Ok, I bypassed the radon mitigation system to eliminate issues with it as a cause to the problem.
    I got the exact same results, so we know now that the problem lies between the where the water line comes in to the rest of the house). We're keeping the pipes warm temporarily to avoid freezing at night.
    So here's the NEW cycle: Water comes in through the basement wall. Plumbing elbows to be horizontal: water passes simultaneously under a "PumpTrol" box and pressure gauge, which does go up. Water goes past a drain w/ a red knob, and gushes from a drain an inch or so down the from there (which has no knob attached to it).
    The gush happens almost instantaneously when I turn the breaker for the well pump on.. as if it's just not making it anywhere past the 2nd drain. Just after there the line T's where it can go to the Well-X-Trol tank and/or continue. It then meets a 90 degree elbow upward, past a blue knob then to the house(cold) or hwheater.
    Could it be the "PumpTrol" or "Well-X-Trol"?

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds as if the second pressure valve has gone bad.Without a by-pass for the second valve I'm sorry to say you will be out of water until the repair is made.

17. QUESTION:
    Tankless water heater constantly loses heat after a minute or two?
    I have a Rheem tankless water heater newly installed. Every time I use the hot and cold water together the hot water will go cold after a minute or two. I have to turn on more of the hot water tap for it to get hotter, but then it'll get too hot and I have to turn it down again. Having to do this constantly makes for a lousy shower experience. If I only use hot water and open the tap on high, then it will usually stay hot but of course I can't just use scalding hot water when I'm showering. It's like I can't use warm water with this thing, only hot and cold

    Also it seems to take a really long time for the water to get hot in some parts of the house, like the kitchen. I mean longer than a normal tank water heater. And I always have to turn the tap on high for the water to get hot in a decent amount of time, otherwise I'll be waiting forever but this seems like a massive waste of water.

    So anybody have clues as to what's going on? Was it improperly installed or is the water heater possibly faulty?
    The heater is set to the highest temp. of 140 degrees F
    Edit: It was set at that default temp of 120 F. We thought that was partly why it was losing heat so we overrode the setting to 140 but it didn't solve the problem.

    • ANSWER:
      These TANKLESS water heaters sound great but can be a pain I would try to turn the setting down to where you are more comfortable. Also try to turn the cold water all the way up then turn the hot up til the water temp becomes desirable..

18. QUESTION:
    My hot water heater leaks, but only on very cold mornings.?
    The heater is a Rheem 40 gal electric. It's in the mudroom that is not within the central h/ac. On very cold mornings there is a wet path across the floor, originating at the base of the water heater. I don't see anything dripping. The htp valve works fine and vents down to the crawlspace. If the tank is failing, why doesn't it drip all the time?

    • ANSWER:
      yes, you have a thermal leak,

      the tank gets cold, the metal shrinks, when the tank is warm or hot, the metal tank expands and seals off the leak,
      it could be a valve, or since this is electric, the electrical elements that heat the water, can have a bad seal, or have a baby crack in the element,
      their is a access cover over the elements area, take off the access cover, and see if their is evidence of water or a rust line, where the water is leaking from.

19. QUESTION:
    New AO Smith or Bradford White Hot Water Heater?
    Our water heater died.
    The plumbing contractors in our area mostly carry & recommend Bradford White or AO Smith brand as a replacement 40-gal hot water heater.
    They are about the same price.

    If anyone has experience with one or both of these brands of gas hot water heaters, can you give me an opinion as to which you think is best?

    Add'l info:
    The Bradford White has a 6 year full warranty, and total 12 years on the tank and parts.
    The AO Smith has a 6 year full warranty and 10 years on the tank and parts.
    But a warranty does not reflect the actual performance of a water heater (for example, we had an older Rheem, rated for 6 years, but it lasted 10 years, without any problems)

    • ANSWER:
      Both are good heaters.There are very few differences between most water heaters other than the name on the jacket.Most heater tanks are made in Johnson city Tennessee and these companies buy them,The control [gas valve] on each of these is the same,I don't know who makes the burners but it would not surprise me if another company builds them and these companies buy them.The only real difference that I know of is the incoming water line on the Bradford White has a tube with a turbulator on it that is supposed to help keep the sediment from building up on the bottom of the tank.

20. QUESTION:
    Water heater running water way to hot.?
    I have a 5 year old Rheem Warrior Glass 40 gal electric water heater. About 6 months ago the water started coming out way hotter than the heater was set at. I replaced both thermostats and this seemed to help for about a month. I made sure both were flat against tank and connected correctly. Then it started again. The top thermo has a reset button on it but this does not help. This is in a double wide. The thermo is set at 90 but comes out between 152 and 160 degrees. I have drained and looked for sediment which there was none.I have checked the Temp pressure relief valve and its ok. Any help would be great. I am capable of making repairs if I know what is wrong and can get the parts. The tank is in good shape besides the high water temps and I would like to fix instead of replace. Thanks ahead of time for any help.

    • ANSWER:
      It is possible one of the new thermostats is already bad, test them to see.

21. QUESTION:
    Is the element blowen?
    The bottom heating elemment on my Rheem hot water heater does not "click" whne I adjust the temp. And the tank seems not to be suppling the house wiht as much hot water as it used to. Is this a sing that the element needs to be replaced? The top one does "click" when I adjust the temp. Currently both are sent at 120 degress.... But the bottom one does nothing....

    • ANSWER:
      The elements work in series. The only way to verify if the element is good is to test it with a ohm meter

22. QUESTION:
    unusual problem with new water heater,any opinions?
    i ran a service call in october 2008 for a no hot water complaint on a 2 or 3 day old rheem power vent natural gas water heater..model # 42VP4OFW....the problem turned out to be a large amount of "flakes" had come down off of the bottom of the tank and,or,the flueway..the flakes had actually bridged the gap between the flame sensing rod and the burner which causes the control module to lock out since it cant determine whether or not a flame is present when the gas valve is open.....i cleared the flakes,brushed the bottom of the tank,and blew compressed air up through the flueway with the power vent blower on and pressure switch disconnected....i called rheem tech support,they had no explanation but requested the homeowner mail them some of the flakes for them to analyze...the homeowner mailed the flakes so that the rheem rep had to sign for the package... the rep never got back to the homeowner even though the homeowner called several times,left messages,etc...the water heater has been fine since then,no trouble...wondering if anyone out there has run into a similar problem on a new water heater...did rheem have a problem with many of these water heaters or was this isolated?..was the factory rep too lazy to get back to homeowner,,or did he not want to divulge the problem if he even knows what it is..what caused the [large] flakes in a brand new tank?...thanks in advance for your answers...........dan

    • ANSWER:
      My guess is some sort of residue buildup in the flueway.

23. QUESTION:
    Can anyone recommend a water heater? My GE 50 gallon water heater is not working after 5 years?
    Seems like yesterday that I replaced my water heater with a GE 50 gallon one that is sold at Home Depot for 8 without installation. I had this installed in April of 2005 and I thought my daughter was teasing when she said we had no hot water two days ago. When I found out she was correct, I took a look at the 5 year old water heater. The first thing I noticed was that there was rust on the bottom where two items come together and screwed together. Then I took the small piece off so you can see the window where you can see if the ignator works. I was quite amazed to find that inside was also very rusty. I did follow the instructions and try to see if I could light the pilot which didn't light or spark. I called GE and they told me it sounds like the wiring is bad and they are sending me a wire. At that time I decided to check on line to see if anyone else has the problem with the rust right under the inside tank because I didn't feel good about the rust being there and I also decided to check out my neighbors' water heaters and found that the Kenmore water heather belonging to one neighbor which was also about 5 years old didn't have any rust on the outside or inside and the AO Smith one which belonged to my other neighbor (age unknown) also was rust free. At that time I called GE back and told them I wasn't comfortable keeping a water heater that had rust on the the inside right under the inside tank and they told me to empty the tank and take it to Home Depot where it was purchased and installed by someone Home Depot recommended. The price of the water heater with labor came to close to 0 and the water heater today at Home Depot is 8. The only other brand at Home Depot is a Rheem which cost 00. I was wondering if anyone had better luck with the present water heaters being sold today. Years ago they seemed to last at least 20 years. Any advise? Thank you in advance for your help. Also, has anyone had experience taking a water heater back to Home Depot ? I was wondering since I purchased one there and was going to get another, why wouldn't Home Depot send the new one and take back the old one. I am a 67 year old widow. To hire someone to do this would end up costing me as much as buying a new water heater. Any advise?

    • ANSWER:
      switch to an electric, heater, all you need is a 40 gal , get a local handy man to change it out,
      cheaper to run and will out last a gas unit,
      AO smith is the best and is made in the USA

24. QUESTION:
    Replaced both elements, thermostat, pop-off valve, drained my tank and still no HOT WATER..what Next?
    03 Model Rheem Fury Electric 50 gallon Water Heater had stopped pumping hot water. Now even with repairs it still shoots only on the Cold water side and Now No Hot Water comes out at all!
    My so called repairman says its because of the lime build up in the lines...but its not stopping cold water from coming out. Also the water is not heating at all...every so often I'll get a little burst of water and some air ...but that's it! Should I Junk it...or is it even repairable...He says my lines need to be blown or flushed out by a "Professional Plumber Now"! HELP...as Jerry Clower once said...This Thang Is Killing Me!

    • ANSWER:
      you have just experienced the handiwork of a parts changer. I think it's this, so lets change it. OOPS that wasn't it. so now let's change this. DARN that didn't fix it either. it is best to have a professional do it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   2008 Tax Deduction for Highly Energy Efficient Hot Water Heater and Furnace?
   I purchased a highly energy efficient hot water heater as well as a high efficiency furnace in 2008. Is there anywhere to claim a credit for these two items? It looks like federal forms are only giving credits for solar heating and hybrid vehicles. If you know where to claim a credit for new furnaces and hot water heaters, let me know. Thanks for your timely response!

   • ANSWER:
     There is no credit for these items in 2008. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, these are reinstated for the tax years of 2009 and 2010 only.

     Sharon Pierce, HRB Sr Tax Advisor V

     This advice was prepared based on our understanding of the tax law in effect at the time it was written as it applies to the facts that you provided.

2. QUESTION:
   I just had a hot water heater installed and some of my faucets started leaking. Normal?
   The water heater is one of those new hybrid ones, a Geospring. My faucets didn't leak at all before. This isn't normal is it?

   • ANSWER:
     The installation probably stirred up some debris in the piping. That debris is now interfering with the rubber from making a complete seal to shut off at the faucet. Look up how to flush out the lines on youtube. Very simple fix unless the rubber is permanently scarred.

3. QUESTION:
   Looking to buy a hybrid water heater or tankless water heaters. Which is better?
   We have a 1150sq ft house with 2 baths. We use a lot of hot water a day. Think 3 showers, 2-3 baths, 2 loads of laundry, and the dishwasher. And that's on a good day. Our Water heater needs to be replaces and we are looking to buy more efficient models. We heard about Hybrid tank water heating and the Tank less water heating. We have natural gas. Which one is more efficient? What would the cost be to have one hooked up to the whole house? What are the better trusted brands?

   • ANSWER:
     I would go with a gas water tank. They have different sizes for your needs.
     You can check into the tankless but many require expensive power flu and require a new gas service line because though they might only heat water when it is needed they require a lot of gas to heat instantly. Do your homework before going tankless.
     Edit-Here is an explanation. I did not check the date of the article but it gives you a general idea of what to consider-
     http://www.askthebuilder.com/710_Tankless_Water_Heater.shtml
     I would very much like to use the tankless water heater in my home but it would cost far too much in my case.

4. QUESTION:
   Why can't I get hot water from my hot water heater?
   I have a newly built house (3302 square feet). It has the same size hot water heater as my old house (2050 square feet). The water heater is a 50 Gallon GAS hot water heater. We are the same family of 4 so that has not changed. In the OLD house we never ran out of hot water. In the new house we seem to run out constantly. In fact, in my shower, being the FIRST to take a shower in the morning, I have to turn the knob up 80% just to get a comfortable shower. I only had to go up half way at the old house.

   Both houses are slab foundations.
   New house is 2 story - old house was single story.
   Both houses are in the same geographic region.
   The unit is in the garage as it was at the old house BUT the garage at the old house was heated and the garage at the new house is not. I know that may play a role, but I can't believe its THAT big of a difference.

   So, why can't I get hot water from my hot water heater?
   What can I do to correct this?
   Would a tankless or a hybrid system help?
   What do these solutions generally cost?

   Thanks
   LM
   The temperature setting on the new hot water heater is at 120 degrees which is what I am told it should be set at. Does that help?

   • ANSWER:
     Well the first thing to do is check the control on the side of the gas water heater and be sure it is turned to the hot setting.

     If so, it is possible that the dip tube in the water heater was broken or never installed. Since your house is newly built you may have a claim against the builder or plumbing contractor. Installing a new dip tube is not hugely difficult but you do need tools such as a MAPP gas soldering torch - about .00.

     In a gas-fired water heater, the "dip tube" is a plastic tube that runs inside the tank from near the bottom to the hot water outlet connection. Hot water is produced by the burner at the bottom of the tank and the dip tube carries it directly to the hot water outlet. Cold replacement water is introduced at the top of the tank. If the dip tube breaks off (and they sometimes do), the water you get at the shower is being pre-mixed with cold right at the top of the tank.

     A sure sign of a broken or missing dip tube is that you get reasonably hot water for a minute or two but then it slacks off to just warm.

5. QUESTION:
   Which Hot Water Heater is good for us?
   Our 50 gallon tank needs to be replaced and I'm looking to see whether I should get a 40 gallon or stick with a 50. I've read online thats its not just about how many gallons, but recovery time to heat up water in a certain amount of time.

   Here are some specs I took from our previous water heater.
   Brand name: Couldn't find the name
   50 gallons
   Natural Gas
   150 PSI
   10.50 Max Inlet
   5.00 Min Inlet
   4.00 Manifold
   40,000 BTU
   33.9 Recovery

   Currently the household has:
   3 bathrooms & shower
   2 kitchens
   1 dishwasher (used very rarely)
   6 adults & 3 children 1-3 years of age.
   Home is late 1800's. Brooklyn, NY
   Multi-family. 3 floors & basement.

   I'm currently looking at Home Depot or Lowes to purchase a gas water heater with the energy star rating. I'm not too concerned about brand. Hybrid's or tankless are not in my budget.

   If I could get some solid information on what to look for, that would be greatly appreciated.

   thanks.
   The 50 gallon tank so far has done very well in supplying us with the much needed hot water, but wanted to know if I should get a smaller tank with a higher output.

   • ANSWER:
     That many residents and bathrooms pretty much demands you stick with the large gas heater. Gas water heaters recover faster than electric ones; a larger heater can deliver a larger, longer surge of hot water if more than one shower is going at the same time, and the gas heater can sort of keep up with the heating requirements of a couple of showers going simultaneously.

     All other factors being equal, find a water heater with the highest burner capacity. That can better keep up with the ongoing flow and behave, kinda, as a "tankless" to heat water as it's used.

     After that, find one with the longest warranty you can afford. Gas heaters die younger than electrics, generally. There's more surface area and more localized heating, which stresses the enamel lining inside, causes it to crack, and then the steel rusts and fails. If you can periodically replace the anode rod, that will essentially reset the corrosion clock inside the heater, as the anode rod corrodes first. Putting in a new one can keep the heater going way beyond the warranty period.

     The downside there is it's hard to find replacement anode rods, and they're damned hard to remove. You need a wrench as long as your leg. If you replace one grease its threads first, so you can get it out again later.

     After that, do whatever you can to minimize heat loss. Add insulation. Be careful not to block off flue exits or air intakes, of course. Add plenty of insulation to the hot pipes, too. The less heat lost from the tank to the fixture, the more heat makes it to the fixture and maybe you can turn the hot water down a bit at the fixture.

     Consider adding insulation to the exhaust flue, too. If it runs any distance inside the building, insulating it is a good thing to do: less waste heat inside that air conditioning has to remove, and less condensation inside too, condensation that is slightly acidic. Get it all out and gone.

     After that, consider adding a timer. Most gas water heaters, though gas, still have an electric plug to run the thermostats and ignition. You can put that plug on a timer and simply have the heater turn off during the night, when you're not using it. Have it come on again about thirty minutes before people start getting up and there'll be plenty of hot water for morning showers and whatnot. Off again during the day while everyone's at work.

     Don't listen to people telling you you won't save money by putting the thing on a timer. I actually PUT my water heater on a timer, and it made an immediate and noticeable dent in my utility bill. It WORKED. But I had done all that other stuff, first, to minimize how much heat had to be made up after down periods.

     Good luck with it.

6. QUESTION:
   Ways to become green?
   I don't live in my own home. I actually live with family. They have the weather stripping, insulted hot water heater, etc. But I'm wondering about things I can do without changing the household that is not mine anyway. Don't say to go buy a hybrid vehicle, I don't have the money to and unless you want to pay for it then I'm keeping my Ford truck AKA gas guzzler.

   • ANSWER:
     These are some simple things I do, that don't cost much.
     1. Wash your clothes in coldwater, using Tide coldwater.
     2. Use Compact florescent bulbs for your lighting.
     3. Use your electronics and appliances efficiently, unplug or turn off anything you are not always using.
     4. If your family is willing turn your thermostat up a little in the summer, down in the winter.
     5. When you drive your Ford truck accelerate slowly, keep your air filter clean, keep your tires inflated, etc.

7. QUESTION:
   Whats better, gas or electric?
   I just moved into a house that is gas/electric hybrid. Meaning, its electric everything until it gets to 32 degrees, then its gas heat. But we have a fairly large fireplace that does a very good job of heating the house by itself. But the water is gas.. to avoid high gas bills, would it be better for me to just buy a hot water heater, or to get the gas cut on? Im trying to pay as little on bills as possible.. And the water is the only thing that is mandatory for the gas, so if i could get a water heater, i may not even have to cut the gas on!

   Any suggestions?!

   • ANSWER:
     I also have both gas and electric. We have natural gas and it is much cheaper. One thing to consider is your power line to an electric heater......do you already have a 220 wire in place? Our home was built to accommodate either gas or electric at all required locations. Having the option is nice. If your using propane gas it will get expensive. The option would be a small (30 gal) electric water heater on a timer.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   cost of a rini tankless hot water heater?
   Just trying to figure out what it costs to have one of these installed....also would need propane as I am on electricity

   • ANSWER:
     I Had to answer this just to set things a bit better here.
     I Have been in the field 20yrs plus.
     so here are some things you need to know.
     ANY UNIT thats from 400 to 700 bucks is not worth it!!! Its kinda What you pay for is what you get.
     Next on the plumbing side of it. To change a HWT to a Tankless system would be a all day job in 98% of homes.
     Before I put units in there are alot of things to take into account.
     Size of house
     What kind of pipes
     How many bathrooms/Kitches/ Washer and so on.
     If they want a return pump installed so when they turn on the water its hot within 2 or 3 seconds.
     How many people (Adults and Kids) In house

     All these might seem like odd questions but they are a major part of what you need or dont need.
     There are times where a HWT (HWT= Hot Water Tank) is better then a tankless system.
     Even with all this I now known And since I dont know where you live and the climate and so on.
     I would get free estimates from several contractors and ask them what they think is best for you and so on.
     DONT get me wrong Tankless units are great But alot of people think they save ALOT of money. In fact they take up a smaller spot then your HWT verse saveing money.
     Goodluck

2. QUESTION:
   How much should it cost to have a tankless hot water heater installed?
   For a family of three in a house in Pittsburgh. We are being quoted 00-00, but the units themselves seem to be about 00. Are the installation costs really that high?
   By the way. We are considering a gas unit to replace an existing tank gas unit. The contractor said our existing 1in. gas lines should be OK, but the current venting would be inadequate. The unit would go next to an exterior wall so all that would be needed would be to punch a hole and add the venting.
   John,

   I'm not opposed to spending that much if that is what it costs, I just want to make sure that they are not overcharging. Our existing 16 year old tank heater developed a leak this morning. We called a plumber and the leak is under control for now, but we need a new unit within the next few days. We got the quote from the plumber we called about the leak. My main concern is that we need to make a decision quickly and don't have the time to go out and get a bunch of quotes first.

   • ANSWER:
     i was just checking on the possibility of installing a tankless at my house. i don't have gas service so i was restricted to electric. i found that i would have to put new wiring to my panel. it's not the case for me but you may also have to upgrade your panel and service to 200 amp min. so 00-4000 to install a large electric tankless is probably about right if your existing panel and service are inadequate. if your quote is for a gas unit installed where your existing gas fired tank unit is already installed the big cost would have to be in upgrading your vent

3. QUESTION:
   Why do I need an installation kit for my Rennai tankless hot water heater?
   I recently ordered a tankless hot water heater (Rennai R35i PLUS). When I picked it up I was informed that I also needed an installation kit that cost half as much as the unit. In my opinion, any required accessory that costs more than 10 percent of any original item should come with the original item and the cost adjusted accordingly. This is a almost a "bait and switch". I might have decided on a different manufacturer if I had known I was going to get hit with a 50% price increase. What does this kit actually do?

   • ANSWER:
     I hope you didnt get a electric unit since this usually requires a service upgrade due to the high amperage

4. QUESTION:
   what is the cost of a direct oil fired hot water heater?
   I have been looking into a new hot water heater. Tankless won't work. I can find prices on lp and electric but nothing on a direct oil fired. Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     First, it's called a water heater. If the water was hot, you wouldn't need a water heater.

     An oil fired water heater is not a good choice. If natural gas isn't available, the best choice is LP (propane). Almost no maintenance, more reliable and cheaper to buy.

     If you just have to have oil, do a search for "oil fired domestic boiler"

5. QUESTION:
   Tankless hot water heater??
   I'm considering switching from our 50 gal hot water heater to a tankless. For those of you who have done this, how much did it cost and are you seeing savings on your gas bill? At our current usage, a 50 gal tank takes care of one load of dishs, two loads of laundry and two showers (10-15 minutes long) before we start to loose hot water.

   • ANSWER:
     It's the best thing you can do...don't worry about the cost it will pay for itself in 12-18 months ...no hot water storage...and I see you have gas so your good to go...if you had electric I'd have my reservations due to past experiences......Benefits include..less space, gas bill savings, hot water continiously take 20 showers in a row if you'd like....I would suggest you look at Rinnai heaters they are the best in my opinion/past experience...I would also recomend looking at a plumbing wholesaler rather than home depot to find a good one. It will last you longer and most wholesalers will sale to the public. email me if you need more info..ie if your installing it yourself...

     Cheers
     Josh

6. QUESTION:
   Tankless gas water heater - Cost?
   What is the typical cost of buying the equipment and installation of tankless 'Gas' water heater? For my house we need 2 of them.

   My house is being constructed right now, so I asked my builder to put this instead of regular tank. They are charging 00 for each unit. I think this is too high and payback time will also be long. Am I right?

   Also, any idea about cost of installing hot water circulation system to conserve water. Push of a button will bring the hot water within a minute to the faucet.

   Thanks You!
   Thanks Eric.

   What will be the payback period if I'm replacing tank one with this Tankless Gas Hot water system? If I save a month, then it is more than 10yrs. Seems not worth it. What you guys think.

   • ANSWER:
     You are mixing apples and oranges.
     A tankless gas HWH will cost about 00 installed but there should be a credit from the unit they are not installing, since you paid for it in the cost of the house.
     DO NOT add a circulation loop as this will defeat the gas savings of the Tankless system by causing it to run all the time to heat the circulating water.
     Think not of the ROI think of the endless hot water.

7. QUESTION:
   How can you cakculate the cost of heating hot water in a domestic household situation?
   I would like to compare natural gas to propane gas to electric water heaters in a way that is understandable to a lay person. I understand that heating water is one of the highest energy costs in a home but how would I compare the price of a tank to a tankless water heater?

   • ANSWER:
     A British Thermal Unit (BTU), is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. Multiply the BTU output of the heating appliance (found on the nameplate) by the number of gallons it holds (also found on the nameplate) and multiply that number by 8.35 (The weight in pounds of one gallon of water) Tankless water heaters are instantaneous, but they have to heat cold water because they don't have any storage capacity.
     You also have to determine the cost of Electricity (sold by the Kwh), propane (Sold by he gallon) and natural gas(sold by the cubic foot) in your area and use those figures to calculate the cost of energy.

8. QUESTION:
   Would a tankless "on demand" hot water heater make sense for a family of four in a 3-story house?
   Our considerations are 1) always having hot water available (duh), 2) energy efficiency and 3) cost. What do you think?

   • ANSWER:
     Try this site foreverhotwater.com
     Depending on what you want you can find these here. They are expensive to buy but I can tel you that through experience they do work and can save you money for the traditional hot water heaters that people use every day.
     I installed the wiring for my neighbor for one of these 7 years ago they had 3 kids at home and they never ran out of hot water and they were saving thirty to forty bucks a month in energy on their power bill as well. They come with excellent warranties but like I said they are over a thousand bucks but hey a standard water heater anymore is about 400 - 500 installed. They love it and it is still going strong for them.

9. QUESTION:
   what is the avg cost of running a 40 gal hot water heater?
   I am considerign a tankless system, but am trying t ofigure out the monthly cost of a 40 gal tank.
   It is not on a timer.
   After thinking about it. I dont know if it is on a timer. It is 5 years old. Are timers standard. I just don't understand water heaters.

   • ANSWER:
     well if it on a timer you would have to calculate off and on time too.

10. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost to get a heat pump, tankless water heater, etc?
    We have 100 amp service and natural gas. We want to convert to 200 amp all electric, with no natural gas. How much should we expect to pay, to get an electric tankless water heater, a heat pump, an electric central heater to supplement the heat pump, with central air conditioning from the heat pump, and a thermostat that switches between the heat pump and the electric heat according to outside temperature, plus the cost of converting from 100 amp to 200 amp? It can use existing forced-air ducts. This is for a three bedroom 1150 square foot house on a concrete slab, with an attic that's only used for access and insulation. It's in a place with average weather, i.e. it freezes a lot in the winter but only goes below 0 F once every few years, and gets hot and humid for a few weeks of the year, and only goes above 100 F about one day per year on average.

    Besides the cost of the items mentioned above, can you also recommend brands, and the reasons for those brands?

    • ANSWER:
      That's quite a lot of info to provide. Your best bet would be to take your list into Lowes, Home Depot or a shop that does this kind of work. Is there some reason you're switching to electric? It's more expensive than natural gas. A tankless water heater is a lot more money that a water heater and you'll lose access to an emergency supply of drinkable water if you go with tankless. Do you have A/C now or do you want to add that, too?

      I usually prefer Whirlpool but you should check Consumer Reports since ratings change frequently and I've never bought the items you list.

      Unless you're qualified you'll need to have this professionally installed so pick a brand you think you'll like and then check the yellow pages or other listings. Get 3 or more bids on the work. Many name brands have generic equivalents, usually by the same manufacturer, just not branded with the well-advertised name.

11. QUESTION:
    Hot Water Filtration ...What are my options???
    I have a forced hot water boiler via tankless coil hot water heater. Water has heavy iron and other typical minerals. Screen on hot water side of washing machine CONSTANTLY plugs up. Already double cartidges on domestic cold before boiler, I know I should get a softener system, but are there any other COST EFFECTIVE options? Does a cheap in-line screen (near washing machine)or filter system exist that can reliably withstand 170Deg. heat? Standard cartridge filter systems will fail on hot water systems. I just want to stop doing weekly maintence on the Washing machine. I've almost worn out the plastic inlet on it, which means a 0 soleniod replacement when you strip that out! Any Suggestions welcome!!

    • ANSWER:
      The iron is dissolved in the water and must be removed via oxidation. A water softener is capable of removing small amounts of iron and will need more frequent regeneration. Potassium permanganate or chlorine are also used in treatment systems and are better suited for iron removal.
      Particulate filters such as those you are using will remove solids from the water but not dissolved elements. I have a pair of particulate filters at the input to my water softener to help keep it clean inside.

12. QUESTION:
    Which way will cost me less for my annual heat and hot water?
    House is now all-electric, a real killer. Gas not available. So, I am changing to an oil fired system. Two ways to go. Oil fired hot air furnace, with ductwork in the attic and registers going down thru ceiling into each room. Then keep my free standing 40gal electric water heater. The other way is oil fired hot water tankless boiler, with hot water baseboard for heat, and the tankless unit providing the hotwater, and getting rid of my electric hot water heater. House is small ranch built on a slab. The heating unit and the oil tank will go in the attached garage.
    I'm in massachusetts.....and...as I said...gas is not available (natural), and to run on propane is quite alot more than oil, I checked.

    • ANSWER:
      You should price a geothermal heatpump... It produces hot water as it heats and cools and costs penny's to operate... You can get a tax credit from the us gov..(if you are in the US). They can cost a little more to install. But they are worth it..

13. QUESTION:
    Can anyone give an estimate of the kilowatt hours for conventional vs. tankless water heaters?
    i would like to buy a tankless water heater; and wondering what are the potential savings.

    what is the "ball park" estimate of the general range of kilowatt hours per the two appliances.

    i'm working with the 4,500 estimate for our state/location for the regular tank water heater. i can only find BTU info on the tankless.

    i know there are hundreds of variables involved, the size, temp, make/model and age, location, insulated vs non insulated.

    what i'm looking for as a quick answer is:

    conventional (4,500 Kilowatt hours for conventional) vs the tankless.

    i understand that the hot water supply may be less for the tankless, but leaving that variable out, what would you say as a estimate of the two.

    i would like an estimate that either says "it costs 50% less" or average kilowatt estimate, like 3,000 kilowatts vs 4500 kilowatts.

    i don't need the formula at all, no explanations of the math, or the variables.

    thanks so much!

    • ANSWER:
      The reason you are having difficulty finding a kilowatt usage comparison between tank and tankless water heaters is because electric tankless heaters are not the way to go. I am a plumber and I do not recommend tankless water heaters to my electric only client because the short term cost of the electrical upgrade takes too long to recoup. If your home is all electric I would recommend going with a conventional tank water heater.

14. QUESTION:
    can you use tankless water heater to heat the radiators?
    Hello, our boiler just died...The cast iron of the boiler got cracked...so we are in the search of putting a new boiler (works with natural gas). We have the conventional cast iron radiators in the house that works with hot water. Can we use the tankless water heater to heat the radiators? if so, how much would they cost, labor + parts? I live in the Bay Area, CA....

    • ANSWER:
      It is possible to do it, but not practical. A tankless is not made for this purpose and won't heat the water as hot as a boiler would. Also the the tankless is not made to accept hot water as input and may be damaged by circulating the water through it as often as necessary to heat up the radiators. Installation of a tankless would only be slightly less than replacing your boiler. Do it right and get a new boiler.

15. QUESTION:
    Looking to buy a hybrid water heater or tankless water heaters. Which is better?
    We have a 1150sq ft house with 2 baths. We use a lot of hot water a day. Think 3 showers, 2-3 baths, 2 loads of laundry, and the dishwasher. And that's on a good day. Our Water heater needs to be replaces and we are looking to buy more efficient models. We heard about Hybrid tank water heating and the Tank less water heating. We have natural gas. Which one is more efficient? What would the cost be to have one hooked up to the whole house? What are the better trusted brands?

    • ANSWER:
      I would go with a gas water tank. They have different sizes for your needs.
      You can check into the tankless but many require expensive power flu and require a new gas service line because though they might only heat water when it is needed they require a lot of gas to heat instantly. Do your homework before going tankless.
      Edit-Here is an explanation. I did not check the date of the article but it gives you a general idea of what to consider-
      http://www.askthebuilder.com/710_Tankless_Water_Heater.shtml
      I would very much like to use the tankless water heater in my home but it would cost far too much in my case.

16. QUESTION:
    My landlord wont install water heater, what can I do?
    I went through a lot of trouble with this particular apartment I was planning on moving into but I went tthrough it and I moved in on New year's eve. Now, I'm finding out that the shower will only have enough hot water for 5 minutes so after 5 minutes the water gets cool instead of hot. I called the landlord and he said it's because it's tankless so it only last 5 minutes and I have to take a quick shower. I asked him if he can install a water heater and he said no. He's not going to waste 00 to install just for me. I commented that the other unit has it and he said that the other unit's tankless heater was broken so he had to replace it.

    Anyhow, I don’t think I can stand taking 5 minutes hot shower since I live in MA. What are my options? Can I sue him and make him install the heater or can I sue him and get back my first and last month rent, my moving expenses, payment for the hours I spent cleaning, and for moving cost to another location? Or am I out of luck...

    • ANSWER:
      Unfortunately, your apartment, your problem.

      You can sue -- we can sue for anything here.
      The suit will cost you, but at least they can, in "legal-speak" tell you -- it's your problem, the landlord has met his obligation in supplying you hot water.

      Once you allow yourself to recognize the issue, then you need to take proactive steps to correct the problem.

      Some ideas:
      - low flow shower head
      - adjusting (if adjustable) heater to heat for a longer duration..
      (check water heater make & model then check mfg'r website, or post the information here on Y! Answers -- someone might be able to help you with it)

      Good luck

17. QUESTION:
    switched to tankless gas water heater and my bill is high. Why?
    I just moved into the house about 3 months ago and for my first month living here I bought a tankless water heater and replaced my regular gas heater because the tankless takes up less space. I have it mounted on the outside. I paid a plumber to install it. It is a rheem water heater. For the past 3 months my bills have ranged from 300-400 in just gas alone. I had the gas company come out and I dont have a leak and the meter isnt running constantly. It only runs when I use the gas in the house. I dont have a kitchen yet installed so I don't use a stove. I havent turned on my ac/heat for the past 2 months so the only hting that could be using the gas is when I take a shower which is a 5 min shower daily. It's just me in the house. So why is my bill so high?? I am so concerned b/c I paid for the water heater got it installed and now it is costing me a lot of money. I checked to see what the previous owner used to pay in gas bills and it was way less than what I am paying and she used the regular hot water tank (not tankless). I threw out the old tank which uses a lot less BTU's than the tankless. I think the tankless uses 180k BTU's and I had a 40 gallon tank. I don't know what to do. And my plumber also checked for gas leaks and I don't have any.

    • ANSWER:
      the reason is the tank-less heater must cut on everytime you use water this isn't the case with the old tank type, it holds hot water until the overall temp drops then heats the water, these devices are just unnecessary in most cases, had it been an electric one it may make more sense but gas? just put a high efficiency gas (tank type) water heater and you bills will decrease or switch the tank less gas heater to an electric one. however I believe these devices are oversold.the old types worked fine if insulated properly( if it ain't broke don't fix it)

18. QUESTION:
    My hot water heater is leaking from the top and not from pipes?
    The in and out pipes are on the sides of the heater but the top is soaking wet(insulation). We really don't have the money for a new one and thought about the tankless. Both are gonna cost out the you know what. We will have to buy fittings being the lines are copper. Re-pipe it and wire stuff, also changing breakers if we go with tankless. Can I make my heater last any longer? Any help about the electric tankless would help. How can we help keep the cost down? So hate this is happening so close to Christmas!

    • ANSWER:
      are you sure the tank itself is bad?
      have you checked the seal around your T&P valve and the heating elements and made sure the T&P valve is not leaking?

      this could be a simple and inexpensive fix instead of a total replacement

19. QUESTION:
    Why can't I get hot water from my hot water heater?
    I have a newly built house (3302 square feet). It has the same size hot water heater as my old house (2050 square feet). The water heater is a 50 Gallon GAS hot water heater. We are the same family of 4 so that has not changed. In the OLD house we never ran out of hot water. In the new house we seem to run out constantly. In fact, in my shower, being the FIRST to take a shower in the morning, I have to turn the knob up 80% just to get a comfortable shower. I only had to go up half way at the old house.

    Both houses are slab foundations.
    New house is 2 story - old house was single story.
    Both houses are in the same geographic region.
    The unit is in the garage as it was at the old house BUT the garage at the old house was heated and the garage at the new house is not. I know that may play a role, but I can't believe its THAT big of a difference.

    So, why can't I get hot water from my hot water heater?
    What can I do to correct this?
    Would a tankless or a hybrid system help?
    What do these solutions generally cost?

    Thanks
    LM
    The temperature setting on the new hot water heater is at 120 degrees which is what I am told it should be set at. Does that help?

    • ANSWER:
      Well the first thing to do is check the control on the side of the gas water heater and be sure it is turned to the hot setting.

      If so, it is possible that the dip tube in the water heater was broken or never installed. Since your house is newly built you may have a claim against the builder or plumbing contractor. Installing a new dip tube is not hugely difficult but you do need tools such as a MAPP gas soldering torch - about .00.

      In a gas-fired water heater, the "dip tube" is a plastic tube that runs inside the tank from near the bottom to the hot water outlet connection. Hot water is produced by the burner at the bottom of the tank and the dip tube carries it directly to the hot water outlet. Cold replacement water is introduced at the top of the tank. If the dip tube breaks off (and they sometimes do), the water you get at the shower is being pre-mixed with cold right at the top of the tank.

      A sure sign of a broken or missing dip tube is that you get reasonably hot water for a minute or two but then it slacks off to just warm.

20. QUESTION:
    What is the most efficient heating source for radiant floor heating?
    I am replacing a twenty year old steam boiler and steam radiators to a radiant floor system. I am so confused by the number of choices to heat the water for this system. I could use a traditional boiler, a tankless hot water heater, or even a wall hung combination boiler and tankless hot water system. What is the most efficient system that will offer the lowest heating costs? I can use either oil or propane. Natural gas is not available in my area. My house is a 1100 sqft cape. Thanks for the help!

    • ANSWER:
      I installed my own radiant heating system. For the heating system I used a Munchkin Boiler, propane fired. I have been extremely pleased with its performance. It is very high-tech in its control system which produces very high efficiencies. I agree fuel oil has higher BTU content than propane, but gas generally requires less maintainance and is very clean.
      The unit is very compact. When I purchased it on line it was delivered by UPS. With the addition of a domestic water
      tank, you can also heat domestic water at those high efficiencies. Schematic drawings for installation of the system are included.
      The boiler is ideal for radiant systems that operate on relatively low water temperatures. It is a modulated boiler and only fires based on the demand of the system and the outside temperature. No mixing valves required. The domestic hot water system is independent of the house heating system when it allows higher temperatures for maximum recovery time.

21. QUESTION:
    Do you have a "tankless" water heater? If so, how do you like it?
    Our current water heater is not quite sufficient for my husband & me, and is nearing the end of it's life. We became interested in a "tankless" (on-demand) water heating system - which heats water only when you turn the hot water spiggot on. Our primary concern at this point, if it saves as much and can work as well as is advertised (I know - don't believe advertisements, at least not completely), is the initial cost of one. Supposedly, it will pay for itself within the first year or so of use & the savings in utilities... I was wanting to know what other people's personal experiences with these systems are...
    So I was wondering if you have one, how do you like it?
    Is it efficient for your uses?
    Have you noticed a significant difference (for the better, I hope) in your utility bills since it's installation?
    What brand system are you using?
    Has it paid for itself in the long-run for you personally?
    Any personal experiences with this 'on-demand' or 'tankless' water heating system would be greatly appreciated!

    • ANSWER:
      A tankless WILL NOT pay for itself based on 1st year energy savings. Not even close. Consumer Reports did a study of this and you can see the results in their Ooctober 08 isssue. There are some savings, yes, but these systems can be expensive to install and that's why it takes so long to recoup the costs (if you ever do). There are other good reasons to install these systems, however, including the "unlimited" amount of hot water that can get out of one; if you have a large soaking bathtub, for example, a tankless heater can fill it as hot as you want (I could never accomplish that with the standard tank at a condo I once rented). Here are some more thoughts on tankless:

      http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,213064,00.html

      Bear in mind that this techology is evolving, and as the units become more available they may come down in price.

22. QUESTION:
    Water heater vs. tankless system?
    Our gas water heater is going out and needs to be replaced. Our insurance will cover the water heater and installation, but not the additional costs to bring it up to code, about 0. We can take the cash out and make our own arrangements to get it fixed instead of having it replaced with an equivalent unit. We are thinking about a tankless system.

    I presume we would put it in the water heater closet, and we do want gas, not electric. Most of our plumbing is in the "core" of the house, so none of the hot water lines are more than 20 feet, and only the kitchen sink/dishwasher line is that long. If it matters, our house was built in the early seventies, and the current water heater is about 14 years old.

    If you have replaced yours this way, what do you think? How do the costs of the two systems compare? Is there a difference in your gas bill now? What about maintenance/repair/reliability? Would it still have the same code requirements, or would most of that stuff not apply? Would it still need the new thingamajig to cut off the water if there were a leak? Would it still need a pan installed? (Either way, we're going to have to change out a couple of gas lines.) Are there any brands much better/worse than others? What else do we need to know?

    All words of wisdom appreciated! Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I only know what my plumber told me about these when we were building our house and considering the tankless heaters. He said the gas was the best/fastest/most reliable and that we would would need one for each bathroom that had a shower/bath and one for the kitchen/laundry. We opted for a large electric hot water tank and do not run out of water, and are very happy with it. (I don't mean a huge tank, just one capable of handling our needs). You might want to check to be sure your needs can be met when you want hot water, and not have to stagger what you wish to do to ensure enough hot water.

23. QUESTION:
    Water heater mysteriously turned off and gas won't even come on to attempt to re-light?
    So I came home today and a family member told me that they noticed the water in the kitchen never got hot as it usually did. I tried all other hot water sources, and all were cold. I went down to the basement and the hot water heater itself is cold, so all water inside is cold, too. It's not on at all. It mysteriously seems to have turned itself off. It's in about a 4 ft. x 15 ft. dugout crawlspace that the FHA made the former owners dig out and put cinderblocks around it. At one end, there is the sump pump and sump hole...at the other end is the heat/air machine (working just fine) and hot water end on the far end. The sump pump is working fine. I do not see any waterline on the water heater, so I have absolutely no reason to believe that water flooded it. I followed all re-light directions on the labels. I have no idea of the model or any of that. I do know it has an electric ignitor switch. I pressed down and held the "reset" switch and had the knob turned to "pilot"...while clicking the ignitor. It's like no gas turns on at all, and when it was working properly, I remember a gas sound when the knob was turned and before pilot ignition.

    What could be the issue? I know that absolutely no one has been down there turning off any gas knobs. It doesn't appear to be related to water or flooding. I'm thinking it may be the ignition control box itself...but I don't know a thing about any of that other than how to typically light it. The water heater is probably 6-7 years old. Is it a best bet to just get it replaced completely? It's a muddy crawlspace, so they charge a fee for that crawlspace and it's one of those 0 jobs for the water heater and install, if I remember correctly from last time.

    I'm also wondering if there would be any way to get that converted to an electric, tankless water heater. It's an old house...most of the piping is galvanized, though a lot of the gas piping seems to be copper. I'm not sure how much power would be needed in addition (or if our old circuit breaker could even handle that) for an electric tankless, or how much it would cost to get it installed by modifying the current setup. I just know that tank is a nightmare...and we hate the sump setup. It's scary to think of the power going out and the hole filling with water since the pump can't pump with no power.

    Suggestions?
    Also, I know there are battery powered pumps available as backups...but they always clog since it's a dirt bottom. I've cemented most of it off, but dirt still finds a way to clog the smaller, less powerful battery powered backup pumps to the point of them not working.

    We're also planning on selling the place for what we can get for it within a few months or so (and hopefully get enough to pay off what's left on the loan)...so it's kind of one of those, "Why does this have to happen now?" things.
    How do you figure out which thermocouple you need, even if you do remove it and bring it with you? Is there a part number to go by?

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like the thermocouple. It's a fairly easy and cheap fix if you have any "mr. fix it" in you. If not, an honest plumber would be your best bet. Good Luck and God Bless.

24. QUESTION:
    What kind of water heater would you put in?
    I have a hot water maker which is heated by the furnace (boiler) it is powered by propane. This heater is costing me a fortune for hot water during the summer. I have to heat the boiler to get hot water and then the thing is hot and heats up the area it is in. To put in an electric hot water heater would cost a lot due to the fact I would have a ton of electrical work to do.
    I think a tankless would suck because of the hardness of the water also my wife like her water hot. . A propane tank type seems the best option.
    Solar is not an option due to the amount of sun we get any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      You have answered your own question. Please buy an energy efficient one to save our environment. If you have cold well water you may want to install a temper tank. A temper tank is just a tank to let the water stand and warm to room temperature before going in the water heater. It may save only a few pounds of gas a year but a pound of gas saved is one you never have to pay for. It will also be better for thee environment.

25. QUESTION:
    What should one consider when looking to install radiant floor heat?
    We're looking to build a new home and we're contemplating having radiant floor heat installed throughout the property. Right now, the plan is for ~1500 sq ft, one story, probably with a crawl space in Northern California (not extreme temperatures).

    What are the key things we should be taking into consideration as we design/cost the project?

    What is the "best" source for the heat? Presumably, tankless water heaters (on-demand) are cheaper for overall hot water. Are they suited (if sized correctly) for this type of application too?

    • ANSWER:
      Greetings.

      All good questions. I would get with someone that had radiant heat installed and quiz the heck out of them...and would they do it again?

      Good luck
      S1lent

26. QUESTION:
    tankless coil off oil burner?
    My house cannot keep up with the hot water when taking the shower. One plumber came and
    told me to change the tamper valve, mixing valve, expansion tank, purge the water, change the
    mixing valve in the shower and change the spinder. I did every thing and spend 1000 dollars.
    now the plumber is advising me the tankless heating coils are no good. boiler is weil mclain 22 yrs
    old. if the nuts and bolts break then i should be ready to replace the whole boiler systerm which will
    cost 6500 dollars. i have no space or electricity capacity for installing the electric water heater.
    DID ANYONE HAS THIS KIND OF PROBLEM..WHAT IS THE SUGGESTION...
    should i let the plumber to try installing the tankless heating coil OR replace the boiler.
    what kind of boiler anyone has replaced recently ...appreciately your answer.thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like a pretty bad repairman, he is just replacing components until it happens to start working. He should have found the heating element problem first. If he can't guaranty (in writing) a working boiler after he breaks bolts, I wouldn't have him replace them, find someone that will make a guaranty in writing.

27. QUESTION:
    Should I buy a home that needs these repairs or not? what do I do?
    we found a home we like,in escrow, should close n fund soon, but we have not yet signed last final docs. 2003, beautiful landscaped front and back yard. back yard, is big with, very nice patio n slab, nice sprinkler system. house is 2230 sq ft, 4 bed, 3 bath, with loft and office. needs new carpet, paint, throughout. house needs a lot of cleaning as far as scrubbing bathrooms, windows and floors, garage has lots of mice droppings and kitchen n house has some. the inspection was yesterday and there are some things.....leak in attic at spare bathroom, small leak at near water heater vent on top of house, deck in master bed unsafe railing and floor is lil loose, rest were minor such as loose bolts, rusted frame in shower, loose toilets, dryer vent clogged, pipe vent in attic for condensation needs to be cleaned/blow out...they had a spa but it has leaks, and it kept kicking on n off, inspector said we needed to have a someone come look n give us an estimate to see if it can be repairable, may be too much to bother with. oh and noticed lots of big spiders in house that were caught on sticky pads we left out a month ago, and a saw a huge live one in the house, spiders are big and scare me too. but i guess terminex or someone like that can take care of that?
    my feelings are, we love the area/city....it is on a very nice cul de sac, sits near the end of one, school is walking distance for spring n summer ( 1 mi). we would walk our kids/i would drive other wise, house is not open when you come in, like it lacks a family room, formal living lacks dining room. there is just a small living area with electric fire place that is open to kitchen, open to the sliding door that leads to the back yard. so you can see kids playing in yard from kit and living room (good). master bedroom small, but bath area big, one of my child's room is small, plus their bath is super small. we have been looking for months, and cannot find a yard that big with privacy, there are nicer homes that are open and have move in ready feel, but neighbors house are close together and most lots are very small front n back. in the house we are looking at, we have to put in carpet + paint+ fix repairs here. hubby is very picky on yard tho, likes large yards n privacy. we would have to finance the carpet and repairs.

    OR we buy a brand new home that are not yet built will be built this spring, we are renters, so no pressure on moving with in a time frame....prices are at top of our budget, a lil smaller, will lack loft and office,school is on other side of freeway, no park near by to walk to, larger living room but No formal, or formal dining,larger kitchen and eating area, may be able to choose lot, lots nice new features such as.....

    All these premium features come standard in The New House at no extra cost.
    In the kitchen

    • Granite counter-tops
    • Euro-style cabinetry with knobs
    • Whirlpool stainless steel appliances
    - Energy Star dishwasher
    - 30” 5-burner gas range
    - Microwave with built In ventilation
    • 20 gauge stainless steel sinks
    In the bathrooms

    • Integrated sink with cultured marble tops
    • Vanities with built In drawers
    • Tri-view style medicine cabinets
    • Dual flush toilets
    • Separate tub and shower
    Mechanical technology

    • Tankless hot water system
    • Non-corrosive PEX plumbing
    • Optimized heating and air conditioning
    • Home Run electrical harnesses
    • CAT5 and RG6 cable throughout
    Premium trim work

    • Dual pane low-e vinyl windows
    • Paneled window boxes with casings
    • Extra tall 3 1/4” baseboard trim
    • Raised panel interior doors
    Structural enhancements

    • 2" x 6" exterior walls with R-21 insulation
    • Structural sheathing around the entire house
    • Reflective radiant barrier attic sheathing
    • 11” R-30 attic insulation
    • Laser-leveled foundations
    Outside the house

    • Electric garage door opener with remote
    • Vinyl maintenance-free fencing
    • Lanscaped front yard with xeriscape watering
    none of these repairs were disclosed and it is a short sale, bank will not pay for repair, due to they have lost over 100k from sellers not keeping up on it.
    kids tub is small not bathroom, they have double sink as well.
    there is room to "add on" to 2003 home in living room, in future.. out side on side is large to put a extra 20x20.

    • ANSWER:
      You better off buying a new one or something that does not need this much...! Anyway my advise to you as former Rochester, NY investor banks won't give you any financing on this property. The only way you can buy it is with your own cash money and this involve lots of risk. Good luck...!

28. QUESTION:
    I want to shut off my oil heat boiler and use electric radiators for heat. How do I prevent pipe freezing?
    I have a cheap and smelly oil heat boiler. It sends hot water to my old radiators for heat and provides hot water to our kitchen and bathroom. It has no hot water tank. I have no gas service. Plumber told me gas conversion could cost from 6 to K. Because my oil bill was 0 a month last winter, I want to go all electric. I plan to use electric radiators throughout my home. For hot water, I will install tankless point-of-use water heaters. The only problem is how to keep my pipes in the basement from freezing in the winter time since the boiler will be off.

    • ANSWER:
      I would imagine that the electrical upgrade is going to cost you plenty also so if you want to add 5kw heat for the basement just to prevent freeze up it should not impact cost that much.

29. QUESTION:
    My landlord wont install water heater, what can I do?
    I went through a lot of trouble with this particular apartment I was planning on moving into but I went tthrough it and I moved in on New year's eve. Now, I'm finding out that the shower will only have enough hot water for 5 minutes so after 5 minutes the water gets cool instead of hot. I called the landlord and he said it's because it's tankless so it only last 5 minutes and I have to take a quick shower. I asked him if he can install a water heater and he said no. He's not going to waste 00 to install just for me. I commented that the other unit has it and he said that the other unit's tankless heater was broken so he had to replace it.

    Anyhow, I don’t think I can stand taking 5 minutes hot shower since I live in MA. What are my options? Can I sue him and make him install the heater or can I sue him and get back my first and last month rent, my moving expenses, payment for the hours I spent cleaning, and for moving cost to another location? Or am I out of luck...

    • ANSWER:
      This is such a good question, I would suggest you contact your local landlord tenant union in your area and see what to do, I would really like to know the out come of this. There have been times that I have moved into apts and something was wrong like slow water pressure etc,etc and these are things that you wouldn't normally check when inspecting the apt when you first move in. then your stuck for the remainder of the lease

30. QUESTION:
    Should I buy a home that needs these repairs or not? what do I do?
    we found a home we like,in escrow, should close n fund soon, but we have not yet signed last final docs. 2003, beautiful landscaped front and back yard. back yard, is big with, very nice patio n slab, nice sprinkler system. house is 2230 sq ft, 4 bed, 3 bath, with loft and office. needs new carpet, paint, throughout. house needs a lot of cleaning as far as scrubbing bathrooms, windows and floors, garage has lots of mice droppings and kitchen n house has some. the inspection was yesterday and there are some things.....leak in attic at spare bathroom, small leak at near water heater vent on top of house, deck in master bed unsafe railing and floor is lil loose, rest were minor such as loose bolts, rusted frame in shower, loose toilets, dryer vent clogged, pipe vent in attic for condensation needs to be cleaned/blow out...they had a spa but it has leaks, and it kept kicking on n off, inspector said we needed to have a someone come look n give us an estimate to see if it can be repairable, may be too much to bother with. oh and noticed lots of big spiders in house that were caught on sticky pads we left out a month ago, and a saw a huge live one in the house, spiders are big and scare me too. but i guess terminex or someone like that can take care of that?
    my feelings are, we love the area/city....it is on a very nice cul de sac, sits near the end of one, school is walking distance for spring n summer ( 1 mi). we would walk our kids/i would drive other wise, house is not open when you come in, like it lacks a family room, formal living lacks dining room. there is just a small living area with electric fire place that is open to kitchen, open to the sliding door that leads to the back yard. so you can see kids playing in yard from kit and living room (good). master bedroom small, but bath area big, one of my child's room is small, plus their bath is super small. we have been looking for months, and cannot find a yard that big with privacy, there are nicer homes that are open and have move in ready feel, but neighbors house are close together and most lots are very small front n back. in the house we are looking at, we have to put in carpet + paint+ fix repairs here. hubby is very picky on yard tho, likes large yards n privacy. we would have to finance the carpet and repairs.

    OR we buy a brand new home that are not yet built will be built this spring, we are renters, so no pressure on moving with in a time frame....prices are at top of our budget, a lil smaller, will lack loft and office,school is on other side of freeway, no park near by to walk to, larger living room but No formal, or formal dining,larger kitchen and eating area, may be able to choose lot, lots nice new features such as.....

    All these premium features come standard in The New House at no extra cost.
    In the kitchen

    • Granite counter-tops
    • Euro-style cabinetry with knobs
    • Whirlpool stainless steel appliances
    - Energy Star dishwasher
    - 30” 5-burner gas range
    - Microwave with built In ventilation
    • 20 gauge stainless steel sinks
    In the bathrooms

    • Integrated sink with cultured marble tops
    • Vanities with built In drawers
    • Tri-view style medicine cabinets
    • Dual flush toilets
    • Separate tub and shower
    Mechanical technology

    • Tankless hot water system
    • Non-corrosive PEX plumbing
    • Optimized heating and air conditioning
    • Home Run electrical harnesses
    • CAT5 and RG6 cable throughout
    Premium trim work

    • Dual pane low-e vinyl windows
    • Paneled window boxes with casings
    • Extra tall 3 1/4” baseboard trim
    • Raised panel interior doors
    Structural enhancements

    • 2" x 6" exterior walls with R-21 insulation
    • Structural sheathing around the entire house
    • Reflective radiant barrier attic sheathing
    • 11” R-30 attic insulation
    • Laser-leveled foundations
    Outside the house

    • Electric garage door opener with remote
    • Vinyl maintenance-free fencing
    • Lanscaped front yard with xeriscape watering
    none of these repairs were disclosed and it is a short sale, bank will not pay for repair, due to they have lost over 100k from sellers not keeping up on it.
    kids tub is small not bathroom, they have double sink as well.
    there is room to "add on" to 2003 home in living room, in future.. out side on side is large to put a extra 20x20.

    • ANSWER:
      If the price is right, and if you both agree this place would be great once fixed up, I would not let the problems you saw deter me. However, if the lot size is going to make your husband unhappy, let it go.

      Before moving in, pull up the carpets or pay someone to do it. (We do it ourselves, but it's not fun at all.) Next, either do the work yourself or hire a cleaning service to scrub the place clean. When all that's done, schedule the exterminator for mice and insects/spiders, including blocking points of entry. Let a few days go by for odors to dissipate, then it's time to get in there and paint while repair people come and go, doing what needs doing. Deal with gas and water issues first, since they can be damage-makers or dangerous.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Is a solar water heater the same as a tankless water heater?
   Are all tankless water heaters solar? Do the tankless water heaters or solar water heaters for the home really pay off?

   • ANSWER:
     two different animals

     a tank less water heater is gas or electric......it only turns on when you open a hot water tap somewhere in the system....it senses water flowing, turns on the heating element and then turns off when the water flow stops.That way you aren't keeping 25 or 40 gallons in the tank hot 24/7. 'Cause there isn't a tank. The whole unit is about the size of a large phone book or a small briefcase.

     We put 75 of them into the condo I run and peoples electric bill dropped about 25%.

     Generally the tank less heaters will raise the incoming water temperature about 25 to 40 degrees. They draw A LOT of current for the few minutes they are running.

     A solar water heater is a long run of copper pipes inside a frame, with a glass or plastic cover......it's about the size of, say, a large desk or a double bed and about 6 inches thick. You mount it somewhere that the sun can shine on it. Usually the roof but it could be at ground level. Water runs through the copper pipe and absorbs heat from the sun and then goes into the pipes in the house and to the taps.

     An ideal set up would have the solar heater preheating the water before it goes to the tankless heater...should drop your hot water bill 25-40%, because in the summer a solar heater makes water hot enough to not need the boost from the tankless.

2. QUESTION:
   can a solar water heater be hooked with a tankless water system?
   i am thinking about saving cost and energy. want to get a tankless water heater. i would like to have a solar water heater too, but heard that u need a stoage tank for the solar heater. not sure if i can combine the two. anyone got an answer for me?

   • ANSWER:
     you could have a 2 panel 80 gallon tank solar thermal system backed up by a tankless. but if you have a tankless, you dont need anything else, it wont work with solar panels, you must have a storage tank. if you have the money, do it. (roughly ,000) installed with a heating element in your air handler to pre heat your air in the winter. payback around 5 years pending tax credits. if thats to complicated, just do tankless, they are awesome. do both if you have the dough. your neighbors will be jealous.

3. QUESTION:
   Which is more energy efficent, tankless water heater or solar heating?
   i am having trouble deciding which is better. tankless water heaters are turned on only when i need hot water, but solar heating preheats the water with solar energy. I know there is no heat loss for the tankless and it saves more space.

   • ANSWER:
     They are both efficient. The problem with solar as mentioned is that they are subject to the availability of sunlight. I believe that ambient temperature has an effect on efficiency, that is, in the winter the water won't be as warm as in the summer.

     Tank-less is more reliable. But you have to get one that can heat the volume of water you expect to use.

     A solar + tank-less will be okay for long duration water use (like showers, laundry). It takes time for the warmed solar water to get to the point of use. If you're just washing your hands, you'll use the tank-less and none of the solar water. I don't believe any homes are plumbed for two water systems (solar and other).

     Using a circulating pump with a solar system may help its efficiency but it costs a few dollars a month to run.

     Check this site:
     http://www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com/
     If I had the bucks, I would put tank-less systems at each fixture.

4. QUESTION:
   Hot water heater - tankless or solar?
   I need a new gas hot water heater & trying to decide on whether to get a tankless or solar hot water heater. Can't anyone give me some advice on which is better or a site that could compare the two?
   I do understand that solar runs on the sun & requires no electricity but, seriously, is one better than the other? Pro's & cons is what I'm looking for. I had a conventional 50 gal. gas water heater prior to it flooding my garage out.
   Currently there are 2 in the household but desire a system capable for 4-6 people.
   I am in Az. so the sun shines pretty much all the time during the day.

   • ANSWER:
     BOTH! They work great together!

     Solar water heating is a great way to provide up to 75% of your hot water. However, it can't provide 100%, you need backup. The ideal solution is to get a solar water heater to do most of the heating. Then run the "hot out" from the solar storage tank to the "cold in" off an on-demand water heater. If the water is hot enough, the on-demand doesn't turn on, it just passes it through, no energy used. If the water isn't hot enough, perhaps you had a stretch of bad weather, it will add any needed heat. But instead of heating water from the city at 50 degrees, it will be heating partially heated water, maybe 80 degrees. This requires less energy.

     Depending on where you are, and how many people in your household, the equipment can cost about 00 - 00. I don't know the cost for an on-demand heater.

     http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Water-Heaters/Climate-freezes-Closed-Loop-Systems/Closed-Loop-Systems-for-1-4-People/Closed-Loop-PV-Powered-w-Tank/AET-PV-w-80-Gal-Tank-64-SqFt-Collectors/p172/

5. QUESTION:
   Can you use solar water with a tankless water heater ?

   • ANSWER:
     Yes, you can.
     Allow the water to go through the heater first.

6. QUESTION:
   replacing old electric water heater with tankless? solar tubes? cheapest way?
   my husband loves his hot showers (i know not green kosher) i want the best for the environment and my pocket. With rebate till 2009 what is the best way to go? To gaurantee never to run cold.
   We are a family of 3 live in sydney> thanks

   • ANSWER:
     You can go from one extreme to the other here...initial instalation is going to be by far the cheapest with a straight replacement with a new more efficient tank..tankless units are not cheap to buy but are not hard to install their advantage is that you are only heating water as you need it and not loosing heat from a tank left unused for long periods.In your situation I don't think you would see much difference in operating costs....the other side of the coin is solar being higher instalation and purchase costs but once done your running cost are almost nil...I'd still install a small tank heater that can be turned on should you need it

7. QUESTION:
   Tankless water heater/ electric water heater?
   I wanted to know if it would be more cost effective to install a tankless water heater or electric water heater. I have well water that uses oil to heat a 40 gal tank, I also have radiators to heat up the hose in the winter. With oil prices going up year after year I'm looking for the best and more energy efficient way to cut my monthly expense. Would solar water heater be a good option? I live in norther New Jersey so everything is expensive.

   • ANSWER:
     We need more info on what you currently have but....

     Tankless oil vs electric
     electric will be way more cost effective to install. Its just two pipes, and an electrical wire to the panel.

     For a tankless oil heat you will need to modify your boiler if its even possible. More than likely its not possible which means you will need to change your boiler to have a tankless feature.

     if you're looking for Tankless propane. This is cheaper then going the oil route. You will need to buy a tankless heater and install the propane tank/piping.

8. QUESTION:
   does anyone out have a tankless water heater and how do you like it?
   im in the market for a new heater. i have elctric now, but originally it was run by solar. now the solar ran out and it runs on electri(this is what my brother told me) so i need a new one. i can get permits to have gas put in( run a line to the house) but its a pain in the neck to go through all that. so what do you think of the tankless water heaters? do you save money?

   • ANSWER:
     I have a Bosch exterior mount model on city water and it works great. Not only did I gain the space of my water heater closet in my house (can never have enough storage) but I see the savings in my gas bill. Depending on the size of house you have and number of people living there you may need two. They require 3/4" gas line too and my plumber said that if you have hard water you would want to run a inline filter before the unit.

9. QUESTION:
   Should I remove solar panels or get a solar hot water heater?
   I just found out that my homeowners insurance company wants to charge me 0 more per year because I have some old solar panels on my roof. They were put on by the previous owners a long time ago I think. They are for a solar water heater but they aren't connected to anything because I just have a regular water heater in my garage. They are ugly as hell and I would just as soon take them down as I'd rather have a tankless system eventually anyways. My insurance is already 50 per year for a 140K house (Florida) so its high enough as it is. It seems stupid to pay 0 a year for something I'm not even using. Who can I call to take them down or can I do it myself or are solar water heaters cheap enough now that I should consider one?

   • ANSWER:
     Why don't you do this first my friend: put an ad in the local paper for someone that wants solar heaters and have them help you, for a price maybe. You can get their help and, have them pay you for them. You'd better check with your insurance company first. They may require a roofer to replace anything for their own purpose. You know how insurance companies are?

10. QUESTION:
    How long would a tank of propane last in a tankless water heater?
    I am contemplating buying a tankless propane water heater to heat my above ground pool.
    I can get one from ebay for about 0.
    I was originally going to try and build a solar heater but I figure that will cost me somewhere around 0 to do that.
    I am trying to figure out which way is the better route to go.
    Obviously the solar one has no running costs which is the biggest difference.
    The question is which one will be more effective?
    I figure the tankless will be able to get the water to a higher temperature and has the added benefit of being able to heat the water even if it's night time.
    How long would a bbq sized tank of propane last if it was left running until it was out of gas?
    Which one would heat the temperature of the pool more?
    I've compiled a list of pros and cons, for each heating method. Some feedback and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Tankless Pros- will heat the water more so I'm imaging it will raise the pool temp more and can get heated water anytime, day or night.
    Tankless Cons- have to buy propane regularly

    Solar Pros- no cost to operate
    Soar Cons-no heat at night and will not raise temp as high

    • ANSWER:
      A 20lb cylinder will not operate a tankless water heater. It does not have enough vaporization capacity for that big of a burner. Especially since it will be running for extended periods of time.

      Gas fired pool heaters use a LOT of Fuel! You can easily use 100 gallons of propane in a day or two when you are first bringing the pool up to temperature.

      A tankless water heater is not designed to handle the chlorine and other chemicals you will be subjecting it to. You are much better off with the solar method. Just make sure you have valve shutoffs to stop the water from circulating at night, or you will actually cool the pool overnight.

11. QUESTION:
    I would like to add a solar water heater to my house, if you have one, are you happy with it?
    Our other option is tankless, we have used tankless before and were happy with it, but it seems like solar is more cost effective in the long run. We will likely be in this house for the next 30+ years.

    • ANSWER:
      I installed one about 15 years ago when I first got my business started. Two people on the block already had them. They all liked them. Tankless is newer technology, and is quite luxurious. Solar water heating is Green, but not very luxurious. If you like steaming hot showers, go with the tankless heater. If you want to save money, go with the solar heating. It's really easy to install. You have to have a good location on the roof where it can face south. You could even hook up the solar heating just to some hot water lines and keep the tankless on your shower line exclusively.

12. QUESTION:
    How come new homes aren't built with solar panels?
    With all this "Go Green!" nonsense going on, you would think we would be graduating to better construction habits. Tankless water heaters, solar panels on roofs, compost heap areas in yards, WiFi- Broadband ready homes,etc.

    • ANSWER:
      You'd think, wouldn't you? But such things would so increase the price of new construction as to be prohibitive.

      Change is slow, until necessity rears its head. I daresay, necessity is not long in coming.

13. QUESTION:
    Electric tankless hot water heater ?
    We are in the process of building a new home and it is time to pick out the hot water heaters. There is so much information out there and I need some help choosing the right one! Here are some details...

    We live on Gulf Coast in MS (so it's warm almost all year)

    master bedroom - 2 sinks, 125 gal whirlpool tub, separate shower
    2 other bathrooms with tub and shower, 1 double sink, 1 single sink
    1 additional bathroom with double sink, stand up shower only
    Kitchen - sink, dishwasher (cant think of anything else that would need hotwater ??)
    Laundry roomm - Washing Machine (a larger one - we are a family of 6)

    We do not want gas at all in the house so it must be electric, but I was wondering how the solar/electric tankless units work too, and with all of the bathrooms and appliances using so much hot water how many units would we need to purchase.

    Thanks so much! I cant wait to get some insight! This is a very important decision that must be made soon!
    note: my husband is dead set against gas. He does not want a gas tank buried underground in our backyard and if truly afraid the house could blow up if we have gas. (his ex wife's house burned down 5 years ago and his son died in the fire, our house burned down 15 months ago. This was due to an electrical storm, but really there is no changing his mind. I agree with you though. ughhh)

    • ANSWER:
      You don't need to use gas for heating water! Note that most dishwashers and washing machines have only a cold water inlet and they heat the water by themselves.

      If the climate is sunny (as it is here in Israel) a solar heater works well for most of the year except for the 4 winter months. It is a passive unit without pumps but is a bit ugly and is on the roof. Different sizes and numbers of solar collectors and insulated tanks are available and for a family of 5 who are modest in their showering needs I suggest the tank should be of 180 liter size and two solar panels of about 3 x 6 foot each are necessary. They must face approximately south!

      I am not sure what you mean by a tankless solar heater. Here there is no such animal!

      Our solar tank also contains an electrical immersion heater for use in the winter, which I regard as wasteful because it takes a while to heat up or it looses heat when running continuously. Instead we have in the two bathrooms an "instant" electrical device also manufactured here, but available in the US. Its performance is not fantastic when the incoming water is very cold, but if you run the water slowly it is effective. Be very carefull about installing this powerful electrical device in the bathroom so that condensation cannot allow water to collect inside or on the internal connections etc. When in use always TURN OFF THE WATER BEFORE CHANGING THE HEATING RATE, or you will blow a fuse. There are at least two models to choose from and it should be planned before the house piping is put in so that it can be used to heat all the bathroom water and not just the shower water (for this an ïn-line"model is needed). For shower water alone, the older kind is suitable. The same applies to the kitchen.

14. QUESTION:
    Can tankless hot water heaters be installed in a new manufactured home?
    Just wondering if we can do away with the regular hot water heater if/when we order a new manufactured home. Also looking to install some solar shingles.

    • ANSWER:
      Most manufactured home companies will build anything you are ready to pay for. They have their standard models but they can do custom work. the water heater won't be an issue. Solar shingles might be because of the home manufacturers warranty.

15. QUESTION:
    Which is more effecient and more successful? A Tank-less Waterheater of a solar-powered waterheater?
    I'm trying to be more energy-efficient in My home, (at least as the water heater goes. And I'm also trying to figure out which water heater system is the best "green" way to go, the tankless or the solar powered water heater? Anybody know about either one or both? Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      My folks have a tankless water heater, and they love it. It is electric, and doesn't use any power until the hot water faucet is turned on. Then, it only runs to heat water going through the pipe. As soon as you turn off the faucet, you turn off the heater. It's instant heat, and unlimited heat. Here is the website that they bought from. Others have used it and love it as well. Very efficient to use, and not much money to set up. Solar water heaters would work great, but they are expensive to set up. It takes a long time to make your money back with those.

16. QUESTION:
    Water pump PSI - Swimming Pool Heater?
    OK, here's the deal ( I know it is hokey...) - I have an Above Ground Swimming Pool @ 5500 gallons. I just got an ECCOtemp L-10 Liter Outdoor Tankless Propane Water Heater. - It is supposed to be used for taking showers, etc. I want to use it to help heat my pool. I want to put an electric water pump on the pool to recirculate the water back up to the ECCO. The ECCO needs water pressure of 30-50 PSI to open the ignition circuit for operation. There are alot of types of water pumps to choose from, but they do not list the PSI , just the GPH. I am looking at 1" Clear Water pumps from Harbour Freight - - , 1/2 HP but I don't know if it will generate the PSI. Submersible pump would be easy also, but not sure if they have the PSI I need. I KNOW that the pool chemicals will affect the ECCO. I want a way to heat my pool in the cooler months, and in the evening - not 24/7. Cost is important. I live in Florida and don't want to pursue the solar angle on this brainstorm. The pool heats quite nicely on its own, but the above ground really saps the heat from it. I do have the pool somewhat insulated. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Hello,

      You can force the water to a higher pressure by putting a two way valve after the heat unit. By throttling down the flow, you can increase the back pressure.

      The idea of heating your pool for the night is not very cost effective. Calculate the time needed to raise the temp a few degrees, even if you ignore all the loses, especially on an above ground pool. How many BTU's is this unit? Is there a minimum flow rate for the hot water? If it was designed for showers, the flow rate will not be much.

      I did something similar for a custom builder once, but it was all to company specs.

      When you heat a pool, you are only allowed to raise the temperature of the incoming water by two degrees over the outgoing water. Why? Safety! You are going to burn the hell out of someone. These things are not approved to use on swimming pools. Be careful!

      Keep a cover on the pool when not in use to conserve the heat of course.

      Good Luck

17. QUESTION:
    Can we get builders to build homes that don't need much energy?
    I envision a future where homes are built with whichever sustainable energy option is right for it's particular area. We all know that going green with solar, wind, geothermal, sub-radient floors, tankless water heaters, solar water heaters, micro hydro, or whatever method is high dollar to ADD to a home. How about if the home came with a solar roof. You never had to pay for the conventional roof, or it's removal/alteration? The same goes for all the other energy items I mentioned. Not all are right for every area, but builders could determine which were right for an area, and build homes with these things in them. Wouldn't this drastically reduce the cost of any re-fit, or add-ons? Having subradient floors be the original floor installed would seriously reduce costs. Having a tankless water be installed vs. a conventional in the first place. Is anyone building homes which require little to no energy from electric & gas companies? Without seriously overinflating the cost?

    • ANSWER:
      Here's an example for a warm climate: http://www.livinghomes.net/primer.html

      Try Google for "green architecture" "green building" "sustainable architecture" and "alternative architecture". For prefab projects, try fabprefab.com. Consider green roofs, also.

      Try architecture.com.

      Look up "small houses".

      Just because contractors won't do it, doesn't mean you can't. Look up "natural building" to see how people are using their own hands and ancient techniques to minimize impact and energy expenditure, increase quality of life, reduce building costs by orders of magnitude, and generally deal with the issue directly.

      So glad you asked.

18. QUESTION:
    What are the most eco-friendly methods of heating water in a house?
    Our water heater is looking very sad and yesterday our neighbors burst. I took it as a sign.

    My husband wants to get a tankless water heating system.
    I'm wondering which methods are most eco-friendly, energy saving, etc.

    I don't think we can afford solar panels.
    I should have mentioned that I live in South Florida so if I can harness the sun's energy in a way I can afford (upfront) then I'm in the perfect location to do it.

    • ANSWER:
      there are 2 types of solar panels, photovoltaic - that create electricity to use for any purpose (like heating water) and solar thermal - used for collecting heat which is typically used to heat your home, your hot water, or even your pool. The former are typically expensive, the latter can vary a lot in price depending on technology. I wouldn't dismiss solar thermal collection before exploring it. It is likely more expensive, and certainly more complicated than a standard (and probably tankless) hot water heater too, but remember the difference is paying for the higher cost up front, then getting essentially free energy for years. The cost of energy will likely keep rising over time too, so saving 50% now might cost you a whole lot more over the lifespan of the product you buy.

      Depending on your location, a geothermal heat pump system can be much more efficient for heating and cooling your whole house, as well as heating water. Its not worth it for just hot water, but if you are looking at larger solutions these systems get rave reviews. Cost is high, but again you are paying up front and saving in the long run.

19. QUESTION:
    Which equine wash do you prefer?
    When we built my ranch back in 2002, we put in a hotwater heater and built in shampoo solutions machine into our main wash racks. We've been using Mane N' Tale...the concentrated formula you buy by the gallon, but because of the increase of our flashier paints with more white the mane n tale isn't cutting it...even when left to soak for 10 minutes.

    So we just upgraded our ranch to the "GREEN" way of life, you know, tankless water heaters, solar panels, LED lights, biofuel generators and figured we'd switch wash's while we're at it.

    What wash do you use and would you recommend it.

    BTW...I'm squashed for time, with over 60 horses right now. I love cowboy magic, but they haven't made the gallon jugs yet and we do use EQ Solutions on our trucks and trailers, but have never tried the wash for equines. White N' Bright and White Knight work, but still not in the gallon jugs.

    I would also be willing to purchase the 50 gallon drums.
    EDIT- I can only use vinegar on a few horses. Most of them either have allergic reactions or it dry's them out.

    The way I mix the mane' n' tale is because the system is run like a self wash car wash machine. I have a 50 gallon drum full of wash and it automatically disperts in the water system.

    I use to buy 50 gallon drums of ASPIRE, but that was back in the early 70's and it was a pain to pump out. Unfortunately they company who made it shut down and no one else makes it.

    • ANSWER:
      I also show paints and have used the EZ All wash system. It was an OK thing, but a lot seemed to get wasted. I have also tried just about every other product on the market and have always come back the the Orvis shampoo also. A little goes a long way, and it cleans wonderfully. I personally prefer the Suave conditioner for the manes and tails and if I need to do any whitening, I use the Roux Ultra White Minx rinse. This is a temp hair rinse that really makes the white pop.

20. QUESTION:
    Does it make sense to put solar panels on my house?
    I live in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) I am going to build a home, and I am thinking of going green, I probably won't do some of the "green things" like using all recycled materials, or even bamboo flooring, but more so, radiant floor heating, all Energy Star appliances (even getting an LED TV), Tankless water heater, french drain water collection (for water the lawn) LED lights, spray foam insulation etc. Does it make sense to get solar panels? I know that building rather thatn buying saves me 25%, but going full on green costs about 40% more.

    My ultimate goal it to have a home that is comfortable, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, not a lot of energy loss, and especially low utility costs. I know solar cells are expensive, and I going to build a 3000-4000 sq ft house... what do you think?

    • ANSWER:
      Michael, since you're designing the house, you should take advantage of passive solar building techniques - south facing windows, earth sheltering, a lot of interior thermal mass, etc. Check into using insulated concrete forms for the walls. Next, consider where dollars are most effectively spent for active energy recovery. Rather than gathering sunlight and converting it to electricity, convert it to heat and store it in a hot water tank - which provides both household heat and domestic hot water. How to air condition a house with hydronic heat? Look further into earth sheltered construction, and plan landscaping to provide some shade. You may find your AC needs are minimal or non existent. Do this correctly, and you'll save tons of $$ in utility bills while the rest of the nation is up in arms about rising energy prices. You should be able to name that tune for about 20 - 25% above normal construction costs. Good luck!

21. QUESTION:
    I want to go solar... all electric or keep gas?
    Im considering a few things and would appreciate any input. I would like to start installing solar panels over the next few years as well as a homemade VAWT windmill (not too big) and black tubing to heat up water before it gets to my water tank.

    1 - Install a tankless water heater. Do I go gas or electric?
    2 - Install electric clothes dryer instead of gas?
    3 - electric stove instead of gas?

    My thinking is to go all electric and get rid of my gas bill entirely and try to generate enough electricity on my own to power all the electric appliances.

    Just not sure what direction to take! I dont use much electricity (/mo) and my gas bill is in the summer and up to in the winter from cooking and heating. Ahhhh. I forgot about heating. It doesnt get too cold where I am, but I would still need heating. I would think gas is still cheaper then electricity for heating.

    Any tips or ideas out there? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I can see advantages to both options. It all depends on your intentions for going solar. Is your motivation environmental, independent living, or emergency preparedness? Do you intend to keep your utility connection and supplement it as much as possible with solar, or do you wish to be utility independent? If you keep the utility connection, then go all electric, and buy some Eden-Pure heaters for your heating needs. You will feed the grid all summer long, build up a big credit, and use the excess to run the heaters in the winter. If Independence is your goal, gas makes a good back-up plan in the event your solar does not generate a sufficient amount of power. When you say "gas" are you talking kerosene, LPG (propane) or natural gas? If you want to prepared for all emergencies, and LPG is available in your area, use it. Buy a tank big enough for a year's supply.

      Be careful of tankless water heaters--gas or electric. Many do not support preheated water conditions, and will cause problems on a solar water heated system. Your bills are quite low, you are likely very energy conscious already. Solar will be a great fit for you regardless of which way you go.

22. QUESTION:
    Can i built an attached utility room for the home equiptment:?
    I want to move this equiptment out of my yard, house and garage. I want to build an attached utility room with access from my garage. The reasons are self explainitory. I want to know if there are any issues doing this; like Having them together, code issues, temp, ect. Please let me know if you see issues with this. if anyone has pics or information on existing room please let me know. Thank you for your help!

    Air conditiner
    Furnace
    Air Compressor
    Pool Equiptment
    Central Vacuum
    Tankless water heaters
    (Maybe) solar power equiptment

    • ANSWER:
      air conditioner has to be outside, it would be a lot of trouble and money to move your water heaters and central vacuum, I would just get a tool shed and use it to put your pool stuff in

23. QUESTION:
    What kind of water heater would you put in?
    I have a hot water maker which is heated by the furnace (boiler) it is powered by propane. This heater is costing me a fortune for hot water during the summer. I have to heat the boiler to get hot water and then the thing is hot and heats up the area it is in. To put in an electric hot water heater would cost a lot due to the fact I would have a ton of electrical work to do.
    I think a tankless would suck because of the hardness of the water also my wife like her water hot. . A propane tank type seems the best option.
    Solar is not an option due to the amount of sun we get any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      You have answered your own question. Please buy an energy efficient one to save our environment. If you have cold well water you may want to install a temper tank. A temper tank is just a tank to let the water stand and warm to room temperature before going in the water heater. It may save only a few pounds of gas a year but a pound of gas saved is one you never have to pay for. It will also be better for thee environment.

24. QUESTION:
    What Water Pump should I buy?
    OK, here's the deal ( I know it is hokey...) - I have an Above Ground Swimming Pool @ 5500 gallons. I just got an ECCOtemp L-10 Liter Outdoor Tankless Propane Water Heater. - It is supposed to be used for taking showers, etc. I want to use it to help heat my pool. I want to put an electric water pump on the pool to recirculate the water back up to the ECCO. The ECCO needs water pressure of 30-50 PSI to open the ignition circuit for operation. There are alot of types of water pumps to choose from, but they do not list the PSI , just the GPH. I am looking at 1" Clear Water pumps from Harbour Freight - - , 1/2 HP but I don't know if it will generate the PSI. Submersible pump would be easy also, but not sure if they have the PSI I need. I KNOW that the pool chemicals will affect the ECCO. I want a way to heat my pool in the cooler months, and in the evening - not 24/7. Cost is important. I live in Florida and don't want to pursue the solar angle on this brainstorm. The pool heats quite nicely on its own, but the above ground really saps the heat from it. I do have the pool somewhat insulated. Thanks!
    What do you mean by a "shower pump"?
    I have never heard of one. Please be specific, Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Your heating unit is hopelessly undersized for this to matter. For the pumps, go to a better store and get a pump that is rated for the average shower, about a gallon a minute, at 50 psi.

25. QUESTION:
    Easy points please help!!!?????
    I am building a house that is environmentally friendly and it has to have 20 green/environmentally friendly things

    examples are:
    1)flourescent lights
    2) solar panels
    3) a fan
    4) curtains
    5) double paned windows
    6) rain catcher
    7) trees
    wind turbine
    9) insulation
    10) drying clothes outside instead of using dryer
    11) astroturf
    12)tankless water heater
    13) radiant barrier
    14) low flush toliets/low flow faucets
    15)
    16)
    17)
    18)
    19)
    20)
    we just need 5 more things.
    alright we can work with air tight entrance door

    so we have 15 need 5 more
    well appliances and stuff we dont really want, we want more of like...something we can make..like solar panels (alum foil) turbine (pinwheel)...um...flourescent lights (we can make)

    stuff like that..

    • ANSWER:
      1)flourescent lights
      2) solar panels
      3) a fan
      4) curtains
      5) double paned windows
      6) rain catcher
      7) trees
      wind turbine
      9) insulation
      10) drying clothes outside instead of using dryer
      11) astroturf
      12)tankless water heater
      13) radiant barrier
      14) low flush toliets/low flow faucets
      ---------
      15) Heat recovery in/out air fresh air distributio/air extraction system
      16) Solar water heating
      17) Phase change material (PCM) drywall to store latent heat
      18) Automatization for windows blinds
      19) Air-tight entrance door
      20) South-side orientade largest windows surface (for houses in cold climates)

26. QUESTION:
    Home upgrades yes or no?
    Hi. I've just bought my first home about 3 months ago. I'm 21 and bought it as a "investment" home and plan to sale it in about 3-5yrs...hopefully. I purchased it for 0,000 as a banked owned home..very lucky... It's 1250sqft 3bed, 2bath and on the gulf with a bay view here in Navarre, FL (Destin, FL Area) . I completely remodeled the house inside and out, Wood/Carpet/Tile Floors, Stainless Steal Appliances, Custom Cabinets, Granite Counters (all), tub/showers. Lights, Paint and so far I only spent about ,000-,000 on the remodeled got everything at wholesale and installed mostly everything myself. Also have (10) 200w Solar Panels on the roof which were gave to me as a gift. Power bill has been on average .00 a month + I have a private well so my water bill is mainly my electric bill. I just discovered that I'm going to have to replace my Hot Water Heater so my question is should I spend the 00.00 that I was quoted for the Tankless Heater? are just replace it with another conventional tank for 0? and save the money? If I go with the tankless should I see a return are extra value on my house?
    Yes I know this area is highly populated with military . I plan to sale not rent I don't really want to do the landlord thing or let a company handle that for me. Rather Sale and cash out. Renting the house and buying another would require me to keep both homes maintained and that could be alot of work.

    • ANSWER:
      YES. >.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   what is the profit for retailers in the sale of hot water heaters?

   • ANSWER:
     Normally very little.
     For instance plumbers and heating contractors typically mark up the water heater 10% rather than the normal 35 to 50% normally done on equipment due to the heavy competition from the big box stores which they mark up about 20% from their suppliers. They make it up on other associated items.

2. QUESTION:
   How much is a 5 year old electric water heater worth? How long do they typically last?
   a woman at work has a 50 gal electric water heater for sale. They are building a new house and going with gas. My water heater runs out in about 7 mins and is about 20 years old....assume it is filled with sediment. Is it worth buying a lightly used one for ?

   • ANSWER:
     I wouldn't. Water heater life spans suck. The used one is probably loaded with sediment/mineral deposits. If it has a sacrificial anode, it may be almost used up as well.

     I'm betting that the reason yours can't keep up is its age and sediment.

3. QUESTION:
   Have a brand new gas water heater for sale, but need the most I can get.. Wheres the best place to sell?

   • ANSWER:
     kijiji

4. QUESTION:
   How do I hold my water heater manufacturer and installer accountable for damage?
   One year ago today, I bought a tankless water heater recommended by a local water heater sales/installation company, and had them do the installation. Yesterday, we came downstairs to see water pouring out of it, all over the floor. I called them up, and they said turn off the water, and we'll come out tomorrow. I tried and tried to get them to come out righ then, but they said they didn't have anyone available. They did confirm that I was still under full warranty, and that they wouldn't charge me for the replacement of the unit. I did what they said, and now they are here doing the replacement, but when I showed them that in the next room I could hear water sloshing under the laminate floor (floor sits on slab), he just said "hm, yeah", and went back to working on the replacement. I feel like they should pay to have the floor taken up dried and replaced, as I'm now afraid of mold, but they don't seem interested in doing anything about it. I called their service manager and told him the installer only seems to be interested in doing the bare minimum, and that I'm not happy, but I don't know how far they are obligated to go to make things right. Does anyone know the answer? Has anyone dealt with this before and or have any advice?

   Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     The fact that this thing worked for 1 year is gonna make it next to impossible to hold anyone liable for subsequent damage. They fulfilled their obligation by honoring the warranty. The rest is exactly what you should have home owners insurance for. Depending on the size of the room and the size of the insurance deductible, It might be better to eat the cost. Check with your insurance agent and claims adjuster. If they think the other parties are liable, then it is up to them to fix your floor and then go after the other parties on your behalf.

5. QUESTION:
   When installing a new water heater in Virginia, do you need a "backup tank" or something to attach?
   Does the law require, when replacing a hot water heater, in Virginia, something called a "backup" or "auxiliary" tank to be attached to the cold water line? The sales lady said it had to be a 2 gallon one for a 40-gallon tank,. and a 5 gallon one for a 50 gallon tank. I think it's meant to arrest water hammer.

   Is it required by law in Virginia?

   • ANSWER:
     Peter is correct, and to expand on what he said just a little, when you use a lot of hot water, the tank, though now much colder, is still under the same pressure, so as the now colder water starts to heat up, it expands. This never used to be a problem as the expansion simply pushed the cold water back through the cold water feed line. With the code now requiring back-flo preventers and in some cases pressure regulators, the heated water can no longer go backwards and push the cold water back through the lines. This used to keep the pressure constant but now that the water can't push back, the pressure rises, sometimes beyond the PTR valve's limit. So the expansion tanks are now installed to make up for this and keep the pressure stable at all times including while the expansion is taking place. As Peter also mentioned, it has nothing to do with water hammer.
     Al

6. QUESTION:
   Down Draft Wood burning, outside water heaters for heating my home?
   I am thinking about getting a outside wood burning water heater to heat my home. I came across a company that has a down draft burning system heater and they say it is the best this, best that, most efficiant .......... There must be some not so good points about this type,what are the pros's and cons? Where can I find more information on this type and other out side water heating burners (corn,wood pellets) other than the manufacturer or sales person? What is the best one to get, can a person build there own, whre can one get plans to make a efficiant one.......?

   • ANSWER:
     OK.....i used to work for the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY....u can build a sand and tubing outdoor water heater ( large enough to heat your house ) for pennys....the trick is the insulation of the walls....thick enough to not allow heat to dissapate....all it is is a big cement box....like a septic tank....with a burning box inside surrounded by copper tubing and filled with sand.....the trick is to BURN OLD TIRES.......1 tire can heat ( BURN 24 HOURS)your entire house and why???they are rubber..petroleum...and burn at high temps....the trick is to install a catalytic converter in the burn box and then u have no waste and no burnt rubber smell........GO TO ...archives of "mother earth news" they have this unit or did have and how to build.......www.ask.com will answer the question and give you site online to look at ......burn waste...old newspapers....pallets...TIRES........

7. QUESTION:
   Should I drain a gas water heater if the water supply is off and will not be used for a long time?
   The house is going up for sale and the water service has been shut off, as was the electric service. Gas service will be cut soon also.I don't know how long it will sit like that. Should I drain the heater when I drain the entire house down?
   thanks

   • ANSWER:
     open all faucets in house, attach garden hose to drain cock on water heater and open drain cock, also open rear outside faucet to drain cold water and leave open. Go to auto parts store and buy 2 gallons of pink windshield washer fluid and pour in sinks and toilets. The pink stuff is freeze resistant and won't hurt environment. Disconnect hose when all water is drained out. Some newer homes have backflow preventers on water service which would be a good thing to remove and let water drain for 100% freeze protection, some are built into meter.

8. QUESTION:
   Help me get a BMW!!!?
   My boss is going to give me ,000 on my 21st B-day for my BMW in return for selling 50 water heaters (im a plumbing office manager) I want to find out ways to tell people about my bet and potentially sale water heaters. I know to contact other poeople in the industries simular to mine but I wanted to see if anyone knows any websites or places I can write a blog or chat with people that are looking into new construction or remodeling? Any ideas will help! Please help my dream come true it will be on my 21st B-day Whoo-hoo!

   • ANSWER:
     What does getting a BMW have to do with IT?

9. QUESTION:
   Will seller be held responsible for carbon monoxide leaking (water heater tagged by utility company) not discl
   Water heater tagged prior to sale of home, Seller denies knowledge of heater being red tagged by utility company for improper venting. Carbon mon. caused illness and significant expense to correct. We have the red tag which outlines the heater was turned off and not to be restarted without correcting the problem first. It was found by contractors installing new heater and ventalation system. Do we have a case in court?

   • ANSWER:
     I would say you have a good chance, as long as you can get documentation from the utility company stating that the seller received notification. They should have records of service calls made to the address, also any notations made on the account. I'd say it's definitely worth talking to your attorney over. (Keep in mind, this is my limited law knowledge, but I'd say that there may be a good negligence claim, or something along those lines.)

10. QUESTION:
    prices for state water heaters?
    need a new water heater and most have a 3 to 6 year warranty. and some of the reviews from home depot brands are pretty bad
    i have had a state gas water heater since 1997 it has been noisy but works great
    it might be as old as the house built in 1992,
    prob is state does not have prices on their website bad sales move!!
    anyway need a water heater that will last and not break the bank (i an disabled and dont have alot of income)

    • ANSWER:
      For a 40 gal gas state water heater it should run about 5 to 5 plus tax. That dont inculd labor

11. QUESTION:
    What would cause rusty water coming from hot water faucet?
    We have well water and the have not used the water in a few mos due to the home being up for sale. We put in a new hot water heater 6 mos ago.

    • ANSWER:
      Donna is correct. Let it run for awhile,it will clear itself.

12. QUESTION:
    i need the web add.for rudd or reem hot water heaters(elec.) the factory not a sales outlet can someone help?
    it really doesn't matter what factory it is as long as they are the manufactuer. i am a regional maint. director for a med.sized mulity family housing corp.& i have around 50 maint.sup.&techs, myself&another regional have begun setting up classes on a monthly bases to train our maint.dept. so i need someone from a mfg.of hotwater heaters(elec&gas) to come to our company and give a class on hotwater heaters.

    • ANSWER:
      Is there a web address or 1-800 number on a label? Kudos on your training program. I've been in building maintenance for 20 years. I know the importance of training.

13. QUESTION:
    Horse water tank questions?
    I have a water heater in my horses tank that sits in the bottom and there's a wire cage around it. Last year it used almost a month in electricity. I saw a different water tank for sale and the people say it uses a year to run. Here's a link:
    sheboygan.craigslist.org/grd/2679224250.html

    What do you think? I haven't used one before but I've been dreading winter because of this.
    Thanks for input.
    Copy/paste it. Make sure there's no 'www.' Before the url.
    Let's see if this link works. Idk why the other one isn't. This one is similar

    orschelnfarmhome.com/performance-one-edrink/ctl16754/cp58377/si5175570/cl1/
    Its called an E drink animal heated waterer. I can't get a link to work!! Sorry!! Just google that please

    • ANSWER:
      I couldn't get either url to work either. However, here's the heather I used last year. Can't remember how much it cost to run but it wasn't nearly what yours did. It also has a thermostat so it will shut off if temps get to 36 I believe and turn back on at 35. I can't remember those for sure so don't quote me on it. You can also buy them at Orsheln's, not sure why the website doesn't have them but from experience I will tell you the website is horrible to work with, they have them in two sizes tempted to say -

      http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=22509&cmpid=06csegpl&ref=6111&subref=AA&CAWELAID=699888700

      EDIT:

      lol Ok I know exactly what you mean now. I actually just got one of them but haven't had a chance to put it in. I picked it up for a song at a yard sale cause some parts were missing. The only thing I'm not crazy about after reading the info on it from the manufacturer is that the heater that you are supposed to use in it won't shut off automatically. However, most of the heating factor comes from water constantly entering it and the insulation in the tank its self. If you google "Brower waterer MPO17E" the first link should give you all the specs on it. The computer I'm on now won't download the page so I can't post the link for you. Sorry

      EDIT:

      I got to looking more today and they do make a heater that will fit that tank that has a thermostat. You just have to be careful and make sure you pick up the right one as there is another one that would fit it that doesn't have a thermostat.

14. QUESTION:
    Does use of a hot water heater blanket affect insurance coverage?
    I went to Home Depot to buy an insulating blanket for my hot water heater. My local store doesn't carry them. The sales person told me that if there's a water heater fire, and you're using a water heater blanket, most insurance companies won't provide coverage for the damage. I would have thought that manufacturers would be smart enough to make them out of fire-resistant materials. I couldn't find anything in my HO policy about this issue, but I may have missed something in the fine print.

    • ANSWER:
      I'm a plumber in CA and from what I understand, all it does is void the manufacturers warranty for the WH.

15. QUESTION:
    What are signs that someone is interested in purchasing home that is for sale?
    Our house has been on market on and off for one year. We took it off the market for like 6 months to update it. WE added new stove, new flooring it kitchen and bath, all new tiltout windows, and new water heater, and regutted bathroom and put all new everything in there. We had an open house that went well. One girl came there for like 30 min and wanted to see it again the next day with her hubby. They stayed 45 min. that time. What are signs that they might buy it. What else can I do to get it sold. It's a small house 874 sq. feet. We bought it 5.5 years ago for 55,000. Have since put it 15000 in it and am asking 59,900 for it. We want out

    • ANSWER:
      The repeat visits are a good sign. But, nothing is for sure until closing. The offer is just that, not 100% sure.

      Look over how your real estate agent is describing it in the MLS. If it is not accorate the people visiting are simply looking for something else. Also, put in LOTS of pictures. I spend a lot of time on the MLS looking for deals for myself and my friends. I automatically delete listings that do not show the interior.

      Don't fall for the scams you will receive here. There are lots of really unethical people hanging about Answers.

      Also, have her run the comps for the last couple of months to make sure you are in the right price range. You may be priced too low and falling off the radiar because of it.

16. QUESTION:
    What kind of questions does a person ask when they go to view a house for sale for the first time?
    Besides, like how old is the furnace, water heater, etc? First time going to see it and don't want to miss any important questions I should ask.....

    • ANSWER:
      Your agent is entrusted to know what questions to ask on your behalf after all they are the ones with the experience and the nightmare knowledge of what should be asked to avoid court later. In addition make sure you get a property condition disclosure from the seller and or the seller's agent telling you all that the seller knows are the conditions of the property that they have experienced and fixed or not fixed. Some states make this disclosure mandatory but not all of them do, but you can request it and or make it a part of an offer that you be provided one and what your options are after you get it. In addition here is what the government suggests you should ask
      HUD 100 questions and answers on buying a home
      http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/buying/buyhm.cfm
      Good luck with your quest for a new home

17. QUESTION:
    If my landlord gave me a 30 day notice (house for sale)can I move out early if he wont to fix the water heater?
    Im on a month to month lease, and a couple weeks back he gave me a certified written letter stating he was selling the house and I had til September 5th to move out. I have been asking for almost 2 months verbally that the heater wont stay lit. Its rare for anyone in the house to get a hot shower, I have 3 kids. On July 17, NRHA (Nevada Rural Housing Authority) gave them a 30 day written notice, which is up tomorrow, and almost one week ago i wrote one myself. It is obvious that the landlord is not going to fix the hot water heater until i move out. So, even though the landlord has asked me to move out, am I allowed to counter act and move out sooner and claim my deposit back because he violates the state laws? If I can move out and take the deposit, am i still responsible for the cleaning of the house and professional carpet cleaner?
    State law says that my hot water heater has be be in working condition, working and heating my water. and I am on HUD (which is NRHA). So he is violating the law since law states that he has 10 Days to fix it aafter a written notice to him.

    • ANSWER:
      NRHA is going to fine him.

      Yes, you can move out, have NRHA document that the hot water heater was not repaired, your word is not good enough.

      The landlord is still entitled to deduct any cleaning and repairs from the deposit. All you really have is the right to move out sooner.

18. QUESTION:
    The pilot light won't stay lit on my gas hot water heater. Once the tank has warmed the water up - the pilot
    light goes out. Snakes got in my closet - I caught them with glue boards. For 3 days (while they were on the glue boards), I had NO problem with the pilot. After my son came over & took out the snakes & sprayed "Great Stuff" insulation, I have had to light the pilot 2 or 3X a day. Could he have moved the tank - affecting the ventilation? Or maybe got some of the spray insulation in an air exchange pipe? Is there only 1 pipe for air release? If so, (the 1 under the tank) seems empty - clear. At least I have NO more SNAKES! The gas co. came over & said I need a new gas valve (0). 1st they replaced the wire to the pilot. Again, once the water heated up, the pilot went out. I think the tank is 10 yrs. old. Should I get a NEW one? Are the waterless ones any good? Which ones are the best? I can't find any tanks like mine (30 gallon water tank) online for sale. I"m confused. I've received wonderful advice via "Yahoo Question" before. Hope I will again. Please someone - help???

    • ANSWER:
      No reason to replace a tank if it is not leaking unless it is real old and you fear a leak.

      If the pilot will light and hold it is very unlikely you need a gas valve.

      My thought would be you had one problem, a weak thermocouple, then another caused by the installation of it.

      You could have a weak pilot that is blowing out. I would assume he cleaned the pilot when he installed a new thermocouple but there is no guarantee that is true.

      If it is a weak pilot, when it shuts off. the draft from the main burner blows it out. Then it shuts down.

      The other problem I see is similar. The pilot flame is positioned too high or the main burner is tilted down towards it. When the main is lit if completely covers the pilot with gas and it is out. But the valve stays on because of the heat of the main burner still warms the thermocouple.

      Then when it shuts off, it is off.

      I determine which it is by watching it as it burns. I can see if the flame is covering the pilot and it is likely blown out but running. When it shuts down it is immediately out.

      When I turn the temp down so it shuts off as I am watching it, if it is being blown out I can see that happen too. It will be lit and flicker out after the main is out. Sometimes you can even hear it.

      I do have luck reaching in with channel locks (it is hot) and bending the main burner up just a tad, should be near level, can be slightly up on front side, but not tipped down towards the pilot.

      Such problems are hard to determine without my fooling with it though but I hope I gave you some ideas.

      Good Luck

19. QUESTION:
    How much should I sale my single wide for?
    it's a 1970 fairmont 14x80 3 br 1 bath the floors are a year old but it needs carpet and a hot water heater it needs 2 windows replaced but we have the frames. Also needs the roof sealed

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like it needs work so you have to reduce the price to get a sale. The website link below will give you an estimate based on where the home is located. Price data only starts after 1976.

20. QUESTION:
    What is the going price for a standard A.O. Smith 40 gal water heater these days?
    I am preparing my house for sale and need to replace the water heater. I currently have a 12 yo A.O. Smith that served me well. I was quoted a price of ,289.37. I was told because of gov't regs that an additional 0.00 for insulation inspection and another 8.32, if I need a pressure reducer valve. I was also informed that prices of water heaters will be going up in June. This could be a pressure point to buy I am not sure. I live on the east coast.

    Has anyone recently purchased a water heater? thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Buy one at Home Depot or Lowes and have them install it. If you are selling it, get the cheapest 40 gallon they have in stock. The price and installation together is 0 cheaper than hiring a plumber from a tv commercial.

21. QUESTION:
    Should I buy extended protection agreements along with my new appliances?
    I went to a very popular national retailer and got price quotes for 13 appliances for my new 2-family home (2 fridges, 2 ranges, 2 dishwashers, 2 washers, 2 dryers, and a water heater). The sales person included 3-year extended protection agreements for all appliances in the price quote. The total dollar amount was ,500 for the protection agreements themselves.

    Should I buy protection agreements for any or all of the appliances? I was thinking of at least buying the protection for one of the washing machines since it will be a front-loader and I am unfamiliar with them and have read about people having trouble with them.

    • ANSWER:
      Years ago I started using my American Express to purchase expensive items. It automatically doubles the manufacturer's warranty (some limitations). I've used the Amex insurance twice to replace things and had no problems. Most financial experts don't reccomend the warranty protection plans. Read up on this at DaveRamsey.com or clarkhoward.com.

22. QUESTION:
    I bought a water heater from Home Depot.?
    The sales guy asked if I pulled my permit. I said not yet. I didn't plan to pull a permit. Why do you need a permit for a water heater? It has been running fine for over a year now. I installed it myself.

    • ANSWER:
      Maybe in your area you do, but I've replaced several in my rentals and never pulled permits because my city didn't require one. They do require that they are strapped, however, as we live in an earthquake zone. I wouldn't worry about it.

23. QUESTION:
    do you believe this job is a scam or legit?
    So im currently in university how ever next semester im talking more online courses so i can manage a full time job. I applied for a lot of places and i got a call from national home services a company worth 3 billion dollars that sells water heaters. The pay is 150 dollars per sale of each water heater and they say you can earn anywhere from 00 up to 00 dollars per week. I was very skeptical at first but then when i went with a team of workers on the job they all showed me their weekly checks all well over 00. The problem is we have to walk door to door and work out side, Do you think this is a scam or is this company legit?

    • ANSWER:
      This sounds like a scam because the value of the water heater sales company is highly inflated, the prices of the water heaters must also be inflated to pay 150 per sale, and I can print fake checks & paystubs right now from my computer if I wanted. Door to door sales are among the worst paid sources of income and most often it is high school to college aged young adults sought out for door to door sales.

      I once worked for a scammer that inflates his company's net worth and constantly lies about what business he is really in. He also produced fake paychecks and paystubs for certain people and claimed to take payroll taxes from employees but employees NEVER get their W-2's and this has been a problem for years! The ads for the jobs to lure people in always inflate and flat out lie about what people earn and a few pet employees will lie about how great the pay is and how they like their job.

      The truth is that high school and college aged kids are his preference and he has a high number of convicted criminal working there too. I would say that you are being targeted to take part in a scam or be a victim of one. There are many water heaters that can be purchased at lower prices or with many more benefits at higher prices. Please don't take part in something this fishy and keep looking.

24. QUESTION:
    Hi, I am looking for a instant water heater.?
    Any recommendation of brand? Different sales representative says different things... 1 says copper element is better and another says Polyxxxx (looks like plastic) is better ? Do you have the answer. Pls help.

    • ANSWER:
      Water can't be heated instantaneously. It takes time for heat to transfer into it. If you're shopping for a water heater, use standard shopping methodology. Match the specs with your needs. Consider manufacturer reliability and consumer reports. I'd be very surprised if any water heater used a plastic heating element. Consider its operating cost according to how you plan to use it. Consider its purchase price according to its quality and durability and how long you plan to keep it.

25. QUESTION:
    anyway to avoid taxes on rental short sale?
    Is there any way at all to avoid paying taxes on a short sale on a rental property? I paid 125k for it, put 2 new furnaces & water heaters in, plus a few grand in other items, trying to do a short sale. I work with short sales, so I know all about them. I'm looking at the tax end of it....I'm getting an offer for 50k, and mtg balance is 133k or so, plus realtors comm, taxes, etc, I'd get a 1099 for like 90k. I need to know, is there a way to avoid paying taxes on it, or should I declare bankruptcy to wipe out the tax debt? Also, will BK wipe out IRS debt? Any asst would be great. FYI, 90k is about 3x what I make in a year.

    • ANSWER:
      you are in the short sale business so you know a lot more than i do about this, but i understand that a new law passed that resulted in taxpayers not having to pay taxes on the first 0,000 of a 1099 from a short sale.

      I may be wrong, maybe it did not pass....but i sure do remember hearing that it became a reality.

26. QUESTION:
    5 year old gas water heater not working after new furnace installed?
    I just bought a house with a Whirlpool gas water heater that passed as "satisfactory" in the home inspection. We have not moved in yet, but when I went over today to do some work I noticed there was no hot water anywhere - not the kitchen or any of the bathrooms.

    As a contingency of the sale, the previous owner had the furnace replaced last week. It sits right next to the water heater tank.

    Is it possible that something was unplugged during the furnace installation that would affect the water heater? The electricity and heat are all working, so I don't know what else could be wrong - other than the tank having died...

    Thanks for your help!

    • ANSWER:
      Perhaps the pilot light went out when the new furnace was installed.It really doesn't take much of a breeze to blow them out.If you are not familiar with lighting gas pilot lights,do get someone to show you how.

27. QUESTION:
    Average life span of a water heater?
    I have my house for sale and it was inspected. It is 10 years old and the inspector said, per their realtor, that it is near the end of its life span. They have not given us the report, as requested several times. The house was empty for a total of 3 years, in which the water heater was not even used. I was single, so I didn't use a lot of it. How can someone just say it is near the end of its life span, just because of age? There is nothing wrong with it at all. It works fine and there is no crud in it, as it was drained and drained clear. There was a water softener and a reverse osmosis system during the 2 owners and the 7 years that people have lived in it.

    Can anyone give me some ideas or what I can tell them? The buyer is requesting I put in a new water heater before closing on the house at the end of this month. We requested a full report before we make a decision, but I say No either way.

    Thanks for your kind answers.
    It is electric.
    No rust, no leaks. I am not replacing something that nothing is wrong with. It is like saying, your grandfather has reached his life span, lets get another one to replace him.
    I am already going to pay her closing costs when I had not intention of doing that. She is also getting all my appliances which are not even 4 years old. New laminate flooring, ceiling fans in all bedrooms and living room, curtains remain, etc. Thank you for your answers. I agree with the plumbers.
    I am already going to pay her closing costs when I had not intention of doing that. She is also getting all my appliances which are not even 4 years old. New laminate flooring, ceiling fans in all bedrooms and living room, curtains remain, etc. Thank you for your answers. I agree with the plumbers.

    • ANSWER:
      i had a water heater that lasted forty years in Boise Idaho, i didn't buy it, it came with the house when i bought it. worked fine for the six years i lived there. but when i sold the place the buyers wanted a new one so i gave and bought one. the thing had to be hauled up the basement stairs and had to have weighed four hundred pounds, must have been sand in it. anyway the one i have now will be twenty years old this summer. these people are just milking you. tell them your bargaining is over and buy or get out. if keep giving in when they have their first house party you will the brunt of all the jokes they tell about the deal they got on the price

28. QUESTION:
    I have a small home on approx 2/3 acre. How do I get quotes for tear down&/or auctioneer for house materials?
    I'm not sure if I should tear down the house and then sell the property. I have put money into the interior thinking I would stay. I bought new appliances (stove, dishwasher, washer & dryer), also a new furnace, hot water heater, light fixtures, new countertops in kitchen, bathroom vanity, air conditioner. Home has pella windows, 14 glass sliding doors, beamed ceiling, paneling, hardwood floors, 2 fireplaces, 3/4 brick exterior. Finished basement with bar. It's only a 2 BR with 1 1/2 baths. It's located in the Wood Dale area of Illinois near O'hare, on a dead end street, near expressways. Homes in the area are being torn down or added on to making much of the area larger newer homes. I have put up a For Sale sign just to get an idea of what people would pay. I need as much as I can get out of the property to live on. I need as much feed in as possible to do this. The house was built in 1954.

    • ANSWER:
      DO NOT tear the house down if you want to sell the property,
      you won't get much for all that stuff,, just look at all the questions here wanting everything for free or REAL cheap! The whole package will sell for a lot more, and few people will pay a lot just for 2/3 acre!!!

29. QUESTION:
    Turning on propane furnace, heater, air conditioner, etc. in vacant home for sale - safe?
    We are going to view a bank-owned property this week which we believe has been vacant at least a year, maybe a couple of years. It is a rural house built in the 50s. Ideally we'd like to test the propane forced-air heating system, and the air conditioning unit, perhaps the water heater, etc etc. This is our second time viewing the property but we didn't inspect these things the first time around. The electricity is running so we are hoping the other utilities are as well.

    Is it safe to try to work these units after all this time? I live in an apartment and am new to all of these units, and I just have bad visions of things exploding, or stinking up the place with toxic fumes like what happened in my workplace stockroom after turning on the heat for the first time in a while. Phew! I know we'll have to clean filters and such should we buy the home.. this is just to test it out to see if they are in working order.

    Please let me know if this would be safe or what we should examine beforehand to determine if it is safe to test.

    Thank you!
    We're just going to look at the house. We're not going to pay anyone or bring anyone in to do this at this time. A professional home inspection won't be made unless/until we have an offer accepted.
    The house is across the country, we will only be in town for 2 days and only have time to test these things ourselves right now rather than arrange for other people to come in.

    • ANSWER:
      It should be perfectly safe……… and you should test them.
      Just take a flashlight to visually inspect around the burners {both furnace and hot water heater} and wires for mouse nests {is it mouse nests, or mice nests …oh well}

30. QUESTION:
    House going into "sheriffs sale"?
    a house was originally 0k and roughly 40k was paid off leaving 90k on the mortgage, but then with money trouble bla bla bla, the house is going into a sheriffs sale. I'm wondering if at least the remainder of the mortgage will be paid off???

    Improvements were made wile living there over 5 years - new windows, new dish washer, new oven, new toilets, new hot water heater. although some of the flooring was ripped up from the old water heater leaking (treating for possible mold {but there was none}).

    do you have any info on a "sheriffs sale"? thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Mortgage lender will not permit anyone to buy it for less then what is owed. If the remaining mortgage is 90k then the lender sets that as the opening bid. No higher bids then the lender keeps it and lists with a realtor.

31. QUESTION:
    When A home changes MLS status from short sale to agent owner?
    What does this usually mean? A home we have been interested in recently changed status in the MLS. We have been put off by the fact that the home was a short sale as sitting with our hands tied for months waiting for a bank response doesn't appeal to us. I have not yet moved to the area I am debating using an agent as I have already looked thoroughly into the area the schools are great no sex offenders or meth houses in the area crime maps are clean city has a good water supply and the schools are great etc. My offer can only be what I can afford minus any estimates to make the home habitable. I also have access to a real estate lawyer to review everything.

    This is the e-mail I would like to send to the listing agent:

    I noticed this home on the MLS awhile back. Its listing status just changed from Short Sale to Agent/Owner. Is this property still a short sale or has the ownership changed hands? The listing states the home is in need of repairs The photos attached to the listing are only of the exterior I would love an honest assessment of the shape that this home is in. Have any appliances or systems been replaced or updated? How old is the roof? Is the Water Heater more than 6 years old? Are there any known foundation problems? Is the home habitable in its current state? I am aware that "subd y" was built on top of a mine and therefore has a disclosure regarding sinkholes is this also the case in "subd x"? Has the property ever had a soils test performed on it? Thank you in advance for any information you can provide regarding this property.

    Would asking these questions endanger me if I later choose to work with a buyers agent? Is there anything in my wording that could be improved upon?

    Thanks in advance!

    • ANSWER:
      One possibility is that an agent bought this property as a short sale and opted to immediately put it back on the market.

      Laws will vary in different states but generally if an owner has not lived in the home, they are not required to file any disclosures about the condition of the property.

      You can certainly ask these questions and the owner/agent may provide answers if s/he has them. It generally wouldn't preclude you from using a buyer's agent if you choose to go through with the sale.

      My advice would be to contact a buyer's agent and request that they preview the home for you (if you are not geographically able to do so).

32. QUESTION:
    Property discharged via chap7 THEN sold via short-sale. Write-offs?
    Filed chap7 fall of 2010. Among discharged debts was our condo (we did NOT reaffirm the debt) which we'd rented for only 9 mos. Sold unit via short-sale ~ a year after the chap7.

    Question(s):
    SINCE it was rented (briefly), is it a "rental property"? If so, are we able to write-off the losses (I.e, new water heater, some new appliances, rugs, floors, etc)?

    If the answer is yes, do the rules apply to losses on a discharged property? What about a "short-sold" property, or as in my case, both?

    We will avoid being 1099'd for the difference due to the chap 7. Good thing too, 'cause The Mortgage Forgiveness Act would not have helped me (only applies to pri residence).

    Some background if you want/need it:
    Move OUT of condo & placed it on market fall '07...this was about 1 week before we all learned about the "bubble" (& about credit default swaps, "non-doc" interest-only 0k ARMs to people pumping gas for a living). Anyway....

    We just couldn't sell the condo, so we broke-down & rented it in fall, '08. Renters split (unexpectedly) after ~9mos & had damaged the unit.

    Took last of our $$$, made repairs & re-listed as a short-sale. Made 4 more mortgage payments & we were done!! We'd lived like starving college kids trying to pay both mortgages until it eventually wiped us out financially, physically & emotionally. Lender had dropped the ball on AT LEAST 3 decent short-sale offers.....there was no reasonable end in-sight, so we filed chap7 & discharged the condo.

    As fate would have it, we FINALLY sold the condo fall of 2011 (for less than the orig 3 offers).

    Anyone wondering WHY we pursued a short-sale on a discharged property, read this:
    http://www.bankruptcylawnetwork.com/bankruptcy-debtors-may-benefit-from-a-short-sale/

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, you wirte the expnses off hte rent you collected, the rent is fully taxable.

      Get your CPA to do it, you are going to be audited.

33. QUESTION:
    too small amt to short-sale?
    Payoff = ~182K, but I'm forced to keep asking-price closer to 188 to payoff loan & meet closing-costs / commissions. I negotiated 2% (my agent) & assuming 3% for buying-agent (unless they will lower to help the deal go through...right).

    If I lowered asking just a lousy 5 or 7K this place would go in a second, but I don't have the difference for the closing. Think lender might consider a short-sale? The sale would be very close to the payoff amt (just short a few grand)? I am not late but getting damn close. Don't want to rent...just want it gone

    Background info below if needed (not trying to advertise):
    Condo listed since 11/07. New development in very nice area, 2 floors, 7 yrs old, FULL appliance package (new fridge & water-heater), close to the river (NOT a flood-zone). New carpets, floors, neutral paint, eat-in kitchen, etc. There are 2 similar units (NOT vacant, mine is) listed for over 200K.. I get nothing but great feedback.
    Took Tod's advice & approached agent...waiting to hear-back...will update as I progress!

    • ANSWER:
      You DO NOT NEED to be late on payments in order to do a short sale. I have personally done short sales for clients who never made a late payment. Looking at the numbers you have a slam dunk case for a short sale. The bank will more than likely give a 5% commission so your good either way. As long as your realtor will do the short sale for 2. He can easily get 3% if he knows what he is doing, also, if your realtor knows what he is doing, he can get the short sale not to show up on your credit. Last, just in case you were wondering, no the bank will not seek a deficiancy judgement against you. How do I know this, the loss is to small for them to pursue a judgement. Its to time consuming and costly.They may send you a 1099, but you are not required to count it as income. Congress just passed a law regarding this, you can also file a 982 form that says your insolvent

34. QUESTION:
    House for sale.?
    Welcome home.pletely updated home offers a gorgeous kit,new siding & wind,new furn & hot water heater,new hdwd flring & remodeled baths w/ceramic tile.LL study or 4th bdrm.CDS street!Wonderful Recreation Ctr!Easy access to all highways.
    $ 220,000
    8 Rooms, 3 Beds
    2/1 Full/Half Baths

    • ANSWER:
      Ummmm...where?????????

35. QUESTION:
    what are my chances on a Approved short sale?
    I have recently made an offer on an "approved short sale" that was approved at 5k. It was lowered to 5k and has been on the market for about all together 400 days now. My guess is they lowered the price because the house is missing the following: AC unit, heater, and water heater and people wont even bother. I am willing to do the work because of an experienced Realtor and we came into agreement with these special terms with the bank which would come out of my pocket to replace the items. The problem is will i get my offer approved of 0k in adition to the additional cost of replacing the items? I really love the house. It doesn't sound like there's other offers, and The listing agent seems positive that we have a good chance of getting it and even opened escrow and is listed as "pending" or under contract. Do i have a good chance?

    • ANSWER:
      You are unlikely to obtain a mortgage if the house is missing its water heater and central heater, because that makes the home uninhabitable. Those repairs probably need to be completed before you can obtain a mortgage.

      I'd be worried that the former owners stole the copper plumbing and anything else of nominal value.

      Good luck.

36. QUESTION:
    Affecting the appraisal value in a home we're renting and working on short sale buying?
    My wife and I are looking to buy a home that is currently in short sale. The owner has offered to rent the home while waiting for the short sale to be decided by the bank.

    Our dilemma is that the house needs some things taken care of to live there comfortably for the period of time the bank is deciding on our offer. We have a dog and a 3 year old girl that would not be safe without some of the below list being taken care of.
    We wonder how much of this stuff can be done or should not be done because it will affect the appraisal value of the home (and give the owners a better house than we started with).

    Some of the issues are:
    * Replacing the access panel to the attic space
    * Replacing the doors to the wood burning fireplace
    * Major cleaning of the carpets (before determining if they need to be replaced AFTER sale)
    * Large overgrown weeds and shrubs along the front and back of the house
    * TRASH, TRASH, TRASH!

    The trash fills the 1.5 car garage, spills out into the back yard (table, side tables, kids ride on, high chair, broken glass, wrappers) and there is an area shaped like a dog run off the back and side of the garage that is full of more trash. Many large items that will require a dumpster to haul away. There is also trash in the house. It ranges from paint cans, to old lights, curtain rods, etc.

    Overall the structure of the house seems in good shape (pending inspection, of course.) Roof is new; The furnace, hot water heater and AC unit are all new within the last 5 years or so.
    It is a desirable location, on a .59 acre plot. It has a quirky layout, which we like, but know that makes the appraisal come back lower.

    Anyhow, my ramblings end in this. The 2 reasons we are considering taking the rental offer are 1.) our lease is up on Aug 31st in our current home. And 2.) The house is currently vacant, and our realtor told us that vacant short sales may be seized up by the bank and pushed to Foreclosure if the bank discovers the vacancy. We would like to avoid dealing with Foreclosure sales. So I'm looking for advice on IF we could take care of some or all of the mentioned list and still keep the appraisal value in the range of our offer, but make the house habitable and safe.

    Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my question.

    • ANSWER:
      1) The bank will not pay for any repairs. 99% of the banks sell the home strictly as-is.

      2) DO NOT rent the house as there are a ton of issues that may arise on the short sale. The investor (the person who owns the note) may request a contribution from the seller and they may refuse to comply. There could be other things that the seller chooses not to comply with. You are then having to deal with a property you are renting that is taken back by the bank.

      3) Your appraisal is what it is.

      4) Vacant short sales will be locked up by the bank because the bank does not want the house trashed in case the home is foreclosed upon. The locks will be changed by property preservation (which can be a pain to get changed back sometimes.). Yes a lot of vacant properties do get vandalized.

37. QUESTION:
    I bought an as-is mobile home and moved out can i be liable for busted water lines a month after?
    I was purchasing a mobile home from a mobile home community for 2000.00 I paid about 1500 of it and couldn't keep up with my payment and paying off the trailer at the same time! Office manager tells me when i bring in a money order for a payment on the actual home itself for it to be cash and me not thinking of legal issues at the time say ok and she then tells me there will be a receipt for the payment rendered the day after on my door. There's never a receipt! I ask numerous time where the receipt is and/or can she provide me a printed sheet stating what the balance is! never got it! her internet was down or something came up!! well My sister also lives in the mobile home community and while she was in the office discussing her business with the office manager, the manager was telling my relative that neighbors were saying i was coming back to take the shed and all this other riffraff. well long story short i was the good quiet neighbor that never talked to anyone and just cut my lawn and washed my car kind of guy with 2 boys. I was behind when i moved and didn't give landlord any notice of vacating property(my fault). And she also proceeds to tell my sister that a "window was left open, and some water pipes busted and now they have to repair the trailer". Well all the trailers they have for sale are AS-IS period. they are sure to imply that when looking. They call them HANDY-MAN SPECIALS to be exact! Well the handyman i am i do quite a bit of work to the home (i.e. flooring painting, wood flooring replacements, Installed brand new water heater, etc...) In substantial better condition then when i first bought the home. I have been back to the trailer numerous time and only got 1 paper on the door and that was from the office stating the balance owed for lot rent (not the home itself) and said if i didn't pay the stated amount that they were going to file for the eviction. It has been about 3-5 weeks since i got the paper from the office but there has not been any paper on the door from the court or any certified documents! Unless someone has tampered with this paper i do not know but i do know that they have cleaned all my supplies i have purchased to improve the home and threw them in the trash and it was hundreds of dollars. I was wanting to know what all actions can be taken against me and what all i can do to argue my side of the case because i do not want the mobile home they can keep it i am just trying to avoid any funds they are trying to collect because i feel that they haven't followed the proper procedure of an ACTUAL eviction and they are disclosing PRIVATE information about my account and delinquency to a relative of mine who's name does not appear on the lease.! I am just trying to break even with them and call it quits any help will be greatly appreciated because i am going tomorrow to ask questions and record all of the conversation about my eviction process and why wasn't i informed about them saying i am not allowed on property when there's not certified documents or court papers stating so on my door? and also why they are saying i am responsible for the busted water lines that didn't even concern me or anything i have done to the home.

    • ANSWER:
      If you have not been legally evicted or had a court ordered restraining placed against you you are allowed to go to the property anytime you want to. If you did not relinquish ownership of the mobile home then you are responsible for the pipe freezing. The rest of it with regards to the receipts you will have to go to court.~

38. QUESTION:
    Which updates/repairs would be worth making for a house being put up for sale?
    My mother in law is planning to put her house up for sale this spring. Which of the following updates would be worth doing?
    All of these items are currently in good working condition
    Replace original windows with vinyl
    New kitchen countertops (the current ones are very 70's)
    Patch/replace crack in concrete driveway
    Replace original wood garage door w/ new vinyl door
    Replace all original interior doors w/ new 6-panel doors
    Both of the bathrooms were gutted and replaced in 2007, the roof is approximately 10 years old, the gas furnace was replaced in 2006, the hot water heater is not even 1 year old, and all of the flooring was replaced in 2007, so she has put a lot of money into the house within the past couple of years, and is wondering what else should be done to get the most out of her home.

    • ANSWER:

39. QUESTION:
    2 Berth Caravan for sale to dealer. On view at my premises only.?
    Includes full cooker, shower, water heater, heater,brand new awning.Buyer to tow away.

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds good, what you asking?

40. QUESTION:
    Need help on home appraisal for a divorce with recent renovations.?
    We owned the home for only 2 years during our marriage but put 14,000 into upgrades such as insulations, new bathroom floor, sink etc, new water heater, running heat ducts to each room upstairs instead of 1 vent by the steps, replaced old sliding doors with french, new front door etc.. This is 14,000 we sunk in the home during our marriage just at that area. We also bought an outdoor wood burner that heats the water and pipes it underground to heat your house off your own wood safely and heats water for free. This was around ,000 apprxx and maybe 2 gran is owed. My soon to be x is saying there is not any equity in the home so that he gets to keep it, along with most of my things too. I have the appraisal from Jan 2005 and it has 2 figures one is 138,000 the other maybe 118,000 which is what we talked them down to for the sale. As of Jan 2007 110,000 was owed on the principle. I am saying we put a lot into the house it has got be worth more than what is owed. Any advice?

    • ANSWER:
      Chrissy, it is possible that due to the current state in the market you have actually lost value even though you put money into the home. Most of what you decribe would be considered maintenance, and not really add value. that outdoor wood burner thingy, wasn't a wise choice. As for the appraisal in 2005, you would be lucky if a new appraisal came in about the same, could be lower. On the appraisal, the line that states" Estimated value" is the appraised value at the time of inspection.

      I'm sorry, but you should let him have the house and move on! He'll have the headaches about value you won't.

41. QUESTION:
    House for sale: SW Florida 3/2/2* new roof 1/07?
    www.englewoodfloridamls.com
    Mls # 550248

    Home Warranty since 2001
    Fan in bath #2
    Heat lamps in both lamps
    New Garage door opener 2005
    Updated lighting in halls 2006
    Above ground pool 2004
    Screened entry way
    Tile through out except bedrooms
    Newer appliances
    New Dishwasher 2005
    Built in Micro 2006
    Garbage Disposal
    Screened Lanai
    Privacy Fence Back Yard 2005
    Window treatment all windows
    Easy cleaning tinted windows
    Marble Window sills
    Ceiling fans in every room
    Custom Cabinets in Garage
    Large Pantry
    Wired for surround sound
    Cable & Satellite TV Ready
    Cable internet
    Walk in Closets in both bedrooms
    Plenty of Closets
    Master Bath New shower/Vanity 2004
    Bahama storm Shutters
    Central A/C-Heat w/Dehumidifier
    80 Gallon Water Heater
    TV Wall Mounts
    Electric hookup for tanning bed
    Storm Gutter around entire house
    Wired for speakers in lanai
    Custom Curbing 2004
    Yrly Termite Service since 2001
    Yrly Pest control

    • ANSWER:
      Is this a question? I think you're in the wrong area if you're trying to sell a house.......

42. QUESTION:
    Heater water outlet tube?
    Hi, I have a 1998 Ford F150 4.2L and i need the Heater water outlet tube for it. The dealer is the only place i have found one and thats for 275$. I am trying to locate a cheap one online and can not even find one for sale online. Can anyone please help me find one cheaper then the dealer.

    _Aaron

    • ANSWER:

43. QUESTION:
    How do I to get people in town to check out my website?(www. Thomas and sons home efficiency.com)?
    I live in the small town of Oakland TN(15 min from Memphis) and need to promote my website to generate sales (www.thomas and sons home efficiency .com). We deal with heat and air issues and also upgrade home and small business energy efficiency. Fayette County Tn. is growing very fast and I think my services will be valuabe if I can get them promoted in Oakland,TN and Sommerville TN. We also service Eads, Tn and Arlington, TN areas in Shelby county TN. We do HVAC preventive maintenance contracts, dryer vent cleaning, cfl lighting upgrades, low flow areators for sinks, electrical outlet and switch insulation, hot water heater blankets, refrigerator coil cleanings, a shower start device, sell dryer balls, and more. We are wanting to promote to realtors and home owners in the area to upgrade a homes efficiency. I also would like to work with Fayette and Shelby county builders to sell efficiency upgrade packages to new construction buyers.

    • ANSWER:
      Put ads online and in local papers instead of in Yahoo Answers.

44. QUESTION:
    Do furnace exhaust and intake and water hear exhaust pipes have to be 4 feet apart?
    We got 4 estimates for a new furnace for our home. Each guy who came to estimate said they could would run the exhaust and intake pipes up through the roof next to the hot water heater exhaust (We have a cape cod house with only a crawl space for a basement so the furnace is on the first floor in a closet). This would bring them out of the back of our roof near the peek. We chose a company and had our new furnace installed today. I heard them drilling on the roof and went outside and saw that they had drilled holes for the pipes in the middle of our roof in the front. They told me they had to change the plan because their was a rule that you had to be 4 feet away from the hot water heater exhaust. At that point there was nothing I could do because they had already drilled holes in the roof, they had run the pipes up into a closet upstairs in my house through the length of the closet and out the roof (originally they said they would go up through the closet straight up through the roof we would lose a shelf in our closet but nothing more). The pipes that are coming out of our roof look awful! If they did what they originally said the pipes would be behind the peek of the roof and would have been hidden by the roof and would have only really been visible a little. The PVC pipes that are in there now look awful, we got a new furnace because we want to sell the house in a few years and these pipes are extremely horrible looking. So here is my question, is it a standard in heating that the pipes for the exhaust and intake for the furnace have to be at least 4 feet away from the exhaust for the hot water heater or did this guy not want to crawl around in the crawl space around the roof? We had for estimators come out to the house and each said they would do it the same way, the guy who installed it said that the sales guy's don't always know what they are talking about, well the sales guy went into our crawl spaces and looked around and all 4 sales guys said the same thing (wouldn't one of them have known we couldn't vent in the same place?).

    • ANSWER:
      Laws vary from state to state on building codes so it is hard for me to say. BUT I can tell you this,- On the newer furnaces there are many safety switches.
      Exhaust from a gas heater, or from a 90+ efficiency furnace can not be close as the moisture in the exhaust will drift into the intake of your furnace. On the intake pipe for your furnace there is a wire cage to keep out bugs and animals that would like to build a home in your intake pipe. The moisture from an exhaust collects on these wires if they are too close and then they freeze because of the cold air being drawn into the furnace suction. When enough water freezes on these wires a safety switch tells the furnace that it isn't receiving enough air and your furnace shuts down.
      The suction for your furnace has to be far enough away from a exhaust vent to keep this from happening. This distance varies from state to state depending upon your average "mean" temperature. Evidently for where you live it is 4 feet.
      I wouldn't worry about pipes up through the roof as most people aren't too concerned about the beauty of a roof other than the color of the shingles.

45. QUESTION:
    Blue Flects clogging water faucet from low quality water softner salt?
    This is my third round on this question. I have gotten great feedback the first two rounds. Thanks to all who have offered their insights. The three suggestions I have gotten are copper piping, water softener and pick-up screen. I am not sure what the pick-up screen it. I think it is in the hot water heater. Will probably need to call the plumber if that is it. However, I am intrigued by the water softener idea since I recently stopped having my water softener salt delivered by RainSoft and started buying it at Lowe's. Of course the RainSoft people said the salt was not as pure. I assumed that was just sales talk, but maybe not.

    One of you said that the salt does not get into the water and is washed out when the water softeners recycles itself. My questions is whether impurities in the salt might get through and cause my problem.

    Thanks again to all for your continued help.

    • ANSWER:
      blue flecks are from the copper pipe,
      salt is used to float off impurities in the re-generator tank and [ junk, impurities ] shouldn't get into the water flow,
      but salt will enter the pipes in a diluted form and remove impurities in the copper pipes , causing the blue flecks
      or it could be from the aerator screen, [the screen is corroded ]
      remove it [it unscrews]

46. QUESTION:
    ANSWER ME THIS....... This will get you thinking.?
    Some large hardware stores such as Home Depot boast of carrying as many as 20,000 different products in each store. What motivated the producers of those products—everything from screwdrivers to ladders to water heaters—to make them and offer them for sale? How did producers decide on the best combinations of resources to use? Who made these resources available, and why? Who decides whether these particular hardware products should continue to get produced and offered for sale?

    • ANSWER:
      well first off, when you say producers in this area, one tends to think, of farming. Movies and perishables are produced, do you mean "manufacture"? consumers determine what is manufactured, and as a contractor, i can tell you there are always needs for something different and new. As architecture and construction tends to change to meet the imagination and demands of the customers, new ideas and tools are designed to make them work, then the idea comes into play of what can get it done faster to save man hours, then safety changes everything, with people getting hurt tying there shoes, everything needs to be idiot proof as well. we design our own tools sometimes for what we do and if someone sees them, they would probably market the idea to make money, sometimes they sell, sometimes they don't. Marketing Specialists play a big role on what the life span of an item is on the shelf. Manufacturers spend big money to have their products displayed a certain way. The readers digest answer would be need and demand. In the tool industry, there is a process of getting the products out there, i.e. Manufacturer-Distributor-Wholesaler-Retailer. The manufacturer does not sell to the retailer directly, and there are several reasons for this...if they do, then the manufacturer needs to hire a new marketing and sales staff. cause they are loosing money and overcrowding there own warehouse. well, without giving a full class, i hope this helped in your question.

47. QUESTION:
    Landlord - Tenant questions - verbal 30 day notice legal in CA?
    I have been renting a room in a house that the landlord was not paying on for almost 2 years. He and his wife were divorcing (now divorced) and the house was put up for short sale.

    Right before that the hot water heater went out. I have been without hot water for almost two months.

    I agreed to clean the place so the real estate agent could take pictures, and to let them show the property. I was told by the wife (I rented from the husband) that I could stay till the escrow closed, to give me time to save up to move. I was told by her that I would not have to pay rent during that time.

    The husband (who I rented from) is kind of a "pr*ck" in many ways, and he told me I needed to get out in 30 days at that point (early May). She told me not to deal with him any more, that it's her house as well and that I could stay rent-free for approximately 3-6 months while the sale became final.

    I complied with her wishes, and the house was shown dozens of times, and they got a cash offer. Evidently that means a sale can go through much more quickly.

    About a week ago he gave me a three day pay rent or quit, and asked for "may to june" rent and utilities that are in excess of the actual bills, along with "estimated" partial June utilities.

    Friday he turned off my water and power. I had called the police earlier and asked them if he can do this and was told if he did to call them. So I did. An officer came, called him and then told me that because the landlord (husband) had given me a verbal 30 day notice, then a 3-day, that the sheriff could come at any time to lock me out. I would have 30 minutes to get my things out and they would seal off the property and it would be illegal for me to enter.

    This is not what I was told by some other people who claim to know about this. I looked up CA eviction proceedings. It appears that there has to be a longer legal procedure, and I'm told that him turning off my services is illegal and that I now am entitled to damages for this. The real estate agent is texting me wanting to do a termite inspection on Monday.

    What are my rights here? Should I get an attorney? I would be satisfied if they would help me with money to move out, but none is offered, just that he's going to have the sheriff come and kick me out on Monday now.

    We're here with no (forget hot) water or electricity...for several days no water or electric.

    Can I really get locked out at any time with a verbal 30 day notice and then a 3-day notice that asks for money that's over the utilities and rent for a place with no hot water?

    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Do you have a written rental agreement with the husband?
      Where is the ex wife? Is she still living in the house, or did she split leaving you there alone?
      Did these 2 clowns even have a legal right to rent you this room? Did they have a certificate of occupancy? If not, they were renting you an illegal apartment, and, you could actually sue them for your rent and deposit back.
      Technically, the officer has NO idea what the *** he is talking about. The husband HAS TO go to court and go through the proper legal channels to get you evicted. He cannot turn off water or electricity to force you out. He cannot just summarily throw you off the property without a court order. The officer needs to go back to school. Only when the landlord has gone to court and has a paper in his hand saying you need to get out can he reclaim his property. At that time he can have the Sheriff or other law enforcement escort you off with your belongings.

      I would sue this moron and teach him a lesson in landlording. I would also get on top of finding a new place to live.

48. QUESTION:
    Why is my fish tank water green but there is no algae on anything else?
    We have had an established 36 gal tank for over a year and never had a problem. We recently bought some ghost catfish and they died. Our water stayed at around 75 without a heater and the sales associate said our water needed to be closer to 80. We were having a problem with nitrites being too high and water too hard but everything else was within the middle of safe levels. We added the heater and this powder that was suppose to stablize our Ph which was just starting to get to 8. The powder of course made our water a white cloudy. It never went away instead the water went to green. There is no algae on any of the ornaments or plants in the aquarium. We did a 1/2 tank water change and it was ok for a couple days but never back to clear. It got so green this time that you can't see through it. I am at a loss. I did another water change since it's now been a week since the last one and I will turn off the light and turn the heater down to 75. Anyone have any other suggestions? Again, we had no problems until the heater and the Ph control was added to the tank. And there is no algae on the plants or ornamental decorations.

    • ANSWER:
      clean the cage

49. QUESTION:
    Can someone help me solve these SAT word problems step by step?
    Can someone help me solve these SAT word problems step by step?
    I want to learn how to do them.

    1. A store charges for a certain type of sweater. This price is 40 percent more than the amount it costs the store to buy one of these sweaters. At an end-of-season sale, store employees can purchase any remaining sweaters at 30 percent off the store's cost. How much would it cost an employee to purchase a sweater of this type at this sale?

    2. For a certain hot-water heater, the increase in heating expenses is directly proportional to the increase in water-temperature setting. If heating expenses increase by when the water-temperature setting is increased by 20 degrees. Fahrenheit, by how much will heating expenses increase when the water-temperature setting is increased by 15 degrees Fahrenheit?

    3. A computer cycle of a traffic light takes 80 seconds. During each cycle, the light is green for 40 seconds, amber for 10 seconds, and red for 30 seconds. At a randomly chosen time, what is the probability that the light will not be red?

    4. The scenic route from Mia's home to her office is 5 kilometers longer than the direct route. When she goes by the scenic route and returns by the direct route, the round trip is 35 kilometers. How many kilometers is the direct route?

    • ANSWER:
      I'll help with 1. First you want to find out what the store pays for the sweaters. If is 40% markup, then 28/1.40 = 20 is what the store pays. If the employees get this for 30% off that cost, then the employee cost is .7*20 = .

50. QUESTION:
    What items from my foreclosed home are eligible to be sold before I'm evicted?
    My home has been foreclosed on and we have received a notice that we have 14 days to vacate the property. We recently replaced our heating and cooling unity with a top-of-the-line, very expensive one. This happened a month before I was "laid off" of course. We were thinking of selling the unit before our eviction date to recoup at least some of our money. Can we do this? What are the general rules regarding the sale of such items (i.e water heater, stove, microwave, dish washer)? I live in North Carolina if the statutes are different for each individual state. Thanks for your help!

    • ANSWER:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Gas forced air furnace and gas hot water heater controls were under water.?
   What has to be done to make them work again?

   • ANSWER:
     Replace them. No question. Do not attempt to use them

2. QUESTION:
   Is there a way to child proof the Hot Water Heater Controls?
   My son keeps getting into the garage and turning the knob either all the way up or off.
   The water heater is in the middle of the garage with no enclosure to lock. What I want to do something around the controls. Is there a way to childproof it. They have socket cover for electrical socket and they even have a cover for a power strip. What I am asking is if anybody knows of a way to close off the controls without having to enclose the water heater.

   • ANSWER:
     === logic says to take another look at the control and then determine the way to cover the control and prevent the little guy from access .... and sounds like he needs supervision and spanking ...

3. QUESTION:
   Can I reset the Pressure Relief Valve in my Hot Water Heater?
   Water is pouring out the Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve. The water heater had been set to "Vacation" mode for months. I turned it back to a normal temp setting and five minutes later water was pouring out through the relief valve pipe. I turned off the water to the hot water heater to control the water flow. Can I reset the valve or do I need to replace it? Can I do this myself?

   • ANSWER:
     The pressure relief valve can be manually opened but cannot be reset. The spring inside is set to open and should close back up when the pressure inside the tank has been alleviated. With that being said and not knowing the age of your water heater, I think you should replace your exercised relieve valve. Its not too costly and can be obtained from places like Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Upon replacement, make sure to shut off heating source, water source and drain tank slightly to level lower than relieve valve location. You might want to let tank cool slightly to prevent getting burned. Also, don't forget to get "pipe dough" to give a tight seal between the tank and the relieve valve. Good luck!

4. QUESTION:
   Maytag Series 9 Hot Water Heater Gas Control Replacement Instructions?

   • ANSWER:
     Don't particularly know what the Series 9 has to do with it, but if it's a standard water heater gas valve/thermostat, it just unscrews from the side of the tank. The thermostat portion of the unit goes into the tank, in the water, which is how it senses the temp. First, shut off the gas line, disconnect that black pipe from the valve, then disconnect the 3 lines coming out from the bottom, there will be a thermocouple line, a burner line in the middle and the right end will be the pilot feed line. Once they are all off, you can unscrew the valve from the tank, install the new one just in the opposite way and reattach the lines underneath. Reconnect the gas line, checking for leaks and then light the unit.

5. QUESTION:
   PLEASE!!!! how long does water heater take to make hot water if turned on but off for about an hour???
   my brother turned it off an hour ago, b4 dat lots a hot water, so i re lit pilot, its on, flaming, but NO WATER comes out of sink when hot water turned on, only cold when cold on....there are is a knob outside by garden hose, which controls hot water, but it wont do anything to influence hot water coming out at this time, but did before

   thanks for helping, need to get hardened soap OOOFFF ME!! TIME A FACTOR HAHAHHA.

   • ANSWER:
     If you aren't getting any water to come out (cold or hot) when you turn on the hot water faucet, you probably need to turn the hot water on. Your brother must have shut off the water valve on the water pipe the goes into your water heater.

     If this is the case, you shouldn't have your pilot light on and your water heater going. You might damage your water heater.

     You should also find out why your brother turned the water off. There may be a leak somewhere or some other problem that he is working on.

     If everything is OK, you should be able to turn the water back on by opening the valve, then re-light the pilot light, turn the burner on, and within about a half an hour you should start seeing warm water.

6. QUESTION:
   How do I light my hot water heater??
   My hot water heater isn't heating water. I took off the little metal panel at the bottom but I can't make heads or tails out of the stuff I see. There really isn't much to see either. I don't hear the gas, you know the sound you normally hear when it's heating. I also don't see a tiny flame. Shouldn't there be a tiny flame?? I looked on the top and bottom, yet I can't even find the name or model of the darn thing. It's wrapped in insulation that I have ZERO interest in removing either! It's relatively new, like maybe three years old and it's pretty large. About seventy gallons if I had to guess. There are two controls and a little red button that I can push down on when the top dial is on the "pilot" position. That same top dial has "off", "on" and "pilot". The lower dial has "warm", "hot" and "vacation." LOL, and please, no smart asses, YES I paid my gas bill!! :p
   Any ideas??
   OK guys, thanks for all the great advice! Unfortunately, nothing seems to work. All of your detailed instructions were really great and so easy to follow. It looks like I'm going to have to call someone to take a look at it. I saw that Ioerr said the part was inexpensive, but the hubby is deployed and I have a two year old, so I don't want to risk catching my face on fire or anything by trying to do it myslef. :p Can any of you guys tell me about what the repair person should charge for a repair like the one you've described? I can't count the times I've been overcharged for this king of thing since my husband was deployed. Your help is VERY much appreciated!
   "kind of thing, that is, not king. Oh, and who does these kinds of repairs?? Appliance repair people?

   • ANSWER:
     Turn the top dial to off, turn the lower dial all the way down to the lowest temperature, let it sit for 5 minutes or so. Sniff around for gas and call service if you smell it.

     Locate the pilot light. It's probaby under that metal plate you took off. There should be a couple metal lines going down from the top dial, through the plate and down under the tank. The pilot light will be attached to the thicker one. The thinner one will be the thermistor. It may be bad.

     You need a lighter or a long match or a long piece of burning paper or someting. Turn the top dial to pilot. Push down the button and hold it down. While holding down the button, apply
     a flame to the pilot light outlet until you see the little flame coming out of it.

     Keep the button pushed down for about a minute after the pilot is lit.

     If the pilot goes out after you release the button, you either didn't hold it down long enough or your thermistor is bad. If your button doesn't pop up when you release it call for service.

     If you decide your thermistor is bad you can buy a new one at the hardware store for a few bucks, or call service.

     If the pilot stays lit after you release the button, turn the top dial to on, and turn bottom dial to your desired water temperature setting. The burner will probably kick on. Replace the plate.

7. QUESTION:
   We need to run a pipe from the pressure control valve of a hot water heater out of the house...?
   it's a small 10 gal hot water heater under the wet bar in the daylight basement of a house we're in the process of buying. The seller won't fix it and we're wondering round about how much this would cost us to fix. Any suggestions?

   • ANSWER:
     Heather,
     The pressure relief valve is there to protect the water heater from exploding due to excess pressure. The line leaving the water heater should be a copper pipe, either 3/8",5/8" 1/2 or 3/4" diameter.
     You will need to determine the size of the pipe exiting the relief valve, and then you are off to Home Depot or local hardware store for some easy to install parts.
     If you are unsure of the pipe size just hold a piece of paper on the end of the pipe and then use a pencil to draw a line aroiund it. Then take the drawing to the store with you.
     You will need to buy a brass compression union ( either 3/8",5/8"1/2" or 3/4" based on your pipe measurement. You will also need some pipe to run from the heater to the outside of the house. Remember, the pipe will only get water if there is too much pressure and the valve opens up. Hardly ever happens with todays quality water heaters.
     If you take your manual and the measurements of the pipe to Home Depot and ask for a plumbing expert they will be able too hook you up with parts in less than 10 minutes. The pipe and fittings should be less than 25.00 total cost.
     Since the fittings I recommend are compression the only tools you will need are a tubing cutter if you have to cut the pipes you buy, and a crescent wrench or pliers to tighten the compression union.
     Hope this helps!

8. QUESTION:
   tankless gas hot water heater with electrical gas lighting.?
   I have a gas tankless hot water heater. the pilot frequently shut off. The gas valve control is controlled by water flow. When there is hot water runs, the water creates a pressure discrepancy at two sides of valve so the gas is on. I do not like this kind design because it is not reliable. about every three years the value needs replaced. It has been replaced twice by me and a plumber. I would like to replace it with a new tankless gas hot water heater with electrical gas lighting. Any suggestion.

   • ANSWER:
     just one of the reasons I always recommend people just keep their good ole reliable tank heater.

9. QUESTION:
   How do I turn my elec hot water heater on?
   Just moved into a rental and I don't have hot water. All I is see is one pipe leading to it that has a blue knob- should I just turn that to the left? There is also a temp control device on the top and I think it reads that a light should be on when when the heater is on. Would the home owner have turned off the power supply to it maybe. Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     You need to call your landlord and have him come over to check it out. He may need to call an electrician.

10. QUESTION:
    How can I fix my Bradford White gas hot water heater?
    We have a Bradford White gas hot water heater that isn't working properly. We'torn it apart and cleaned everything and have seemingly figured out what is wrong with it but we aren't totally sure. What is happening is, a green control light comes on the pilot sparks and lights, then the pressure switch (TDI, Inc.) starts clicking and it shuts down. We have found that if we clamp off the pressure tube leading to the switch the pilot light will stay light and the water will heat, but then the vent gets really hot so we don't want to continue to do this because it's most likely not the safest thing. We are thinking that it is a bad pressure switch; but someone else told us that they rarely go bad and our vent could be blocked. We went outside and checked the vent and it appears clear. Should we replace the pressure switch or is it most likely something else? I don't want to hunt down a switch if that is not going to fix the problem. Also, is there any other way to check the vent?
    I checked the parts list for the model here http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/shared/pdfs/partslists/43726A.pdf
    I see a flue baffle but not a flue damper. Would we see this if we remove the blower assembly from the top?
    Problem fixed today, it was the pressure switch. Took the old one off, put the new one on, works like a charm. A simple call to the tech folks at Bradford White affirmed our beliefs...thanks to Rickster (from Yahoo!) who suggested this. No need for the Master Plumber or the 0 bill.
    Just adding that I didn't mean to offend the Master Plumber that answered the question...wrote the details before I thought about it...anyways thanks for the reply and happy new year to you as well!

    • ANSWER:
      Your best bet is to contact Bradford white, and explain the situation to them. Please don't try and "fix" any controls, as this is very dangerous, with combustible gas appliances. They each have a specific job, and if one goes out, or malfunctions, it affects the rest of the heater. If your heater is more than 6 years old, I highly recommend purchasing a new model, with a warranty. Good luck, and Happy new year!

11. QUESTION:
    My hot water heater pilot light will not stay lit, do I need to replace the thermocouple of gas control valve?
    I have to manually light my pilot light with a lighter and the heater only runs for 5 - 10 minutes and then shuts off, but that is not enough time to heat 40 gallons of cold water.

    • ANSWER:
      I would try the thermocouple first (rather cheap to replace). However If the heater is shutting off after five or ten minutes likely your gas valve/probe assembly will need to be replaced. Water tanks genrally last about 10 to 15 years, if yours is getting up to that age I recommend replacing it.

12. QUESTION:
    Hot water heater pilot keeps going out only in summer?
    We live in Texas and for some reason only in the summer our pilot on the hot water heater goes out. We had a plumber come out and has replaced the thermocouple and temperature control but is still happening. Has this happened to anyone, if so please advice.

    • ANSWER:
      The cold air blowing through the air conditioner vent could be the culprit if one is near. That was the solution to a similar problem for me.

13. QUESTION:
    Electric hot water heater not working?
    My fairly new electric hot water is not working, a few days ago my breaker went out its working fine now but I suspect that may have something to do with the problem. Since then my hot water heater has not worked, the outlet is fine but the heater does not show its getting power. I tried looking for a pilot light or control panel but cannot find one. Any suggestions on what I can try to fix myself? thanks for any help xx

    • ANSWER:
      There is a reset button the water heater under the inspection cover. Try the breaker as others have suggested. then look for the reset button (red button) push it in it shouldn't take much pressure if you hear a click it was tripped. if that doesent do it turn off the power remove the leads from the elements and check with continuity tester. If one is open it will ned to be replaced. you will need a socket type wrench. turn off the main water supply and open a valve to relieve pressure than turn it off again. loosen the element and QUICKLY remove the old one and insert the new. Thread it up snug dont over tighten. You dont have to drain the |WH. for water to come out air has to get in. just like picking up liquid with a drinking straw. When the end is covered the liquid cant get out, when you uncover the end the liquid runs out. There will be a small amount of water that will come out have a towel ready to wipe it up. The longer it takes to get the new one in the faster the water will run out. reconnect the wires and restore service.

14. QUESTION:
    Hot Water heater question?
    my hot water heater is set to 120, all of my sinks in my bathrooms and kitchen are very hot (easily to adjust) my bathrubs are barely luke warm, even after i have let them run for over two mins. being upstairs. my house is 20 years old, and i am not aware of any renovations done to the plumbing. i also do not have temp controls from my electric comapny. i have been trying to figure this out without resetting the temp on the heater again. i have also heard there are "scald protectors" but i do not have those. can someone direct me to some research to help me out?

    • ANSWER:
      Twenty years is about right for scale and buildup in the shower valves to prevent proper operation. Try changing the cartridges in the showers or take them out and delime. While they are out check for buildup in the valve, perhaps at the opening to the hot water. Because of the lack of hot water does not mean you don't have scald guard valves, get the name off the valve and go to their website to try and identify the valve, or take the cartridge to a plumbing parts for identification.

15. QUESTION:
    are there any tricks to making my hot water heater perform better?
    i know i can moves the controls, but wanted to know if there is anything i can do to make the water hotter for longer.

    • ANSWER:
      A long time ago they used to sell hot water heater blanket or wraps, but I don't know it they are sold any more. Years ago the power company would give them to people with low incomes to help with their power bills.

16. QUESTION:
    where can i buy a control board for a whirlpool energy smart hot water heater?
    whirlpool model# EE3Z50RDO55V 80gallon

    • ANSWER:
      May sound too easy but have you tried calling Whirlpool?

17. QUESTION:
    Hot water heater not working, how to keep water safe from bacteria?
    My hot water heater quit yesterday due to an electrical problem (we believe it could be a mouse-chewing-wire issue or possibly a faulty circuit breaker) and since its the weekend it will be a few days until the electrician can come to check/repair it.

    I am concerned with the possibility of bacterial growth in the hot water heater tank. How long does it take to grow (temp outside where it is located will be 100+ degrees today) and is it safe to drink the cold-only tap water? or shower/wash dishes with cold water? We always drink our cold tap water but I am concerned it could somehow be tainted if bacteria grow in the hot water tank. The tap we use to get drinking water and wash dishes from doesn't have separate controls for hot or cold, just one handle to pull all the way to the right for cold.

    Once we have repairs do we need to flush the hot water and how do we do this?

    Last night I washed dishes in the last of the warm (hot) water - are they safe to use?

    When I realised there was a hot water problem I went to inspect the outside closet where the water heater is and saw a mouse run into the wall where the electrical wires go from the heater (the wires are encased in metal conduit but not sure how far the metal conduit casing or the mice go). The circuit breaker for the heater had tripped so I put it back and it tripped again twenty minutes later, I am assuming this means there is a short or something in the wires somewhere and called/left a message for the electrician.

    These are broad problems spanning electrical, bacterial, rodent, and plumbing areas, any help on any of these is appreciated. My internet searches turn up no answers other than advice to set your water heater at 140 F.
    Thanks for your answers! I am going to just use the cold water and try not to worry about it. Good point about power outages.

    • ANSWER:
      I think you are worrying too much. If you are concerned about the water in the heater "going bad" don't. Just run the water from the hot tap for a bit. It will be replaced with fresh water from the street. It's only a few days. Also, setting your water heater any higher than the recommended setting may increase your chances of getting scalded.

18. QUESTION:
    Water is very hot after you shut it off the first time. Why?
    When I give my son a bath, I turn the water on and it comes out at just the right temperature. After giving him the bath when I go to turn the water back on the water is scalding hot for about 10 seconds. My shower has three controls: "hot" "cold" and "rate of flow" knobs. I have only adjusted the "rate of flow" knob from "off" to the normal water flow. The hot and cold knobs were not touched.

    Also, in my bathroom sink, occasionally when you turn on the cold water you get warm water for about 15 seconds. Any ideas?

    BTW, the house was built in 1932 and the supply lines are a mix of copper and cast iron. The hot water heater is about two years old. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Kahuna and Coolness are right. Any home that has children living in it should have their water heater's thermostat turned down to 'warm' rather than 'hot' This will heat the water sufficiently for anything you will need it for, but you'll just run out of it a little faster due to using a higher ratio of hot water to cold water at the faucet.

      What I suspect is happening is something called 'thermosyphoning'. Like air, hot water wants to rise to the top and your old style bath faucet is allowing the hot and cold water to mix even when the faucet is not on. The cold water sinks back down to the basement where your water heater is and pulls hot water through the faucet manifold and into the cold water side. Eventually, both your hot water lines and cold water lines have hot water in them.

      Believe it or not, people pay plumbers a lot of money to make this same thing happen with pumps so they have 'instant hot water' in their showers that are far from the water heater. While it does save on water (you don't have to run the shower for 30 seconds before you get in), it does put an extra load on your water heater which wastes energy ($).

      Your problem can be remedied with the installation of a 'swing check' valve (one way valve) installed near, but not at the water heater on the cold side.. Another way would be to replace your old bath faucet.

      I would probably just tell my self 'I have an instant hot water system and I didn't even have to pay for it!'

19. QUESTION:
    once a car is warm does the car heater matrix have the hot water passing through it at all times?
    Does switching the heater control to cold just block off the warm air or does it divert the hot water away from the matrx

    • ANSWER:
      Years ago there were provisions to block the water going to the heater core, either mechanically or by vacuum. However almost all vehicles now are designed with water flowing thru the heater core constantly and by changing the temperature requirement blocks off the heated air.

20. QUESTION:
    what kind of cheap thermostat could I use to control a passive solar water heater for my hot tub?
    I want to build a batch heater or a passive coil system on a painted black corrugated metal backing. But I want to be able to stop the flow when the water gets to a set temp. It would be great to be able to just put in a car radiator thermostat but it would allow the water to get too hot.

    • ANSWER:
      Hello flagnsnarf:

      You may need to install a low-voltage transformer with a thermostat and a solenoid valve. An automotive thermostat has too high a temperature setting.

21. QUESTION:
    How do I bypass the automatic control unit on my hot water heater?
    This is an indirect hot water heater. Actually an Amtrol WH7L unit. The main automatic control unit failed and I'm currently unable to get a new unit for at least a couple days. I'm trying to find a way to bypass the thermostat and auto control unit and allow this unit to give us some hot water. Being as it is December in Western Jersey....cold showers are getting old real fast. lol Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
    This is an indirect hot water heater. Actually an Amtrol WH7L unit. The main automatic control unit failed and I'm currently unable to get a new unit for at least a couple days. I'm trying to find a way to bypass the thermostat and auto control unit and allow this unit to give us some hot water. Being as it is December in Western Jersey....cold showers are getting old real fast. lol Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

    Update: Thank you for the warning. lol However, I should emphasize that I'm a automotive tech with 10+ years experience and have a strong understanding of electrical systems. I'm just not 100% familiar with this system, nor do I have wiring diagrams. I was just wondering if there is a way to bypass the heat control unit.
    I've been looking for specs and diagrams on there. I'll search again.
    I think I've got something figured out here. I'll know in a little bit.
    Okay. I bypassed the thermostat on the water heater itself and wired it into the house heat thermostat. It's not like I've got HOT water now, but it's a whole lot better. lol I can atleast take a decently warm shower if I crank the house heat up to, oh, I don't know. 90. lol It'll do until I can a replacement control unit. Thanks to all who posted. Learned as I went here. Was interesting, so say the least. Thanks again.

    • ANSWER:
      It's not difficult to hot wire a water heater. BUT, If you make a mistake you are building a bomb. AND I MEAN A BIG BOMB!!!!!
      Live with the cold showers for a couple of days, and or heat some water on your stove until the part comes in.

22. QUESTION:
    how can i Replace Hot Water Control Valve on the Heater Hose, vw passat?

    • ANSWER:
      You have to drain coolant, remove hoses and cables from valve and the replace the valve, put hoses and cables back. Locate the valve at the back of the engine or even inside the dash. But check your hoses first, that might be the problem.

23. QUESTION:
    Can I eliminate the control panel and heater to my hot tub and just run cold water through it with the pump?
    I don't need the hot water or fancy electronic panel. It's scorching hot in south Texas and I just need to go in there and chill. It's an ancient panel that is broken and I don't want to buy another one. All i need is some cold water with jets running. How hard is it to do it. I've already pulled the panel and will be hooking everything up without the panel and heater and see if the pump will work rigged up. I can't see how this wouldn't work.

    • ANSWER:
      No reason you can't do what you proposed.
      Safety issues: Tub needs ground fault protection for all connected equipment.
      Don't put line voltage switching (switch for jets, lights etc.)
      within reach of tub. This is so you cannot be in the tub and switch something on.
      Your old control panel activated the pump speed to circulate the water through the filter and heater. If you don't have controls you will need a time clock to control this function.
      You won't be able to call it a hot tub anymore!

24. QUESTION:
    Hot water heater question once more...?
    OK, this is what I asked...
    My hot water heater isn't heating water. I took off the little metal panel at the bottom but I can't make heads or tails out of the stuff I see. I don't hear the gas, you know the sound you normally hear when it's heating. I also don't see a tiny flame.There are two controls and a little red button that I can push down on when the top dial is on the "pilot" position. That same top dial has "off", "on" and "pilot". The lower dial has "warm", "hot" and "vacation." LOL, and please, no smart asses, YES I paid my gas bill!! :p
    Any ideas??

    I got four VERY good answers, but now that I know I will need to have it repaired, I need to know about how much the repair should cost. My husband is deployed and I've been overcharged several times for houehold repairs since he left and I don't want to get ripped off again! Thanks again!
    Jack, you smartass, my husband is DEPLOYED. I can't exactly ask him while he's in the desert, now can I?? Besides, everyone who has answered has given me great advice except YOU. :p Now I know what a reasonable repair amount should be! Thank you to all who answered!
    Thanks to everyone who answered my question! I gave everyone a thumbs up!

    • ANSWER:
      Husband: Honey, why don't you just call the gas company and have them send over a certified trouble-shooter?

      Wife: I have a better idea!! I'll just get on Yahoo Answers and get some REAL professional advice!!

25. QUESTION:
    Is there a way to control water level in water heater?
    I have a 75 gallon water heater in the basement, but I always run out of hot water after a 10 minute shower. Someone told me that my water heater might not be completely filled. Is there a way to check or control the water level in the water heater?
    Thanks for the responses and link. The water heater is about 4 years old. I will flush the water heater as suggested this weekend.

    • ANSWER:
      The way most water heaters work is the input and exit pipes are at the top of the tank. When you draw hot water out of the tank, cool water instantly replaces the hot water.

      If the hot water wasn't full, you would not get hot water at all. You would get a bunch of air and hissing noise out of your sink as the hot water heater filled. Eventually, would would get hot water out of the faucet.

      If your hot water tank is 75 gallons and only provides 10 minutes of hot water, I suspect that the tank is full of sediment. I would shut the cold water supply off to the tank and put the pilot light in the "pilot" or off position and drain the tank out of the valve at the bottom of the tank. You may need ot drain and fill it several times to get all the sediment out.

      Here is a link that describes the process a little more thoroughly:

      http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infwaterheater/infdrainwh.html

26. QUESTION:
    Water heater / no hot water?
    I set my water heater at "WARM". It was working fine for a few years. Now the water does not get hot. It is just a little warmer the cold water. I notice that the burner does not turn on. When I move the dial to "HOT", then I can hear the burner working. Seem like the part that controls when the burner is turned on/off is not working properly. Please help. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      I take it the tank is gas fired.
      The thermostat is the little square box device where you adjust the temp.
      This "box"screws into the water tank ,and has a "probe" extending inside the tank ,and is surounded by water.
      This "probe" senses the water temp. , and according to the "temp, setting" will turn on and off the gas to the main burner.
      After a time --- this probe tip will become covered over with lime,etc(especially in hard water areas)
      This will "insulate" the probe tip from a accurate water temp. reading ---- there-by causing the thermostat to operate at a generally higher temp. setting. to get the same previous results.
      This may be the case with your tank ~~~~~ or the thermostat may need to be replaced,if faulty.
      Turn the temp. setting up some ------(do this first)
      Clean the probe tip off ------
      Replace the thermostat > and up (part only)
      Replace the tank ------
      These are your options
      Probably replacing the tank is your best option ---since ,as you say "It's a few years old". The bottom of the tank may be loaded with lime ,etc. also---probably so.
      Have a nice day ------------------------------.

27. QUESTION:
    Problems with a hot water heater?
    I have an electric water heater and within the past year we replaced an element and thermostat we changed the control box the other day and now we have no hot water can someone please tell me what can be wrong

    • ANSWER:
      Hi Michael,

      If you need a new water heater, read on this helpful reviews http://www.gewaterheater.net

28. QUESTION:
    No hot water in my house- How should I shower?
    Seriously... I have no idea what to do. The gas that controls the water heater was turned off or something, and we had someone come and "fix it", but it didn't work. Any ideas?
    I was asleep when the guy came. :S My brother let him in, and the guy did his job.

    • ANSWER:
      Why was the gas turned off? When it was turned on did the repair guy check to see if it had a pilot light and turned it on or is it pilotless (electronic ignition). In the mean time there is always Holiday Inn.

29. QUESTION:
    Plumbing question? Hot water heater?
    I have a hot water heater about 2 years old. The pilot light keeps going out. I have replaced the thermocouple about 4 times it last for about a month then goes out. My question is, should I replace the thermostat? Will this control the thermocouple?

    • ANSWER:
      Hi Kevin, This is Mike with The Home Depot.

      The thermostat is part of the gas valve. The gas valve controls the pilot light and burner. After placing so many thermocouples, it sounds like the gas valve could very well be the problem.

      Carbon buildup on the pilot light could also be a cause of the problem. Carbon buildup narrows the opening of the pilot, and prevents the pilot from receiving sufficient gas to stay lit.

      I have included two links below with information on how to clean the carbon off the pilot and how to change your gas valve and check other water heater functions.

      I hope this information is useful to you.

      Mike, The Home Depot Answer Man

      http://www.commonsense-home-repair.com/water-heater-pilot-light.html

      http://www.commonsense-home-repair.com/water-heater-gas-valve.html

30. QUESTION:
    Hot water heater help?
    I have a natural gas hot water heater with a burner that will not ignite.
    -Gas is on
    -pilot can be lit
    -can hear solenoid when thermostat is turned from vacation to hot
    -exhaust fan runs when solenoid engages but burner does not light

    There are two electrical 'devices' mounted to control unit, one looks as if it is a diaphragm with an adjustment knob and the other is just has cylindrical case. Both have two wires leading to them.

    I imagine there is an emergency gas shutoff but I don't know where or which to test.

    Any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      You are not hearing the solenoid …..you are hearing the thermostat click.
      It is most likely your solenoid {cylindrical} located on the gas valve.

31. QUESTION:
    Water Heater mystery!?
    I recently purchased a new home with two stories and two hot water heaters. I assumed that one heater was for the upstairs and one for down, or perhaps they regulate a split up/down section of the house each. So to determine which heater controls which areas (so i can adjust appropriately) I turned one off and left one on. Here's the thing.... all the sinks in the house still produce hot water with only one unit on!

    Could it be that both units jointly heat all the water in the house? The one that I left on seems to be constantly heating now.

    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      It is common to have two water heaters connected in series (one after the other) to increase th amount of hot water available for high water load needs. To test turn each off and you should still have hot water. If you don't use a lot of hot water you can shut one off and save some money. The other one can be turned on if the other quits. Nice standby.

32. QUESTION:
    Hot water boiler furnace?
    I asked this question once already, but I guess I didn't give enough info, so I am going to try this again. Bare with me because I honestly don't know anything about this, that is why I'm trying to get info on here. I am currently looking at buying a house that is heated with a boiler furnace. There are base board vents through out the house, and multiple thermostats to control the heating in the different "zones" of the house. I'm not sure if this also controls the hot water, or if there is a seperate hot water heater. My understanding is that there are lines that run along the base boards, hot water runs through them and some how heats the house?!?! Like I said, I really don't know, and I am just trying to get a better understanding of this system. ANY info on them would be much appriciated, such as cost to replace them, repair them, or service them. Common problems to watch out for, how they opperate, and if it would be better than a regular furnace.
    know to have it replaced with a regular furnace will cost some major money. And I also know that with this type of system, having central air installed will NEVER happen.

    • ANSWER:
      I can't tell from your description whether your system is hot water or steam. Usually, with baseboard radiators, it is hot water which means you do not have a "boiler", just a hot water furnace. It is heated by burning either natural gas or oil.

      The baseboard units "radiate" the heat carried by the water into the room. Each baseboard should have isolation valves and a small vent (operated by a key). You should bleed any air out of each radiator by opening the vent allowing any air to escape until water comes out of the vent. Start on the lower floors and work your way up to the upper floors of the house. Bleeding the air will maximize the efficiency.

      If you don't get water out, the system needs to have water added. Look for a supply valve near the heater.

      This heating system may or may not have a separate water heater for non-heating purposes (bath, laundry, kitchen etc.).

      Take a trip to your basement and get familiar with system. Get your gas or oil supplier or a plumber to walk you through the piping and valves.

33. QUESTION:
    rats or hot water heater noises? puzzled.?
    In a mobile home, I hear clicking, ticking noises by the bathroom and bedroom vents-they are adjacent to each other. I had a bad problem with rats-pest control came out for 2 months-caught 2. They had chewed up water lines and the over flow pressure tube from the hot water heater. I had the ducts/vents cleaned out by professionals, in case, some mice were making the noise I still hear by the vents-usually at 9 to 10am and 8-9pm at nite or so. I still hear the tick, tick noise. I had a contractor go under the mobile home and secure the vents with sheet metal and tighten pipes and anything that might rattle-down-now, the noise is even louder-thud, bang and tick, tick. The hot water heater is in a straight line about 10ft on the other side of the mobile home from the bathroom/bedroom. What could be causing this noise? could it be the hot water heater? The water faucets/shower are on the opposite side of the house from the hot water heater-its 12 yrs old,now and I have very hard water. Would a plumber be the one to call? Please help me. I've sealed all around my mobile home against rodents, plugged all holes and pulled all insulation out, secured everything-still here that noise. I still hear the noise about 10ft from where the hot water heater,near the bathroom/bedroom vents. Either its 'evil spirits', or....hot water heater making noises in the water lines? I've spent thousands trying to get back to 'normal'-from the rat damage etc. and I don't want to replace the hot water heater if I don't have to-but, I will-just to get some peace-if that's what the noise is coming from. Help! I've had a very bad time. What do you think it might be, please?

    • ANSWER:
      It sounds like the expansion and contraction of the pipes and heating duct surfaces. You really need to relax. I live in an old house and it makes all kinds of noises. Try putting on the tv or a mellow radio station or a fan as white noise and don't worry about the normal noises of living.If you see a rodent then that is one thing but don't freak about stuff that's not that big of a deal. Relax.

34. QUESTION:
    How can we get a hot shower?
    My husband and I recently replaced a 40-gallon gas hot water heater with a new one of the same size. We can't get more than five minutes of hot water out of it. We have tried different heat settings, but they just make the water hotter, not more plentiful. Are there environmental controls built into hot water heaters now that prevent more than five minutes of hot water? I can shower in 5 minutes, but can't do all the other things I need to do, such as wash and condition my hair and shave my legs. After one leg is done, the water is cold.

    • ANSWER:
      you may have a cross connection. A CC is where a fixture that has hot and cold water ie faucet washing machine etc and the water to both are on and cold (or hot) is crossing over to the hot side and being drawn into pipe going to shower. This is common in restaurants but not normal in homes. If you have a single lever shower faucet, replace the cartridge. I have had to do this at customers house. Only thing else I can think of is the dip tube in water heater is bad, but since it's new, I wouldn't think so. Do this test; try different shower, if ok then its not dip tube or turn on hot faucet in bathroom where problematic shower is. Does the hot water cool of within the 5 to 10 minute period? If so, it's the dip tube. Also the single lever cartridges have a adjustment that you can make so that water will get hotter that factory preset, but not knowing what brand, I can't tell you how.

35. QUESTION:
    Can hot water heaters be installed in non-temperature controlled environments?

    • ANSWER:
      yes you can although you should insulate the piping and add an insulation blanket on the heater itself

36. QUESTION:
    The pilot on my hot water lites, but goes off as soon as I let the pilot button go. What's wrong?
    I am living with cold water the last couple days. I can easily light the pilot flame holding the red pilot button down, but the pilot flame goes off as soon as I let the button up before I can turn the control from pilot to "on." I hold the red button down for 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3; it does not matter. As soon as I let the red button up the pilot flame goes out. What is wrong with my hot water heater?

    • ANSWER:
      try this before you replace anything, light it like you are doing but slowly release the red button. as slow as you can stand it. if it stays lit let it burn for a minute before turning the knob to "on". one other thing, make sure the flame is directly on the end of the thermocoupler.

37. QUESTION:
    Where do I hook up the furnace thermostat to the hot water heater?
    I have a Amtrol BoilerMate indirect hot water heater. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to hook up the wire from the thermostat. I've already messed up and ruined the control module in my furnace. I found a diagram for the hot water heater saying that the orange wires are for T-T. I'm assuming thats for the thermostat? Anyone know? But there are 2 orange wires and the wire from the thermostat is a red and white wire held together with a brown plastic coating. So is that where I hook it up? and if so does it matter which orange goes to which one because theres no difference. I could probably take the smart control apart more and see if it says anything where the orange wires connect to the microchip. Please help if possible. I'd really hate to ruin another furnace control module and out myself another 200. Thanks
    Calling a plumber is my next step.

    • ANSWER:
      It's a very simple set up. The t-stat is simple and the control board is simple. I have no answers for you but I'll tell you what you did wrong. You hot wired the transformer to the control board. I don't know how you did it, I wasn't there, but that's what you did. I've done it before myself. If you could provide a control schematic I could probably help. You really need someone familiar with the particular control circuit you are working with. Might be easier to call a tech.

38. QUESTION:
    I need a plumbing diagram for a solar hot water heater with a heat exchanger,circulating pump,and a heater?
    I need a plumbing diagram for a solar hot water heater with a heat exchanger( seperate and not in a tank ),circulating pump,and a heater,in a closed loop system,along with a tempiture control for the pump.

    • ANSWER:
      either go to the website for this model or go to the plumber section at home depot and they can help you draw a plan then buy the parts there or go to the local public library and the B&T section has these plans

39. QUESTION:
    I have no hot water and when i turn the boost on i get hot radiators!!!?
    Hello and please help. We have an immersion tank with the controls above it. We usually have hot water no problems, obviously we run out after two baths but thats normal right? Since yesterday we have no hot water and no indications on the controls. ( the controls are fairly old i suspect) I have the option with the controls to have a timer for water / heater or both etc or i can choose boost, on, timed or off. When i turn on the water to try and heat it up since we lost the hot water, the only thing that happens is the radiators get really hot even though i have not requested them on.
    I think that the control unit may be at fault. Is there a way of proving this before i shell out????? My kids are starting to smell so please help soon.
    Yours in sincere hope. The smelly family
    Thanks for all the great advice so far.
    I should probably add that my central heating system is fed by a back boiler behind the fireplace. This is usually controlled by a thermostat on the wall.
    For a while we had to use the controls under the fire to operate the heating as the thermostat did not have any effect. An engineer came out to us to investigate and wouldn't you know it, it worked as soon as he tried it after 2 or 3 yrs of it not working. Im sure lots of you now are screaming just replace the whole lot as it sound completely shot but i canny afford to.
    Hello again,
    does anyone know how to test the element in the immersion tank to ensure that its not the faulty component?
    Just thought i would add that the problem turned out to be a faulty element. I have no idea how the haeting comes on instead of the water though

    • ANSWER:
      Ah folly folly to pressy most boosty on immersioney for if all thruched up. besty practicaly standy chillblanse unde windy larap bucket loders of freazzy water all over same.

40. QUESTION:
    The most economical use of the temperature control for a water heater?
    I have an oil fired boiler which incorporates a 150 litre hot water tank. Do anybody know is it more economical to keep the temperature control for the water high or low?

    • ANSWER:
      I would say lower, but perhaps insulating the tank so that it holds it's temperature longer would be a more energy saving way.

41. QUESTION:
    Hot Water Booster Heater?
    I have a very common problem, it takes a long time for hot water to get to 4 spigots in my house. This annoys me. I'm aware of the under sink/vanity varieties that have a small resevoir and on demand heating, but I don't want a separate point-of-use spigot, I just want to "boost" the incoming hot water for a short time when I turn the tap. Those under the sink units make EXTREMELY hot water out of a separate spigot and that isn't what I want, I just want normal (@130 degrees F) hot water faster to the spigots furthest from the water heater.

    Is there an in-line solution to this problem? If there is, I've never seen one. I guess you could use one of those under the sink units and put a custom control thermostat on it, but does any company make what I'm talking about? On all of the under the sink units I've seen, you aren't supposed to hook up the hot water side to it, you hook up the cold water side. Help me out here!
    Nevermind, I found it. Cold or hot water inlet, 120 VAC. One problem though, it calls for a #10 wire. The bathroom I'm working in only has #12. Help me out on that, anyone?

    http://www.eemaxinc.com/EX3512T

    • ANSWER:
      Problem is that electric instant-hot heaters are power-pigs and want a 30A circuit which in turn requires 10-gauge wire.

      You have several solutions, the most elegant of which is to install a circulator on your hot water system and loop it, the least costly of which is to do as you suggest and install local instant-hots.

      You might also try shortening the path for hot water. I know in the house we are in now, the water heater was very near the water service and all the points-of-use were daisy-chained from there. So, the kitchen, last in line, took forever to get hot water. I cut out the bulk of the loop and installed a manifold system using a larger size pipe for the distribution. I think I took out well over 100 feet of 1/2" copper with several dozen fittings and replaced it with less than 30 feet of 3/4" copper and a few fittings. I also got rid of a bunch of vintage globe-valves which were replaced with ball-valves. Now the hot water gets to where it needs to pretty quickly.

42. QUESTION:
    Camper Water Heater Atwood model G6a-7, pilot ignition, only about 1/2 gallon is getting hot - HELP!?
    I light my camper's water heater pilot light and it fires up the burner. It will run for a few minutes and switch off. I go and run hot water and there is only about 1/2 gallon of hot water coming from the water heater tank. The unit was stored with an antifreeze solution when I purchased it. Can that stuff screw up the thermostat? I am not sure what the terminolgy is for the unit that controls the heat and the probe that goes into the tank, but my feeling is that something is telling the thermostat that the water is hot, when very little is. Do you have any ideas?
    also, in case you think i have not turned up the temp on thermostat, i have already tried every setting and the best the heater will do is heat the water in the top of the tank.

    • ANSWER:
      Silly question? whats the temperature set at? If its on warm that's all your gonna get. Also the thermocouple could be bad.

43. QUESTION:
    Had To Fix My Hot Water Tank, Now NO Hot Water!!!!? **Update**?
    Not sure how to just message you guys to tell you what your answers were, lol. anyway, To "Irv S"
    The Breaker Box Is The Switch Ones Not The Ones You twist Out lol. I Did Reset The Button On The Tank. Theres A Box Beneath The Breaker That Say Water Heater Control, Theres Two Switches Ones A Metered Rate Others A Flat Rate, If You Hold Them Down Past Off It Resets.
    The Wires Connecting To The Tank Do Have Power Going To Them And Where The Element Is Has Power As Well, Before I Started Fixing The Leak We Did Have Hot Water, Not Sure How Disconnecting Could Mess The Element Up?! ( If Thats The Problem?)
    Yes, The Tank Is It The Kitchen. Not Sure The Procedure To Take To Get It Working lol
    Power Off, Fill Tank, Connect Wires To Tank, Push Down On The Metered And Flat Rate Switches On Control Panel, Then Hit The Reset Button?!
    BTW Is There Anyway To Check The Element To See If Its Working Correctly?
    Thanks Again For The Help!!

    • ANSWER:
      Not sure what original post was all about, but maybe this will help you. Following are instructions on how to test a water heater element.
      1.Disconnect Electrical supply to unit.(turn off breaker)
      2.Remove covers , locate element(s)
      3.Elements are usually located directly above the thermostat. Use a screwdriver and remove one wire from the element terminal.
      4.Set your Volt-Ohm meter tp RX1 setting. test for resistance in the element
      5.Touch one probe to one terminal, then the other probe to the other terminal. You should see some reading on the meter. If no reading then the element is bad and needs to be replaced.

      Hope this helps

44. QUESTION:
    how do i set my hot water/storage heater TIMER.?
    ok i have just put in storage heaters, im on economy 7 set-up and the timer controls the Emerson tank as-well.
    Now the timer is the old style manual one, with a clock face, so do i just set the timer the same as the real time on my wall clock??? im so confused please help! many thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      If you know the name of the system you can google for instruction manual on line.

45. QUESTION:
    Hot water heaters burner only kicks on when i turn the tempeture dial up by hand.?
    burner quit turning on by itself. If i wash clothes & use up the hot water it wont kick on. but if i turn the temp. control knob up a little bit it kicks on then i turn it back down to hot it stays on until the next time i use the hot water up a little. I was wondering if i can maybe fix it by replacing the 5 dollar thermo coupler or is it the gas control valve or something else. PLEASE, can anyone help.........

    • ANSWER:
      The thermocouple is only there to prove the pilot and has nothing to do with temp. control.
      Sounds like a faulty control.
      Could be sediment in the bottom of the tank holding heat at the bottom and affecting the control. Try flushing out, otherwise replace the entire tank.

46. QUESTION:
    I need help with my Hot Water heater!?!?
    I have an A.O.Smith Power House Power Shot (Model # gpsh 40 200). I was cleaning around it yesterday and later noticed my hot water wasn't very hot. When I looked I noticed a small black hose near the top had come loose. I placed it back in the hole it came out of, hoping that would fix the problem but it didn't. I then noticed that the green light on the control panel was on the "warm" setting". I tried to use the buttons to raise the temp but it just stays there. The panel has 6 indicator lights and to buttons (Arrow Left & Arrow Right). Pressing the buttons has no effect. This is the readout with G being a green light, O being an Orange light and X being no light.

    G X O X X O
    I had already found the manual and the indicator lights point to a pressure switch problem but none of the provide solutions work. Guess its time to call the plumber...

    • ANSWER:
      turn the power to the unit off for 5 minutes. then turn it back on, maybe that will reset the unit.

47. QUESTION:
    My 1st floor hot water baseboard heaters are cooler than the 2nd floor heaters. Is there an adjustment knob?
    This is my first winter in an old house with hot water heat. The heating unit does not look as old as the house, or as old as the newest addition (50+ yrs old), and the old radiators have been replaced with baseboard heaters. Unfortunately, the upstairs heaters are so much warmer than the downstairs heaters. Is there a valve to control the amount of heat to the different heaters like there are on hot air ducts? I also noticed that my thermostat has to be set about 4 degrees higher than the temperature I desire. I have limited knowledge of this kind of thing, but also have a limited income. Did I mention the basement floor is half dirt? Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

    • ANSWER:
      You may well have a gravity feed boiler and that is why the 2nd flr. registers get hotter. If there is not a circulator pump on the system it would explain the problem. If your system still had radiators it would balance itself, but baseboard units dont act the same. Heat rises naturally and that would explain the diff between the 2nd flr. temp and the 1st flr temp. If there is no circulator pump, then have one installed. Your boiler is wasting a lot of energy without it.

48. QUESTION:
    How hot (what temp) does a spa water heater get?
    i just got a free hot tub from a friend, he said it had a leak but didn't knw where it was coming from, well i found it, it is coming from the vertical water heater core inside the control box. the welds on both the top and bottom had split... well instead of going all out and renting a welder i just put some jb cold weld on it. on the jb weld site it says it can only stand temperatures of 500 degrees so my question is how hot will this heater core get? also i should throw this in too, there are about 5 wires touching the heater that look like thats how it was installed so maybe the surface of it doesn't even get hot? i don't know.. any info is appreciated.
    heres a picture http://www.spasandmore.net/index.php?l=product_images&p=576

    • ANSWER:
      First that is a very cheap heater to replace. You should be able to find it for around 110. If the welds have failed it is certain the actual element is not far behind. The heater will heat up to 104 degrees. That's the US Federal law governing Hot tub heaters. It is very simple to replace and when you do, buy a new 12 dollar pressure switch to replace at the same time.

49. QUESTION:
    I have separate fired hot water tank leaking for 6 weeks I had 2 others that just let go any suggestions thank
    would it be that the tank is leaking by the temp control or the overflow where it enters the tank and has anybody have the Toyotomi OM-148 tankless hot water heater that is oil fired

    • ANSWER:
      INSTALL WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM BEFORE THE TANK.THE IRON IN YOUR WATER IS CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE THROUGH RUSTING.YOU MAY ALSO NEED WATER SOFTENING UNITS.

50. QUESTION:
    Blue knob on outgoing pipes of water heater?
    There is a blue knob on the outgoing pipes of my water heater. It says Min 1-5 Max. It appears that the outgoing pipe hot pipe is tied into the outgoing cold pipe and maybe this knob controls the flow. I am having problems getting hot water in my kitchen sink but other faucets are getting hot water. Could that knob have anything to do with it.

    • ANSWER:
      Why would you hot water be plumbed into your cold water? That just sounds ridiculous. Can you post a photo of what youare looking at?