Hot Water Heaters Home

About the Author:
I am roof maker. gutter heaters.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Anti-icing-System-Roofing-Without-Icicles/3624132

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Need to replace home hot water heater?
   I need to replace a 40-gallon hot water heater in my home. What can you tell me about hot water heaters? What's new and efficient on today's market? What's out there and what should I be looking for? How do I determine if I need greater than 40-gallon capacity? Gas, electric, tankless?

   • ANSWER:
     ok. first off you don't need a hot water heater. hot water does not need to be heated.

     moving on.

     depending on how big your house is a 42 gallon gas heater is pretty efficent. if you have a large family and several bathrooms you may need to install more then 1. i know they make really big heaters but they worry me.

2. QUESTION:
   Need help to replace home hot water heater?
   I need to replace a 40-gallon hot water heater in my home. What can you tell me about hot water heaters? What's new and efficient on today's market? What's out there and what should I be looking for? How do I determine if I need greater than 40-gallon capacity? Gas, electric, tankless?

   • ANSWER:
     It's really, really easy to replace a water heater with a similar one. And it's not at all easy to change much of anything. If the current one is gas it would be a big hassle to add a circuit back to the panel for an electric one. And, likewise, installing a gas pipe if your current water heater is electric would likely not be worth the hassle. So, you want the new water heater to be the same 'fuel' as the old one. And, you want about the same power. Like if your old gas heater was 45,000 BTUs the pipe you have could be (or not) too small for a 75,000 BTU WH. Likewise, if the old was a 30 amp electric the wire is very likely too small for 40 amps. If you can't replace same with same then you have to acquire enough knwoledge to know that what you're doing will work.

     Size wise, were you happy with the old one? You didn't tend to run out of hot? Then the same size will be fine. Physical size is actually more important. If the new WH is a much larger diameter than the old, it may not fit the space. More imortantly, if it's not about the same height a gas heater will require you to reconfigure the flue pipe.

     The actual process of changing the unit isn't too hard. Good luck.

3. 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.

4. QUESTION:
   Is there a reason why there is hardly any hot water pressure from a home hot water heater?
   the hot water heater is 9 years old and the house is two storey with 2 hot water showers and 3 hot water sinks.... There is no problem with the cold water pressure

   • ANSWER:
     It sounds like this problem is the hot water on all fixtures.

     try this - Your water heater has a drain valve near the bottom of the tank. Try draining the tank. You hook up a hose or use a bucket. If no water comes out then its time for a new tank. If water and gunk come out you are doing good. It could be possible that enough sediment has built up in the tank that its constricting the out flow of hot water.

     This is just one possibility and an easy one to check for.

     No water out of tank drain means significant sediment.

     Oh - One more tip. make sure you know where you water shut-off valves are just in case you bust a leak in your water heater or bust off the valve.

5. QUESTION:
   HI, is the propane used for a home lpg hot water heater the same as used in the small white tanks we refill?
   HI, I am wondering if the fuel and the cost are the same or similar (is the propane used for a home lpg hot water heater the same as used in the small white tanks we refill?) thanks jerry
   thanks everyone. To propane man...the tank I refererred to came with the grill, it is an outdoor grill with little lava type rocks?you have heard of these? I did not have to change the connection at all it came set up.

   • ANSWER:
     Yes, the only reason that the large tank, for your hot water heater is sumwhat cheaper to refill, is that you are buying it in bulk from a gas supplier.

6. QUESTION:
   Is it necessary to have a mobil home hot water heater if the one you have is approved by the city inspector?

   • ANSWER:
     You can replace your mobile home water heater with different than what comes with the mobile home, i have changed out a couple myself.

7. QUESTION:
   how do you install a timer on a standard home hot water heater?

   • ANSWER:
     http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/waterheaters.html#install
     http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13110

8. QUESTION:
   Will turning off a home hot water heater each night reduce energy use or increase it?

   • ANSWER:
     Most likely increase, but if you did save, the savings would be lost in buying new 220 breakers (every time they are turned on and off they are weaked until eventually they will not hold any more).

9. QUESTION:
   Do the new home water heaters have settings?
   I know that the old water heaters (the house ones that are in the basement and heat the home water) had settings and you could choose how much or how hot it would get.

   I am renting a place that has a new water heater and there is not much hot water (not enough for the kids bath and my shower and the kids only bath with 1/4 full and I shower for about 15 minutes). I don't see any settings on there. Do the new ones not have settings?

   • ANSWER:
     If it's electric there are two cover plates over the temperature controls. Remove the covers and turn both the upper and the lower the same amount higher.

10. QUESTION:
    Where is the hot water heater in my mobile home?
    I just bought a small mobile (24 x 32) home in a retirement community and the hot water is not quite hot enough for me. I've scoured the place and I can't find the hot water heater. Is it possibly underneath the home?

    • ANSWER:
      Most mobile home water heaters are in a compartment that is accessible from outside the mobile home. Look for a rectangular door on the outside. Also,if you have an electric water heater, it might be under the kitchen cabinets.

11. QUESTION:
    My hot water is not coming on. Home built in 01 the hotwater seems to be on. What could it be?
    I have a 2 story home, the hot water heater is upstairs. It is gas

    • ANSWER:
      maybe the gas has run out.

12. QUESTION:
    I have a electric mobile home water heater that is leaking at fitting where the hot water connects?
    I have a electric mobile home water heater that is leaking at fitting where the hot water connects. The connection is on the side 2 inches from the top. The connection is plastic a friend told me to put some plumber putty around the connection.

    I was reading on the container of the plumbers putty and it stated not to use on plastic.

    I have seen the spray foam but did not know if I could use this because of the hot water temp being 120 degrees.

    Any Ideals the water heater is only a year old and I hate to replace it. The water heater was not purchaced by me so I doubt warrenty would be good.

    • ANSWER:
      You do not need a replacement.
      The line is made of PVC.
      This is not a difficult task to replace the fitting.

      You will need to cut off the water supply, and you may have to drain the tank if the damage is at the tank connection. Cut off the heater.
      Draining is done with a hose attached to the drain fawcett.
      Buy some PVC, the same size. You may also have to use the same gauge to fit the valve. These are labled by number. If you can't see a number on the old, you may have to carry a piece with you to buy the correct one.

      You then need a "Cleaner", "Adhesive", and a saw or tool for cutting the correct length.
      You can get all the directions from a plumbing supply.

      Patching may get you a flood some night. I wouldn't.

13. QUESTION:
    I need help getting a new hot water heater for my manufactured home?
    I recently obtained a mobile home in Ann Arbor and found out I need a new hot water heater. Does any body know of an organization that will help me get one. I am a single mother of four kids and I just can not afford one.

    • ANSWER:
      Check with your Department of Social Services. Maybe they can help or at least direct you.

14. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know if hot water at home is heated by electricity or gas in a condo bldg in Toronto?
    Also if I don't see a water heater at my home, does it mean the heating system of the hot water is centralized?

    I've tried to ask the management office. Diff people there give me diff answers. Looks like they're not sure either.

    Thx a lot.

    • ANSWER:
      A condo would have high water requirements, therefore they are almost all natural gas, as gas is fast at heating water as it is called for bathing, showering or laundry uses.. More than likely there is a large hot water heater as the on call heating systems are relatively new in the market place.

15. QUESTION:
    I have hot air heat that is heated by an oil fired hot water heater. Home Inspector says it's wrong setup?
    The condo is heated with hot air. The air is heated by a hot water tank that uses oil. The home inspector says that the hot water tank is wrong for this setup, it needs to be a boiler. He said that the hot water is going into the coils in the heating system to heat the air and then back in the hot water tank where our drinking water is. Here is the setup: The water comes in from the street, goes into the tank, gets heated and when it comes out, the pipes split, one going up to the house for hot water and the other going into the heating system to heat the hot air. Then there is a pipe coming out from the heating system which meets up with the pipe coming from street that goes into the hot water tank. Essentially, the used hot water is going back into the tank and mixing with the clean water. The home inspector says that we need to replace the hot water tank(which is 1 year old and manufactured by Bock) with a boiler. The setup seems wrong, and I assume the home inspector knows what he's doing, so can anyone help me with my options? Perhaps I can add another tank and use one only for the heat and the other dedicated only to supplying the sinks and showers?

    • ANSWER:
      Your home inspector is wrong. A boiler will be more efficient for this, but a hot water tank will work just as well and there is nothing wrong with using it as such. This is actually a pretty common setup believe it or not. What is wrong with the hot water running through coils in your furnace then back into your potable hot water tank? the coils are sealed, so there is no contamination of the water. Tell him to take a hike.

16. 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.

17. QUESTION:
    What's the best way for me to reduce my heating bill at home? My furnace and hot water heater are killing me!!?
    I'm looking for a quick fix, something easy. Is there anything I can buy to install? I don't spend a lot of time at home but my whole family showers and the hot water heater is going nuts! I live in Michigan, so the winters suck a lot of my money. I have a natural gas furnace and hot water heater. I've added a blanket, waxed the windows, ... AHHH -- help me!

    • ANSWER:
      some good answers already....i'll add...there is nothing you can do to an incoming natural gas pipe that improves provides a benefit greater than the energy that the device [ whatever it is ] uses....it reminds me of all of the gadgets being sold to increase a cars gas milage,like things strapped to the fuel lines or things designed to "swirl" the intake air,etc...they dont work.........see if whatever it is is aga [american gas association] approved... maybe you could turn down the water heater temp control so the showers will be barely comfortable enough to take as opposed to warm and toasty so that they are inclined to stay there a while.....also...there are programmable tstats out there [ honeywell 8000 ] that you can tell to deliberately display the wrong room temperature....so you can set the tstat for 68 deg and have it display that the room is 71 deg.....[up to 5 degrees off]....also you can "lock out" the key pad so others cant change the setting...........dan

18. QUESTION:
    How do I turn up my hot water from Richmond Water Heaters?
    Here. I have a Richmond Water Heaters at home and when I fixed the thermostat to 120 degree but the water is still cold. No matter where I place the thermostat, the water is still cold.

    • ANSWER:
      Certainly you've checked for a pilot flame if this is a gas unit you're asking about. If there's no pilot then the thermocouple could be bad, and needs to be replaced. If it's an electric unit, you'll need to turn off the juice at the breaker box, remove one wire from each element, (just loosen one screw on each so you can remove the wire from under it), and check across both screwheads to find the resistance of the element. They should read 12.3 - 12.7 ohms each. An element with a reading higher or lower than this should be replaced.
      For that, you'll need to drain the tank and buy a new element(s) and an element socket. If it turns out to be an element, make sure which element you have in your unit. Richmond puts a sticker on the side of the outer shell, sometimes on the element cover, that tells if you have the newer larger elements. If so, the older normal element socket that they sell in most home improvement stores won't fit it, and there's a good possibility that they also won't have the elements in stock. You have your work cut out for you.

19. QUESTION:
    how do you check a home hot water heater?
    water is is released through the pressure valve on top

    • ANSWER:
      Check it for what ? To see if it is heating water? To see if it is working? Electric or gas?
      Not enough information for me to answer. Is it heating your water? Do you have hot water? Is it relieving pressure out of the valve? Are the settings to high? This could cause the pressure relief valve to do this and sometimes if they are old they leak have seen that too.

      Good Luck

20. QUESTION:
    New home has a hot water heater in attic. Is this home safe?
    We are buying a home that as a hot water heat in the attic. Is that safe. I want to buy the home but was frightened by my sister because she said that the house could catch on fire easily. I thought that if you make sure that it is clean around the area and that if you keep maintance up on the attic then it wouldn't be a problem. What do you all think? This is an older home...not tooo old.

    • ANSWER:
      Ok answer me this....a boiler in the loft will catch on fire easier than one in the utility/kitchen because....??

      Boilers in the loft is very common, its a preferred place to put them over here in jolly ol' england. Boilers by law have safety cut outs in case of gas failure to shut them down completely.

      Boilers, no matter where you have them, be it garage, loft, utility, basement or even specific boiler house should never have crap surrounding or piled up against them anyway. They are heat shielded but treat your boiler like your car. Dont pile rubbish on top of it or lean stuff up against it. Keep it clean, keep it serviced every year without fail!

      Dont be remotely put off by the boiler being in the loft.

      If you are unsure in any way, and this is perfectly acceptable when considering buying a property because i do it for people all the time, get a professional to check it out or ask for servicing records.

      Some criteria you can look for yourself:

      Is it mounted on a non-combustable surface such as brick/block work, or plasterboard covered brick/block work. If so thats fine.

      Is it in contact with any combustable material such as wood or roofing materials? It shouldn't be. If it has a verticle flue (the ones that go thru the roof) it should be fine coming into contact as its twin walled - im talking about the main body of the boiler.

      Is there a walk way to the boiler? that is a legal requirement and has been for years. If not dont worry-just throw down some chipboards and screw them down.

      Is there a light source? If not fit a dangle bulb with a switch. Easily done. A light source (not a flashlight) is a legal requirement also. It is for servicing purposes.

      Look at the bigger picture - a house you love in a good location of good value is an investment. The chance of getting a prime location property that you think is perfect comes along once every blue moon and bank holiday thursday. In a worse case scenario the cost of replacing an old boiler pales compared to what you would loose purchasing a house in an area not as good, that you dont want as much.

      Get an engineer to check it out, and book him in to service it once you buy the place. If you do that he might even chuck in the inspection for free, but not all engineers are that nice! Well worth the few quid, and ask if he would like cash - that always greases the wheels and can make it a bit cheaper!

      Plumbing and Heating engineer for 12 years and love the property game.

21. 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

22. QUESTION:
    hot water heater for mobli home cold water come in low on heater. There is a plug on top can I take the plug o

    • ANSWER:
      Just adjust the temp setting. I wouldnt remove any plug on the heater as it is under pressure.

23. 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!!!

24. QUESTION:
    Do you sell gas hot water heaters for mobil homes?
    Do you install hot water heaters for mobil homes? How much does it cost?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes there are gas Water Heaters for trailers. They even have ones they call convertibles. They can be changed between propane gas and natural gas.

      Many stores that sell them like Sears offer installation as an additional option. My home improvement company in southern New Jersey would charge the price of the water heater plause 0 - 0 for installation, depending on the difficulty.

25. QUESTION:
    What are specs for venting door of outside closet of hot water heater access of mobile home?
    Directions say to vent door and cover with mesh screen. How big should it be and can I use a vent?

    • ANSWER:
      You will require two vents, one in the top 12" of the door, the other in the bottom 12" of the door. If the door opens to the outside, you require 1" for 4,000 BTU's per hour for each opening. That means if you have a 40,000 BTU water heater, each vent requires a minimum of a hole of 10 square inches. Roughly a 5"X5" opening each, but I would go bigger than that. If the air is coming from the inside you require each hole to be 1" for every 1,000BTU's per hour, but no less than 100 square inches. That means the same heater will need each hole to be a minimum of 40 square inches, but you actually need a 100 square inch hole to be in the minimum, roughly a 10" X10" opening.

      As far as a screen is concerned, the mesh can't be any smaller than 1/4". If you use wood louvers, you will need to size your opening bigger as the wood louvers restrict the air flow more.

26. QUESTION:
    does a hot water heater in your home deplete your water flow if it is turned up to high?

    • ANSWER:
      No. It may marginally save you some water. But it will waste your money heating to an unnecessary temperature. And run the risk of accidental scald injury.

27. QUESTION:
    Can a thermostat for your home's temperature be used on a hot water heater?
    I need to know if the thermostat that people use to adjust the temperature in their homes, can be hooked into a hot water heater. I'm not interested in the range of operating temperatures, just need to know if it can be hooked up, I want my water heated to a low temperature, like 70-80 degrees.

    • ANSWER:
      Yes it can be done and has been done in commercial and industrial application where applicable.
      Its not applicable for the home since the thermostat alone for three system operation. Heat/Cool/Hot water, unless made intigrated like a Rannai system Tankless has their own stat can be mounted upstairs near the shower or in kitchen if you like. They even have waterproof dvd consol to mount in the shower. They have anything you want Rannai system can take over heating and cooling and hot water and inigrate remote control operations with a command centre. We are just now bringing these things to our homes as a luxury. But again not practical to the everyday home owner.. YET! Its coming but not just yet.

      Conventional uses no electricity so it can be done but you have to have a millivolt thermostat and a remote sensor.
      Power vent can be done also but they also have to have relay, remote sensor and 24v or 115v line stat.

      Electric tanks will require a 220v line stat
      remote operation is how its done in the big places so that's all easy for home application but not practical unless it is a tankless.

28. QUESTION:
    How to install a propane hot water tank in a mobile home?
    I have never installed a hot water heater before, I need a new one for our double wide mobile home. Is this too difficult of a job for a first timer? Or is there somewhere that I can find easy to install instr.?

    • ANSWER:
      Installation instructions should be included with any water heater you purchase. Follow them closely and you should be OK. Pay particular attention to the venting instructions. They may specify a particular material and will definitely specify the clearances for the inlet and outlet from building openings, sources of ignition and the supply regulator. These are extremely important. Also the gas line must be large enough, depending on the length, to supply enough fuel for the appliance to burn properly.

      I would suggest that you have a qualified gas-fitter at least inspect this installation before it is turned on, if you don't have them do the installation for you. Your life, your family's life and your property are worth much more than you might save by doing this yourself.

      By the way...There is no electric weater heater that stands any chance of matching the recovery time of a gas-fired unit that I've ever seen. Clothes dryers are another gas fired appliance that are FAR BETTER than any electric model could ever hope to be. I would never tell someone to throw away perfectly good appliances, but as they wear out...put them on propane, you will save money and be far happier with the performance.

29. QUESTION:
    Can I turn on my hot water heater in an RV if I am running off an extension cord from a residential home?
    My RV is hooked up via extension cord to a home. I am only using one light and a fan or switching it to only use of a small tv and a DVD player. Can I turn on the electric hot water heater and heat bath water safely both for me and the residential home?
    My RV is 30 amp and the inside plug is a regular wall socket in the kitchen area but I am unsure of the amp of the breaker there.

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, just as long as you have your extension cord plugged into a circuit that has a high enough rated breaker on it.

30. QUESTION:
    Where is the hot water heater on a 1995 Skyline mobile home?
    I have searched every inch inside and outside to find the hot water heater and I can't find it.

    • ANSWER:
      In a mobile home the water heater is often behind a wall panel that's removable. You'll see screws in the corners of this panel and often spaced out along the sides of the panel too. I'd look at all the walls including inside any bathrooms or closets and see if you see what appears to be a removable panel.

      The other good possibility will be under a cabinet back in a corner of one of the cabinets. Such as under a kitchen cabinet.

      One thing that might help is to figure out which faucets are closest to the heater first. Turn on a hot water faucet in different areas and see how long it takes hot water to start coming out. The faucet that has hot water the quickest will be the closest to the heater. That may help narrow down where to begin looking.

      Hope this helps and good luck on your search!

31. QUESTION:
    what is the best setting for a hot water heater in your home?

    • ANSWER:
      120

32. QUESTION:
    If a home has a gas-fired, natural-draft furnace, a hot-water heater and a solid-fuel-fired fireplace?
    If a home has a gas-fired, natural-draft furnace, a hot-water heater and a solid-fuel-fired fireplace, what type of home is it?
    If a home has a gas-fired, natural-draft furnace, a hot-water heater and a solid-fuel-fired fireplace, what type of home is it?

    this is a question from my heating and ventilation course! Need a technical answer plz! =D

    • ANSWER:
      a very nice warm home

33. QUESTION:
    Energy Tax Credit for Hot Water Heaters?
    I read where there is a 0 tax credit for hot water heaters. I checked the official energy tax credit website and I can't tell exactly what water heaters qualify or not. I current have a 50 gallon electric hot water heater and want to replace with a similar model for my home. Any idea if other electric hot water heaters qualify for this tax credit?

    • ANSWER:
      If you are currently using a traditional resistive element hot water heater and replace it with the same type of water heater, there's no energy credit available.

      To qualify for the credit you must install either an electric heat-pump water heater with an energy efficiency rating of 2.0 or greater OR a gas, oil, or propane heater with an energy factor of 0.82 or greater or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.

      Here's a link to one such qualifying electric heat-pump water heater: http://www.thegreathardwarestore.com/Ge-Appliances-50Gallon-Hybrid-Water-Heater-p/132461.htm?click=2744 . This is for example purposes only, not a recommendation of any particular brand or supplier.

34. QUESTION:
    can i split the cold water supply to my hot water heater so my home has water even if i turn off the water hea

    • ANSWER:
      It has already been done. The feeder to your water heater is a branch off the cold water main into the house. All you have to do is close a valve located on the water heater inlet or outlet pipe.

35. QUESTION:
    Why does my hot water pressure suck?
    I just got a new hot water heater last year. Lately, the hot water pressure in my kitchen is weak. The cold is good. The bathroom is fine. I never have enough hot water for a long hot bath. My building was built in the 70's. Do I call a plumber or the people who put the hot water heater in (Home Depot)?

    • ANSWER:
      You say that the pressure is fine in the bathroom and then say there's not enough hot water I guess you asking why there is no pressure since the heater is fairly new. I think you may have a corrosion filled hot water line somewhere in the kitchen, How is the pressure near the hot water tank? The pressure in the cold is OK. I would first try to see if the faucets are clogged by removing the inner works. Sometimes there is a small build up of small stones blocking the output of water. The next step would be to isolate the water line to the kitchen and replace it with new pipe.

36. 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.

37. QUESTION:
    Buying New Hot Water Heater For Rental Home - Which To Choose?
    The hot water heater just went in a rental home we own. My husband talked to a few plumbers and then his best friend. The plumbers say to go with a mid-level heater. But his friend is saying to go with the cheapest. (It's a rental home, we don't pay utilities - the tenants do, we may not own it forever, etc.)
    I would rather go with the advice of a professional, but perhaps they're more interested in making $. I also worry about my hub's friend because he's a big talker, but is an expert on nothing. Although we definitely need to save as much money as possible, I don't want a piece of junk that will cause us more hassles.
    Am I letting my opinion of the friend cloud my judgment? Should we just go with the cheapest in these tight financial times, or should we lay out the extra $ when we may not own the house forever?
    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Go to Lowe's and look at the different choices. There is probably only -100 difference between the cheapest and the middle of the line. Not only do you have to think about the price of utilities, but the life of the w/h--how often do you want to be making this repair?

      If you are going to be landlords, this really is a repair you should learn to do on your own instead of having to call plumbers (unless you live in the city limits and there are regs you are having to follow or something). Try to have your husband be there to watch the replacement process so he can handle this as a DIY project next time and save $$ on the labor costs (if, like I said, that's legal where you are).

38. 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

39. QUESTION:
    Where can I get a a hot water heater blanket for a 115 gallon tank?
    I have an old 115 gallon Vaughn hot water heater in my home that used to have an insulation blanket around it, but was removed at some point because of mouse damage. I'm now looking for a replacement and can't find it. Where can I get a replacement hot water heater insulation blanket for a 115 gallon Vaughn Hot Water Heater?

    • ANSWER:
      Big tank. Not sure how handy you are, but I'd just go to the hardware store and buy a roll of plastic coated insulation for about a third of the price, and just cut to fit.

40. QUESTION:
    Do hot water heaters ever blow up?
    You know, they have these somewhat large hot water heaters that are maybe four feet tall and maybe four feet in circumference. Some homes use these things to get hot water for their showers. Do these things ever just blow up?

    • ANSWER:
      yes, a water heater can blow up. the temperature and pressure relief valve is designed to prevent this. if the temperature or pressure gets too high the valve is designed to open and let water out. if the valve fails the water can blow up.

41. QUESTION:
    Have an old, 1970, Mobile Home. Got home today and there is no hot water, Why? Cold water is flowing fine and?
    Hot water heater is on, and cold water flows through faucets but, noting comes out of the hot water taps.

    • ANSWER:
      Maybe you have a frozen pipe somewhere. If it is coming out and it's still cold I would check to power going from the breaker box to the hot water tank.

42. QUESTION:
    Please discuss pros, cons, alternatives to under-sink water heaters. Hot water in attic not getting to kitchen
    Water heater in attic of two-story home. Kitchen on ground floor.

    • ANSWER:
      Costly. May require special wiring depending on current use.
      Ask about smaller unit that hot water is connected to, so that it only heats the cold lead water, then shuts off when hot water arrives.
      I saw one in a public restroom recently that mounted on the wall and was about half the size of a shoe box.

43. QUESTION:
    Is it illegal not to have hot water in your home?
    We've not had hot water for 1 month now since our gas water-heater broke, and our Housing Association is messing us about with regards to replacing it. With a little baby, my dad reckons this is illegal. Is he right?

    • ANSWER:
      With a child and no hot water, you could be held liable for child neglect, as "proper" sterilization procedures are not followed.
      Illegal? No.

44. QUESTION:
    What gpm size tankless hot water do I need?
    I am looking to purchase a tankless hot water heater for my home, I have a well water system and only one bath and I don't think I need the 7+ gpm size, I'm not sure my pump even puts out that much, will the 4+ gpm size be big enough???

    • ANSWER:
      Get a 5 gallon bucket and turn on the shower. See how long it takes to fill the bucket. Divide by 5 and that's the gpm.
      If it's over 4 then get the 7 gpm or you will not have hot enough water.

45. QUESTION:
    Do how water baseboard heaters get hot enough to melt wires?
    I recently moved into an apartment that uses hot water baseboard heaters to heat the house. I have a lot of wires very near or touching the panels in places..such as where my computer desk meets the wall and my home theater system wires run. It's starting to get colder...and I'm wondering if I will need to move the wires? Do these systems get hot enough to cause damage to them? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      No, the wires are safe. The water delivered from a hot water heater will rarely be more than 60 degrees Celsius (which can cause a severe burn).

46. QUESTION:
    220 new tank less hot water heater in a mobel home?
    the mobel home I have is about late 1960s to early 70s it has the old style breaker box and no ground ( only 2 wires) a guy I know that does electrical was going to run the bear wire to the frame to ground it . I just bought a tank less hot water heater and it is 220 . Now I have a hook up for a dryer that is the circle style outlet ( this is 220 right ) or can a old mobel home have a 110 out let this size . My uncle is a electrion can I have him just move the 220 line to the hot water heater and do it like that and can I have him just splic into the 220 line to have both a hot water heater and dryer .

    I just want to hear what people think

    I know you need permits for doing this but is it easy
    just by chance were does the ground go to

    • ANSWER:
      I would only allow a licensed electrician mess around with 220. If you have 220 already ran to your place, an electrician will be able to easily wire your tankless hot water heater.

      Do not mess around with 220 on your own.

47. QUESTION:
    Looking for a tankless hot water heater for my entire home.?

    • ANSWER:
      Are you looking for a gas or electric tankless water heater? If electric, it usually makes more sense to get a single large unit rather than a couple of smaller ones. Most electrical services can't handle two units large enough to provide decent hot water for a shower unless you have very warm incoming water temperatures.

      Sizing a tankless water heater is based only on temperature rise and flow rate. To determine what flow rate you need, decide what you need to be able to run at one time, turn it all on, then time how long each application takes to fill a one gallon container. 1 minute divided by how long it takes to fill it will give you your flow rate for that application. Add them all up and that's the flow rate you require.

      For temperature rise, turn on your cold water and let it run till it really goes cold (the closer you can do this to the incoming water line the faster this will go), then check the temperature. In most cases people want about 105 degrees, so subtract your incoming water temperture from 105 and that's your temperature rise.

      Most good tankless water heater website will show you the flow rates and temperature rises of their models like you can find on the chart on this page http://www.e-tankless.com/products.php or the more detailed info on the individual product pages.

48. QUESTION:
    How to purge home hot water radiators.?
    I tried to purge them and on the first floor I got some air and then water. Upstairs I heard a hiss and it stopped with no water. I have good water pressure in the basement. All valves are open on radiators and in the basement. Radiators upstairs are hot on the bottom showing hot water is flowing in them. The heater works and the water pump is working and the thremostat works. All valves have been second checked to make sure they are open. How do I measure the water pressure and how much do I need to get it up to the second floor.

    • ANSWER:
      Cold water is denser so it doesn't mater if boiler is hot!The water pressure is read at the boiler there is a gage tied into the boiler it will be located on the sides , top, in the burner compartment, or in the pipe just leaving the boiler. the pressure should be 12psi to 15 psi cold. add about 3psi if hot. the pressure is regulated by a pressure reducing valve, its tied into a domestic water line. most come set to 12psi there my be a lever on the top of the pres reducing valve. this is a fast fill, lift it and extra water is added to system. if no lever.there is a flat set screw w/a nut on it. this will adjust the pressure also.only tune this screw 1/2 turn at a time and allow water to stop entering boiler, then ck pressure.if you have someone 2 watch the pressure and maintain it while u bled do that. I usually bleed at 20psi.w use of fast fill on p reduce valve. don't try this if there is no fast fill!!! then i will reduce the pressure at the boiler drain. when done bleeding. if no pressure in boiler the strainer is clogged in the pressure reducing valve. or its just shot .good luck

49. QUESTION:
    warranty voided because i put water heater in mobile home designed for home?
    home hot water gas heater vs mobile home hot water gas heater

    • ANSWER:
      Storage units designed for home use are not designed with movement in mind as they are glass lined. However,a tankless heater can be used in either application provided its installed properly by a licensed plumber.

50. QUESTION:
    How long do home water heaters typically last? How many years?
    Ours is 7 years old. Last year we turned it up to the "HOT" setting when we noticed that the water wasn't getting that hot. I just turned it up to the A position today after we noticed that the water wasn't all that hot. The D position says "Very Hot" and has a scalding warning next to it. I know that the further you keep it below the "HOT" setting the more money you save. It's only my wife and I, not a big family so the demand on the water heater is not that great.

    Thank-you.

    • ANSWER:
      Water heaters typcally fail due to rust (corrosion between steel and copper pipes) or burning hot spots & pinholes in at the bottom of the tank due to accumulation of sediment from hard water. The latter sounds like your situation.

      If you have been draining & flushing your heater every year, you would have removed a lot of the sediment and increased the life of your tank. Like the bottom of a tea kettle, sediment is just the precipitated minerals which drop out of hard water as it is heated. As the layer of sediment builds up, it forms an insluating layer at the bottom of the tank, requiring you to keep turning up the flame to heat the water. It sounds like you are getting near the end of the water heater's life.

      Just keep checking the tank for water leaks at the bottom - a too hot flame will eventually burn a pinhole and then it's time to replace the water heater.

      On your next tank, you might consider two features - a self-cleaning cold water inlet pipe (a curved pipe which stirs up the sediment, rather than a straight-down cold water pipe) and a long-warranty tank which uses either two or one large sacrificial anode to control corrosion in the tank for a longer time.)

      Hope this helps.