Hot Water Heater Piping

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   plumbing question...hot water heater piping repair?
   Hey, sorry for such an obvious question...but...I am about to slice off some pex plumbing that is leaking at the fitting (which is at the top of the hot water heater and is the hot water line toward the house) and refit it...so, I turn off the electricity. Then...turn off the hot water valves...and open them up in the sinks in the house to clear the water?...hmmm, I just want to make sure that when I cut the pex that there wont be water in the line come a spurting out...do I need to drain the whole hot water heater first?
   Sorry I an 8 years old (or at least that is what my wife keeps saying to me in a very loud and angry voice). Thanks.

   • ANSWER:
     Electricity first and last, the element can never be without water when turned on. If the hot water valve is after the leak why would you open the hot faucets, the valve will hold the water. Your focus is the cold water coming in to the heater, shut off the nearest valve[usually the main] on the cold side, drain the heater with the cold faucets open, be absolutely sure that the heater is filled with water when you turn the electric back on, that means bleeding all the air from the entire system. Good work takes time, don't let her pressure you.Good Luck!

2. QUESTION:
   I want to insulate the hot water pipes coming off my Hot water heater. Which pipes?
   Stupid question probably, but are all the pipes that come off the hot water heater carrying hot water? there's 3 on the left side, one off the right side. Does cold water come from somewhere else?

   • ANSWER:
     Insulate them all, and you will cut down on costs.

3. QUESTION:
   What to do with hot water heater pipes if electricity goes out?
   Our furnace is forced hot air, and we do not use it because we heat our home with wood. Our hot water comes from an electric hot water heater. What if the electricity goes out though? Won't the pipes freeze? What would we do in that situation?

   Thanks

   • ANSWER:
     The pipes wont freeze until your house gets cold with or without electricity its only if you turn off the heat water pipes dont run through outside walls

4. QUESTION:
   Electric hot water heater piped into the boiler?
   We just bought a house that has a 50 gallon electric water heater that has the cold line of the water heater piped into the boiler. What is the purpose of this? Also it has a "Fast fill" valve. What is this?

   • ANSWER:
     Hi Mike,

     I'm really shocked that with all the "professionals" giving you advice, no one's hit the nail on the head YET, until me, of course.

     I live in New England, and see this configuration all the time. We have one heck of a long heating season here. Let me explain the reasoning behind what you have, because it is used constantly in this part of the country.

     Your electric hot water heater can be expensive to run, and if you have several people standing in line for showers in the morning (like mine), can find itself unable to "recover" the water temp after a shower or two.

     Since your boiler will run extensively during the heating season anyway, they are using the boiler to pre-heat your supply even before it gets to your water heater. It evidently has a small "tankless" water heater that couldn't keep up with the household demand, necessitating additional capacity. The aquastat that is in the main boiler (for the boiler's water heater) is certainly disconnected, so it will only pre-heat when your heat is being run. The free-standing water heater is on it's own in the non-heating season.

     This is a very "green" way to exploit as much value as humanly possible from every gallon of oil burned, and you had to run the boiler anyway!

5. QUESTION:
   What is a fair installation price for a 40 gallon hot water heater located in attic and has existing piping?
   I am replacing a water heater...it is a two heater system piped together as one. I only need to replace one of them.
   5 for labor only?

   • ANSWER:
     The company i work for does it for 5
     * to supply and install.

6. QUESTION:
   does hot water heater need to be filled to supply hot water?
   I know you need water in the hot water heater in order to have hot water, however, i have emptied the hot water heater to repair and now i have no water running through the hot water pipes in general. is all water for the hot water pipes supplied through the hot water heater? or should i still have water flowing through the hot pipes regardless of whether or not the water heather is filled up? this is my first house and im renovating, so its something new to me.

   • ANSWER:
     Yes, all of the water in the hot water pipes goes through the heater. Prove it to yourself by turning on supply to the heater even if it doesn't work, and see that you now have water in the hot water side - it just won't be hot.

7. QUESTION:
   Does a broken valve on my cold water pipe affect my hot water heater?
   We replaced our hot water heater and found one of the pipes(the cold water pipe) has a broken shut off valve. The plumber said it didn't effect the water heater. Is this a bad thing or does it really not effect anything?

   • ANSWER:
     As long as the broken valve is in the open position it should be fine.
     You can still turn the water main off to the house in an emergency. Next time you have a plumber out you might want to get it replaced to be up to code and make it easier to service the water heater in the future.

8. QUESTION:
   Need help with plumbing issue - noisy pipes/hot water heater?
   We recently had a pressure regulatore valve installed. The entire water system was shut down. Prior to this time when we used the water we did not hear any knocking in the pipes or the hot water heater.

   Since the installation of the PRV everytime we use the hot water we hear knocking in the pipes and hot water heater while the water is running and after it it turned off for about 10 minutes.

   Any ideas of what this could be? We have a water softener too.

   • ANSWER:
     When water is heated it expands. Water cannot compress so the added volume from expansion needs to go somewhere.It used to just push out into the water system. When the prv was added it also added a check valve (internal to the prv).Now the expanded water volume can't back into the system so the pressure builds until you open a faucet. The simple fix is to install a potable water expansion tank in your cold supply line.

9. QUESTION:
   Why is the cold inlet pipe on my hot water heater hot ? New hot water heater still the same hot pipe.?
   I just replaced the hot water heater because of this hot pipe. Was I taken? Is this just normal thermal expansion?
   The heater is gas and both pipes are onthe top.

   • ANSWER:
     Yes, it's normal expansion. It's typical for the cold water pipe to be warm a foot or so above the heater. If this was the only reason you replaced the heater... yep, you were taken.
     And heat does not rise, it moves to a colder object. Warm air rises...

10. QUESTION:
    Can a traditional tank-style Hot Water Heater be vented thru PVC piping?
    I am buying a house with a severly outdated water heater and would like to bypass my chimney if possible.

    • ANSWER:
      Natural draft traditional water heater are vented through the chimney while power vented water heater are vented using PVC piping. I suggest you hire a contractor to advice you what need to be done rightly, be safe, good luck. HvacMechanicalSystems.com

11. QUESTION:
    My gas hot water heater pipe (that leads outside) is draining hot water. What do I do to fix this?

    • ANSWER:
      This pipe connects to the temperature and pressure relief valve that prevents the water heater from exploding if it overheats. See the link below for a really good site about them. If it was working for along time and then just started to leak then you can probably shut off the water, drain the tank to below the TP valve, unscrew it and take ti to the hardware store to get an exact replacement.

      If you changed something else - like installed a pressure regulator without an expansion tank, then you need to make sure you understand your design and get it right.

      You will get answers ranting about how dangerous this all is. It is true that if all of the factors combine to cause a water heater explosion then the devastation is very big. But, a lot of factors have to combine to make that happen. Make sure you get the right valve and install it correctly and this is well within the abilities of most do it yourself types.

12. QUESTION:
    Why is there a leak where the hot water pipe is connected to the water heater tank?
    We installed a new 50 gal gas water heater but we see water where the hot water pipe is connected to the tank?! Why??

    • ANSWER:
      So what?? You have a minor water leak. Go fix it. Either you have to re-sweat the pipe or replace or tighten up a fitting or flex tubing or something. You haven't said much about what is leaking, but if you are dumbfounded by this, then you need to call a plumber. Good night and God Bless!!
      Steve

13. QUESTION:
    will water come out of hot water supply on water heater if i replace valve?
    have a leaking valve on hot pipe coming out of hot water heater. the tank is full. if i shut of the cold water supply to the tank and cut the valve out of the hot pipe supply, will water come out? will i need to drain the tank completely/half to do this job?

    • ANSWER:
      you will have to drain the tank 1/3 of the way, be shure to cut the power off , also

14. QUESTION:
    Cold pipe hot on electrical water heater?
    I've been having problems with my water heater, so I just want to know what could be the cause of this. My Landlords cold pipe on their hot water heater is cold.

    • ANSWER:
      Your temperature is set to high maybe. It is the heat from the water heating the cold side of the water line. put your hand on it and have some one turn on the hot water somewhere and it should get cold really quick. even if you insulate it, it will still warm the water up some. A very helpful tip would be to buy a electric water heater timer and set it to come on for 1 hour or so at a time. they are very easy to install. and you can take it with you when you move. it will save you tons of money. in fact. they can be more efficient then an on demand water heater and the water can get hotter even. I have one and it comes on in the morning for 2 hours. 1 hour at noon for house cleaning and 1 hour in the evening for dinner dishes. if I need it at other times, I just flip the switch and wait 20 mins.

15. QUESTION:
    my hot water heater pipes are squealing. what can i do?
    my copper heating units are squealing like crazy. they have been bled, they have only 1 bleed valve near the end of the run. What is the best way to stop the noise?

    • ANSWER:
      each radiator should have its only bleed valve built in, but have you checked your system pressure is between 1.0 and 1.5 bar ? that may be the case if not try going round and checking the lockshield valves ( not the trv`s ) are fully open, if not try opening slightly more on each radiator and see if it eases the noise.

16. QUESTION:
    Can I replace soldered copper pipes running to my hot water heater with flex pipes?
    I'm looking to replace my hot water heater and the copper pipes are connected in such a way that soldering was needed (versus using flex pipes I'm guessing). In any event, now that I am replacing the tank, can I use flex pipes to connect my water supply to the tank?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes; most residential water heaters, less than 100 gallons, can be connected to the hot and cold pipes with flexible water supply lines. However, this will require some modification to your current copper pipes - you will need to cut both pipes and weld on a couple male threaded fittings to which the flexible supply lines will be screwed-on to.

      If you don't have the tools or don't know how to solder copper pipe, I highly recommend calling a local, licensed plumber. It may look easy, but it can turn into a big headache real fast if you don't know what you're doing, and your neighborhood "handyman" may not be much better at it than you. (Water Damage is the #1 Home Owners' Insurance Claim = better safe than sorry!)

17. QUESTION:
    What should I do if my gas hot water heater has started leaking at the hot water pipe on the top of the tank?

    • ANSWER:
      If the pipe is only attached to the pipe, replace that section of pipe. If the pipe came with the hot water heater, then replace the hot water heater.

18. QUESTION:
    Replacing Water Heater, Hot water pipe still leaking after one hour of being disconnected from water!?
    Hello, We are going to replace our water heater, but before, we wanted to make sure everything is ok with the pipes, so we connected the cold water supply pipe to the hot water pipe (we're water heater is supposed to be connected) to check for pressure and make sure all the pipes faucets are going to be clean, but... one hour after we shut off the water it's still leaking! what can be causing this?
    Also with the old water heater the shower and the sink on the master bath kept leaking all the time,but not the kitchen or the other bathroom...
    We bought the house new 6 1/2 years ago.
    thank you!

    • ANSWER:
      First some plumbing basics:

      a) When you turn off the domestic water at the meter or where the line comes into the house, the pipes inside the house are still full of water. So that if you wish to drain down the system so you can do work without water dripping (sometimes for hours), you have to open all the taps inside the house to admit air into the system, then find the lowest tap or hose bib and open that (hot and cold side). All the rest of the water in the pipes will then drain out.

      b) Plumbing leaks inside the house are not necessarily related to the water heater - in fact, if the water heater is properly equipped with a functioning TPR (temperature-pressure relief) valve then the one will have nothing to do with the other. Only if there is a backflow device in the house and no relief valve might over-pressure cause leaks.

      NOTE: when you turn the water back on after working on the plumbing, do it very slowly. Open the taps one-at-a-time, also slowly to re-fill. Remove the aerator screens from the faucet sets as any grit, solder or other material in the pipes dislodged by the work will accumulate in the screens and cause clogging. Run the taps on 'full' for a few moments each to clear out the junk.

      No comfort on the newness of your house. Many (but by no means all) 'new' houses are put together with bubblegum, spit and tissue paper using parts and pieces sourced from the lowest bidder. Funny thing that the 'warranty' on the single largest purchase you will likely ever make is only for one (1) year. Yes, certain elements within it may be longer. But overall, that is it.

      Hope this helps.

19. QUESTION:
    Mold in a pipe or hot water heater?
    We live in an apartment and all of a sudden, we smell mold when we turn on the hot water in the bathroom. The hot water from the sink and shower both smell moldy. The bathroom is kept clean and free of mold and mildew. We have tried bleaching the tub, sink, and drains, but the mold seems to be in the hot water coming out of the pipes.

    This is a new one for me. Can mold live in a pipe or hot water heater. If so, how do we combat it?

    Thanks for your help!

    • ANSWER:
      Are your neighbors having the same problem? Your best bet is to talk to your manager, but I would check with the neighbors first to see if you are the only one.

20. 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

21. QUESTION:
    my hot water heater pipe popped and flood my house now what do?

    • ANSWER:
      How long ago did it happen and how severe is the damage (is there water a few inches off the ground, is it a foot off the ground, and how large of an area, also was it carpet or tile)?? sorry to ask for so many details but this is all very important. Before you call your insurance company you should have a water removal company come out and give you a free estimate, they should all give free estimates. The problem with trying to clean it up yourself is that if it has already soken into the carpet pads, floor boards, or walls its going to be basically impossible to remove that water yourself without hiring a company and if its not taken care of soon it will start to mold. Mold begins to grow in as little as 24-48 hours and it is much much more expensive to remove it than the water and typically insurance doesn't cover it either. If you have any additional questions check out the listed website or feel free to ask, I'd love to help.

      Aaron Chapin
      Disaster Masters
      http://www.disastermastersaz.com

22. QUESTION:
    HOt water baseboard heater pipes not hot?
    I have hot water baseboard heat. I bled the baseboards. But the pipe leading to the baseboard is cold. It's hot near the boiler but icy cold closer to the baseboard.

    • ANSWER:
      The hot water circulating pump could be malfunctioning. Depending on the system if other baseboards are heating in other areas of the house the problem could be a zone valve. If the system has 1 hot water supply / 1 hot water return at boiler its the circulating pump malfunctioning.

23. QUESTION:
    Plumbing Question: Is it the hot water heater or the pipes???
    I have a two-story home and in the winter there’s very little hot water upstairs. In the summer this is not a problem. We adjusted the temperature on the hot water heater but it did not help the problem. I’m thinking maybe the pipes need to be reinsulated ...

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, you need to insulate your pipes. You are losing a lot of money and wasting a lot of energy right now.

24. QUESTION:
    Why is gas hot water heater vent melting plastic?
    My hot water heater vent is melting the plasting rings around the cold water in and hot water out pipes on top of the hot water heater.

    • ANSWER:
      Do you know that the heater melted the rings?
      They could have melted when someone was soldering copper pipe.
      Otherwise, it could be the flue.
      You can test the draft of the flue with smoke.
      If smoke is drawn into the draft hood when the heater is on, then the flue is most likely OK. Do you have signs of roll out at the burner door? (Soot, burn marks)

25. QUESTION:
    can i hook my hot water heater up to the radiator pipes in my house for heat?
    Electricity is much cheaper then heating oil in my area. Is it possible to hook up the radiator pipes to my hot water heater and turn the pump/blowers on to push the hot water heater water through them?
    Obviously the hot water heater is electric.

    • ANSWER:
      Water heater is NOT designed to do that kind of work. It would overload it and burn your elements out very quickly, and...it would not provide enough hot water to run a hot water heat system...you need a much stronger water boiler for that job. It would cost you way too much in the long run.

      Papaw

26. QUESTION:
    Pipes are stuck going into the hot water heater?
    I am trying to remove a water heater for a tile installation. My water in and water out pipes are at the top of the water heater and I can see threads where they were screwed into the top of the heater. However, with a pipe wrench I have not been able to budge either connection. Are they able to be screwed out or is there a special trick to get them out?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, a bigger pipe wrench.

27. QUESTION:
    piping in bathrm redone 2 wks ago. a wk ago water heater making popping sounds now we have no hot water?
    2 wks ago one of bathrooms was repiped w copper pipes. last wk water heater started making popping sounds now we have no hot water. There's no water at all when hot water faucet is turned on anywhere in the house.

    • ANSWER:
      Makes me wonder if the people whom did the repiping turned the water valve back on that feeds into the hot water heater. Check the line coming into the Hot Water Heater and make sure that it's fully turned on. AFter it's turned on and filled, check if the pilot light is on. If you do not have an electric ignition for your pilot light and have never lighted a pilot light before; I'd contact those whom did your piping and have them take care of it - that is, if they did indeed failed to turn the water vale back on that feeds the hot water heater. If the value is turned off, no water will be heated, you'll have no pressure in your hot water line. Good luck.

28. QUESTION:
    how are you supposed to run water pipes from the hot water heater to the sink and the shower?

    • ANSWER:
      You must be adding a bathroom, or remodeling one. Cold water is already there? If so you could add a second hot water heater, but that would require adequate electrical or gas connections. It is not an easy task unless you have the wall already open during a remodel. You could tap on to an existing hot water pipe nearby and route it overhead or through the wall. You could tap on to the hot water heater outlet and route it overhead or through walls. Like I said, it is not easy.

29. QUESTION:
    is it within code to use black steel pipe on a hot water heater water feed line?
    I just saw that there is black steel pipe on my hot water heater water feeds, both cold and hot. I am a sprinkler fitter and know that black steel pipe gets very nasty on the inside and I am woundering if it is sanitary to use on a domestic water line since I have a child less than two years old.

    • ANSWER:
      I agree with the above.
      Steel pipe was and has been used for water lines for many years before the development of copper.. It is not recommended due to rust and the ability to scale. The primary purpose for steel pipe is gas, hydronic heating, steam, and as you well know sprinkler systems.
      I also do not recommend galvanized pipe, though also used for water pipe for many years. Because the minerals in the water react with the galvanizing material and form scale, which builds up over time and will eventually clog the pipe (especially lime).
      I am not a fan of PVC, or CPVC due to the possibility of chemical leakage into water. More is coming out about this now through many studies. PVC is inexpensive.
      Even when piping a water heater to PVC I will use copper stand offs on both the hot and cold water lines. I would recommend at least 12". this is done due to the breakdown off plastic close to a heat source. In past years there have been a lot off problems with PVC and CPVC dip tubes on the cold water inlet of water heaters.
      Personally knowing your piping skills I would recommend replacing with copper, and do not use lead base solder.
      In the meantime I would also suggest a spigot mounted carbon water filter.

30. QUESTION:
    I had a new hot water heater installed and now input water pipe to upstairs bath is blocked. What can I do?
    We have galvanized pipes and the installer says that it because of the change in water pressure, it caused debris to flake off and plug the line. They are not responsible. It's only affecting the toilet. The sink and shower work fine. I'm looking for a way to fix it myself. Any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      First just try turning the shutoff valve to the stool *(should be right under the tank on the left) turn it off and on several times as you tap on it with a small hammer, (tap gently this might loosen up the debris and let it flow through the valve.)
      If that does not work then you need to shut off valve and flush stool to get rid of water in the tank, Get the remaining water out by soaking it up in some old bath towels.
      Now you have the water to the stool shut off, the tank is empty. If you have a flexible supply tube coming out of the shut off valve just run it into a small bucket of pail, turn on the water a little and open valve - tap on the valve to dislodge any debris - open valve then shut it - open then shut it. This may be enough to unblock the valve.If it works- simply hook everything back up.
      If not shut off the main water valve to the bathroom let pressure off at a faucet, then open the valve to the stool and unhook the supply line to the tank. Blow in the end of the supply line to try and dislodge the debris that is stuck in the valve. You need to leave the sink faucet open as you do this.
      One of the two procedures should work. I would also unscrew all the faucet aerators (little pc. threaded on the end of your faucet spouts) Take out the plastic pc.and let water flow freely for a minute or so.
      You may want to take off your shower head and do the same thing. This will let the debris that might still be floating around in the pipes - out.
      As a precaution- if you have an electric water heater- shut the breaker off to it before you shut off the water, then turn back on when you are done.

31. QUESTION:
    I changed a hot water heater while back now when I turn off cold water the pipes make a banging sound???
    now when I turn off cold off the the cold water pipes banging sound only the cold not the hot. Also in the shower it sound like air maybe in the lines. How can this be fixed.

    • ANSWER:
      Have a plumber come out and bleed the air out of the pipes, make sure the cold water pipe is secured where appropriate, and install a bladder style hammer arrestor.

32. QUESTION:
    I have a hot water heater in my laundry room. when i turn on the dryer it pulls air through the hot water heat?
    my dryer is pulling air down through the hot water heater exhaust pipe and into my house. How do I fix this problem?

    • ANSWER:
      The dryer is sending air outside, so the air must be replaced.
      It just happens that the water heater vent is path of least resistance.

      The solution is to add a vent directly from the outside, into your laundry room.

      Another option is to use a water heater than has 2 pipes, one for intake, and one for exhaust. These heaters can be very expensive.

      If you don't live in a cold climate, I suggest adding vents.

33. QUESTION:
    Gas Hot Water Heater?
    I have a gas hot water heater that is on the inside of a duplex unit & it is 18 years old. Do you have to bring it up to code or can you get a handy man to install it like it is? I had a plumber come out & to bring it up to code, the pipe would have to run through the small bedroom wall closet to bring it outside the unit. They said they could run it at the bottom along the back wall. I just can not see doing this in a rental unit where there will be kids in the future from other renters. To me this is dangerous to run a hot water pipe along the back wall of a closet on the floor next to the carpet. Plus the fact that it will get knocked around by items & small kids being in a closet at the floor level.

    • ANSWER:
      As I recall, the code compliance issue here is the over-temp relief valve. The outlet needs to be plumbed outside and near ground level.

      If the thermostat get's stuck, the heater will boil over and hot water will spew from the valve outlet. If it's not plumbed somewhere safe, it will burn anyone near the heater and possibly result in water damage.

      99% of the time, there is no issue with the vent plumbing. The plumbing is routed near the ground and is usually empty.

      You usually don't need to bring it up to Code however, this is a safety issue and should be done. Pay the money.

      Good Luck.

34. QUESTION:
    Hot water pipes banging when heater goes on?
    This year when my heater goes on the pipes for the hot water baseboard bang. What could cause this? It hasn't done this in previous winters...

    • ANSWER:
      Bleed your baseboard heaters. There is air in the Lines. Open the Bleeders in each room until water flows out to get the air out of the lines.

35. QUESTION:
    How do you drain off a hot water return pipe on a large hot water heater system?

    • ANSWER:
      Break the vacuum up high and open it up down low, and all the water will fall out.

36. QUESTION:
    I am getting leakage from the pressure relief valve discharge pipe on my Hot Water heater, what should I do?
    It seems to only really happen when I am using hot water, about 8 oz leaks out each time. Any suggestions on what I can do to stop it? My Hot water heater was installed new last year.

    • ANSWER:
      One other possibility:

      Do you have a thermal expansion tank? Most places now require a non-return valve at the meter. That means there is no place for the water to expand to. It used to just back up through the meter and there was no problem but now when you heat cold water in the heater, it expands and raises the pressure on your system. The relief valve opens and relieves the pressure.

      If you do have a thermal expansion tank, the bladder could be bad and lost its charge.

      There was a segment on Ask-This-Old-House about this recently

37. QUESTION:
    Our hot water heater is leaking from the top?
    Our hot water heater is leaking from the top. Both the cold inlet and hot output pipes are pushing up water at the point where they connect to the tank. Is this something that can be fixed by replacing the fittings or is this an indication that the tank needs to be replaced. It is 10 years old and we get Lake Michigan water from Chicago

    • ANSWER:
      You should have a valve on the cold water supply that will shut the water off to the water heater. Turn the water off and open the hot and cold at any faucet. If the cold water does not stop then the shut off valve is bad and needs to be replaced. You can shut the water off at the meter or at a valve near the house to do this. Opening a faucet will relieve the pressure on the tank. You should have a flexible line to the hot and cold sides of the nipples at the water heater. Disconnect those flexible lines and use a pipe wrench to remove the nipples that are threaded into the tank. Purchase new nipples and some pipe thread sealing compound. Coat the threads with the compound and screw them into the tank. Make sure they are tight. Reconnect the flex lines and SLOWLY turn on the water. Open faucets to bleed off the air. This should do it.

38. QUESTION:
    HELP frozen hot water heater!!!!?????Pipes!!?
    we live in a trailer and as you know pipes freeze easily, but its 38 degrees, and theres no water, anywere, the hotwater heater is totaly empty, BUT we can get water out of the main sorce spiget and the pipes all feel warm and the water comes on periodicly.

    one thing too is the presure release valve has been dripping since over 6 months ago, does any one know if its the pressure release valve or the pipes freezing,(it dose get pretty cold at night for the last 3 weeks)

    • ANSWER:
      You have a branch line past the spigot that is frozen in some place.
      First you need to shut off the circuit breaker to your water heater. You may have already burnt up the heating elements in the water heater if it has no water in it. Anyway shut off the breaker to the hot water heater.
      Check for gaps in the skirting around your water heater, plug up all the gaps as tight as possible. Now purchase a heat tape and wrap it around the exposed pipe under the trailer. Cover the heat tape with some insulation wrapped loosely over the heat tape - then plug the heat tape in - make sure light comes on indicating the heat tape is working. This may take several hours for the heat tape to unfreeze the obstruction. Also open the panel to your water heater and put a heat tape on it also on the incoming cold water line.
      I know it's cold work but it needs to be done and done right to allow you to have water in this cold weather.
      When you finally get a flow of water from your hot water faucets - then you can flip that circuit breaker back on for the water heater.

39. QUESTION:
    If you have a vacant unit can you turn off the hot water heater?
    I have a unit that hasn't been renting in a long time, but I'm still getting 30 dollar gas bills and trying to figure out what would cause this. The only thing that are gas, is hot water heater, stove, heating, and dryer. Nothing is on, but there is still hot water. Will any pipes get ruined or will there be a problem with gas leaking (new condo unit) if I turn off the hot water heater?

    • ANSWER:
      You can turn off the water heater with no damage to anything.
      If there are pilot lights, you still might burn a bit of gas.
      You can turn off all the gas, but a restart is a bit time consuming,
      and can be tricky if you are not familiar with the process.

40. QUESTION:
    im trouble shooting a hot water heater, there is very little to no pressure in my bathroom sink and tub?
    after a hard freeze i had to replace a piece of pipe from my hot water heater that ran to my kitchen sink. after the replacement the problem started.

    • ANSWER:
      Do you mean only hot water pressure is low, or both hot and cold? Assuming those are the only 2 things affected, follow the pipes and you will probably find they are fed by the same pipe. I presume you have checked any valves that they are all the way open, etc. Possibly, when fixing the pipe, whoever did it got so much solder into one of the joints that the inside of the pipe is partly blocked (I have actually found this problem sometimes). Sometimes when assembling a "tee" one of the run pipes will get shoved into the fitting so far it blocks the opening for the branch. Sometimes the washer comes loose from a shut-off valve and goes "down stream" with the water until it becomes impacted somewhere in the line. Also, maybe when the pipe froze it dislodged a lot of rust and/or minerals and they are clogging the downstream valves or fawcet aireators.

41. QUESTION:
    hot water heater is extremely hot?
    My hot water in sink has become scalding hot suddenly and pipes to water heater are too hot to touch. What is wrong?

    • ANSWER:
      Bad thermostat or a grounded element.

      edit. thumbs down? lol. Some people must not know a grounded element will heat uncontrolled at 110 volts and over heat the tank.

42. QUESTION:
    Travel trailer pipes/hot water heater frozen?
    Are my pipes frozen? I get full pressure out of all taps when I have left them off and let pressure build up. Once i turn it on it goes down to a trickle. I have checked the outside line and it is fine- heat taped and raring to go. I have the furnace on and a space heater pointed at the back of the hot water tank just in case. We live in it full time and are in Wyoming, so we need water! If you have any suggestions or comments, please please please help!!!
    ok, we are directly hooked up to a city line. The owners manual says that the pump should only run if you are pumping out of the fresh water tank. I have checked the line again on the outside and it is not frozen. I still do not get any pressure after the initial pressure release. Any other ideas not including pump?

    • ANSWER:
      Oh man, don't use a torch on any pipes. A hair dryer, maybe, but not an open flame that reaches temps that will light things on fire.
      Sounds to me like you have something in your line from the fresh water tank to the main line. It will sort of subside when not under pressure, allowing water to get by it. When you turn on your pressure, water that has gotten by runs full tilt until whatever is blocking the line works it way to the valve or branch off from the main to your other lines.
      If you are connected to permanent water feed, it could be that the tank itself has something floating in it that gets forced to the outlet and then blocks it.
      I doubt you are talking freezing of anything here.
      Finally, if you have a pump, it could be working fine with the initial charge of power, but when something inside it warms up, it closes down. Remember that all the water in most campers goes through the pump, so I would see if there is a disconnect on the outlet side, turn the pump on, and divert whatever comes out into a bucket or hose to a sink or shower drain. If it keeps flowing, the problem is in your line after the pump. If it shuts down the flow, it is either the pump or the tank.

43. QUESTION:
    Hot Water Heater Leaking from Pipe?
    I have an electric hot water heater that has a pipe that comes out the side of the heater almost at the top and runs almost to the floor. Water is leaking out of that pipe. It has a valve on it and when you pull on the valve, water will come out. How can I fix the leak?

    • ANSWER:
      Is it an old heater?
      Might be worth it to just get a new one.
      They'll last around 15 yrs depending on your water quality.
      Look at the serial # on the front label.
      The first two numbers are the year it was made.(04=2004)
      The next two are the week of the year.(13=the 13th week)
      So #041365748374 would mean it was built in the 13th week of 2004.

      If it's fairly new, then yes I would replace the pressure relief valve.
      Or TPI valve.
      You can buy them at any hardware store.
      Make sure you get the same size/style.
      Shut the water off, turn off the power, and you might want to drain the water down past the level of the pressure valve, otherwise more water will spill out. But not that much.
      You don't have to drain the whole thing.
      Do this by attaching a hose to the drain valve and removing one of the flex hoses at the top of the heater.
      Remove the old pressure valve.
      Install the new one with teflon tape.
      Reconnect the flex, remove the hose, turn on the water with the hot side open on a faucet to let the air out.
      Once the water starts running freely, shut it off and check for leaks.
      No leaks?
      Then turn on the breaker and you're good to go.
      But if its old,you really don't want to put your money into something that may or may not last much longer.
      The reason the line goes down to the floor is that,
      if the valve ever opened due to overheating,
      it won't shoot scalding water in your face.

44. QUESTION:
    I had a cold water pipe burst due to freezing, and it has been fixed. But now I have no hot water.?
    I live in a mobile home, have an electric hot water heater which I pushed the reset button. I also reset the breaker. The hot water pipe out of the heater is warm. I am stuck!...It has also been over a week since the cold pipe was fixed, and I have tried thawing the hot pipe

    • ANSWER:
      The pipes going from the water heater to the faucets is frozen, too

45. QUESTION:
    Can I increase pipe size from my hot water heater without problems?
    My hot water heater outlet is 3/4 inch, I want it to be 1 inch. Can I increase the size without creating problems. Thanks
    The reason I want to do this is I have several 1 inch material already so I would not have to buy anything to replace all of my plumbing
    The reason I want to do this is I have several 1 inch material already so I would not have to buy anything to replace all of my plumbing

    • ANSWER:
      Looked at all the other answers, had to put my two cents worth in. There will be absolutely no change in relative pressures but the major problem will be that the shower will take a longer time to get hot and you will use more water. The increased volume of water you have to push through the lines is the problem here. Doesn't sound like much, a quarter of an inch, but it will add up since you will use about a third more water just to warm the shower.

46. QUESTION:
    Is there any earthly reason why a hot water pipe would connect into a cold water pipe?
    I've done serveral, extensive traces in the basement of my home. Preparing to galvanized pipes with copper a section at a time. I've found some hot water pipes that appear to be feeding back into the main cold water line that runs thorough the house. Can someone please tell me I'm seeing things and that all hot water runs should originate from the hot water heater.

    • ANSWER:
      They should, unless what you're seeing are return lines, still they should go to the heater. Are you sure that they are hot water lines, and you're not confusing them somewhere along the way, when they go inside walls and such, it's darn difficult to tell. All bathrooms and kitchens should have two lines, then everything take off from there, cold to all, hot to the sinks and tubs. Just do it right, forget what's been done before. Many systems return the unused yet still warm water to the hot water heater, to save money. While you're doing all that, (BTW getting rid of the galvanized for copper is a GREAT idea.) you should consider installing an on-demand water heater or two...maybe more if it's a huge house. They also make ones for under the sink that are on demand, but heat only the water from a separate tap to near boiling, for making instant hot drinks and such. You'll save enough energy by using on-demand heaters to off set their cost in a very short time. They are available to run on a variety of fuels, or electric. If you'll oversize the lines by a quarter of an inch, then adapt them down just at they go into the fixtures, you'll get better flow. Don't forget to put in one of those devices for the showers that keeps the temperature constant, even if someone turns on the water somewhere else in the house. In new homes, they're required by most all building codes.

47. QUESTION:
    Water Heater Problem? No hot water at the end of the day?
    Water heater (50 gallons) is about 5 years old. Hot water does not seem to be lasting or regenerating. We have piping hot water in the am (we movd the dial up at first) but by the end of the day there is not enough to fill a bathtub.

    What could the trouble be? How much is the approximate repair (would it be cheaper, more cost effective to replace the unit?)

    • ANSWER:
      Smutty has a possible reason but he neglected to tell you to be sure to turn off the electricity before draining the tank. If the heating elements come on without water covering them they will burn out in seconds.
      I suspect one of the elements are bad. A water heater that new and size should be a quick recovery and have two elements. One each at top and bottom. If one goes bad the unit will still heat but slowly and take more electricity. If you don't have the knowledge or tools to check and replace the elements yourself I highly recommend getting a plumber to do it for you.It should be cheaper than a new tank.
      If you have had a power failure and run the hot water level down, when the power came back on could be the cause or it could have just gone bad. I always kick the breaker to me water heater at the onset of a power failure to insure the safety of the elements. Is such a habit to turn on the water.
      BEST of LUCK 2U

48. QUESTION:
    HELP,How can I stop the water from leaking from my Hot Water Heater?
    I woke up this morning to a flooded basement. It snowed last night if that is any help. But the water is coming out of the drainage pipe from the water heater but the trap for it isnt open. There is also condensation on the pipes from my basement window leading to the heater. It is hot water that is leaking out.

    • ANSWER:
      Your pressure relief valve is either leaking, or the temperature has gotten too hot inside the water heater, and it's releasing pressure (like it's supposed to) to keep your water heater from blowing up - a serious risk this pressure relief valve is there to protect you from.

      Sometimes these valves just get old, and opening and closing it once manually might restore it to working. Sometimes they have to be replaced, too. Or, one of your water heater thermostats could be stuck in the "on" position, and needs replaced. That's pretty much your possibilities here.

49. QUESTION:
    Why is there air in my hot water pipes?
    Our maintenance man just came to install a new hot water heater (unfortunately he's already off for the day), but when I turn on the hot water nothing but air comes out of the pipes? Is this a problem or do I need to wait until the tank fills up or what? Cold water works just fine.

    • ANSWER:
      just go throughout the apartment and open up all your hot taps until the air stops. One at a time is fine. Air in the lines after a new install is normal.

50. QUESTION:
    If we installed a new electric hot water heater would this work safely with the existing boiler? Would it also?
    We currently get our hot water off the boiler. We never have enough hot water to take a 5 minute shower or bath. We have been turning on the boiler just to get the water needed.

    The house was originally set up with an electric hot water tank and the pipes and wiring are still in place.

    If we installed a new electric hot water heater would this work safely with the existing boiler? Would it also give us the hot water we need?

    Thanks in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      we do the same thin shut off the hot water to save money an it does cut the bill way down. turn up the tepature of the hot water heater so it gets hotter and stays hot longer. we usually turn it on for 15 to an hor when the watr is no longer hot but it wont work if the water temp is low