Old Hot Water Heaters

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.