Can One Roof Vent Serve a Water Heater? A roof replacement is a good time to rethink old plumbing and venting. One homeowner had a 13-year-old, 40-gallon gas water heater. The heater sat inside a small hallway closet. The closet measured about 27 inches by 23 inches. It also had a tight door with little… Continue reading Can One Roof Vent Serve a Water Heater?
Category: Water Heaters & Softeners
Water Heater Valve Seeping? Check This First
Water Heater Valve Seeping? Check This First A seeping pressure relief valve on a water heater should never be ignored. That small drip may look harmless at first. But it can point to pressure trouble inside your plumbing system. It can also mean the relief valve is worn out. The valve is often called a… Continue reading Water Heater Valve Seeping? Check This First
Will A Low-Flow Shower Head Save Hot Water?
Will A Low-Flow Shower Head Save Hot Water? Long showers can drain a water heater fast. This is very common in homes with teenagers. A 40-gallon tank may sound large. Yet it can run out during one long shower. This is even more true with an older shower. Many older showers have two handles. One… Continue reading Will A Low-Flow Shower Head Save Hot Water?
Water Heater Flex Line Leak? Fix It Fast
A leaking water heater flex line can stop a simple job fast. This is even more frustrating when the old lines worked for years. In this case, the leak is at the water heater nipple heat trap. Both the hot and cold flex lines are leaking there. The other ends seal fine on the 3/4-inch… Continue reading Water Heater Flex Line Leak? Fix It Fast
Dripping Water Heater Union? Read This First
A small drip near a water heater can feel harmless. But old galvanized pipe can change that fast. This home has a water heater installed in 2019. Now the hot side dielectric union is dripping. The leak is about one-quarter to one-half pint daily. The house is 98 years old. It still has 3/4-inch galvanized… Continue reading Dripping Water Heater Union? Read This First
Phoenix Condo Softener: Replace It or Skip It?
Hard water is a real problem in many Arizona homes. It can leave scale on faucets, shower doors, pipes, and water heaters. That makes this question fair for any Phoenix condo owner. Should you replace a broken water softener if you plan to sell soon? The answer depends on cost, risk, and how long you… Continue reading Phoenix Condo Softener: Replace It or Skip It?
Why Is My Water Softener Timer Leaking?
Question There is water all over the floor around my water softener. I do not know if it is the only source. But I see water leaking from my timer. What would cause that? Answer A water softener timer should not leak water. If water is coming from that area, the leak is usually inside… Continue reading Why Is My Water Softener Timer Leaking?
Tankless Heater Temp Swings? Check This First
A tankless water heater should give steady hot water. When the temperature jumps, something is not right. This homeowner has an A. O. Smith tankless unit bought in 2020. The heater is set to 120 degrees. Yet the display sometimes shows 100 degrees. At other times, the outlet water jumps to 138 degrees. That is… Continue reading Tankless Heater Temp Swings? Check This First
Best Water Heater for Solar and Big Baths
Adding solar panels is a great time to rethink hot water. This is even more true in homes with mixed heat systems. Your setup is not simple, but it can work very well. You already have a 50-gallon indirect water heater. It is heated by a propane boiler during part of the year. In winter,… Continue reading Best Water Heater for Solar and Big Baths
Hot Water Smells Like Oil After New Heater?
You paid for a brand-new Bradford White water heater. It was recommended by your plumber. Two workers installed it. The unit also needed a fuel conversion. It went from propane to natural gas. Right after the install, the hot water smelled like oil. The smell is now faint. But it is still there. That can… Continue reading Hot Water Smells Like Oil After New Heater?