Jim Koepke
03-04-2011, 7:41 PM
As long as my memory goes back, Candy (my wife) has complained about there not being enough hot water for her to take a shower. She likes them hot and long. So recently when she complained again about there not being enough hot water to fill the tub for her to take a bath, it seemed like more of the same. Then when I took a shower, it was clear to me something was wrong. My shower usually doesn't last long. Wash hair, shave and body wash and then a good rinse. This time it was barely enough time to shave.
So, a lot of consideration was given to looking for a water heater and what all goes into the proper replacement.
It is amazing how some national retailers have such terrible web sites for finding what a person wants. They are likely sitting in their stores wondering why they do not have as many customers in the store as they have people working there.
One web site had two major brands on their main page for water heaters. When either one of them was selected the web site told me those are not available at the stores nearest to me.
When we visited the stores, those brands were in the store and prominently displayed.
The sales associate helping us was notified of this. He explained there wasn't anyway for him to take such customer feedback up the chain of command. He also wasn't sure if he was going to still have a job at the end of the day.
Hey retailers, listen to the people you hire when they tell you what customers are saying. A lot of people would rather go to a competitor and be done than to go take an online survey and wait for you to get it together.
The best help we received was from a person at one of the small local hardware stores. He gave me the feeling that he had been there a long time and was pretty confident that he was going to be there in the future. He also seemed to have knowledge about the problem. When I described the pluming in our house, he even knew the type and the problems associated with it. The only problem is they didn't have the correct heating element in stock.
After looking around and figuring how much hassle replacing a water heater can be, my decision was to try to determine what was wrong and just replace the bad part. The breakers were turned off for the water heater circuit. The connections at the water heater were all checked for any sign of voltage. Then the different components were checked. My meter indicated the lower heating element was open. So a new heating element and the wrench (a 1-1/2" socket that needs to fit a thin nut) to remove and replace the element was purchased.
Before going to town to purchase parts a lot of different web sites were visited to make sure I didn't need any special thread sealer or other items. We did buy a goose neck hose bib adapter because of the drain on the water heater being so close to the floor that it would have been difficult to attach a hose.
The power was turned off a day before and it was interesting that almost 24 hours later the water was still tepid coming out of the hot water tap. There may not be any problem with shooting hot water through a garden hose out in the yard, but what the heck, why take any chances. The hose was run along the floor, out the door and to a point a few feet lower than the drain. The drain was opened. We ran this for a few minutes and then turned on the hot water in the kitchen. Then the water heater shut off valve was closed. We let the water drain until there wasn't anymore coming out the hose in the backyard.
The wires were removed from the lower element and moved to the side and out of the way.
There was a little corrosion around the fitting for the lower element. A small wire brush was used while running the vacuum cleaner and holding the crevice tool near the lower element. After removing the element the wire brush was used on the inside threads again with the vacuum wand held close by to clean any crud out of them.
The element was removed. It was a little tight, but that is what leverage is meant to do. The new element was installed and the wires were connected. This was all checked with a good light at hand just to make sure.
After all this was done, the shut off valve was turned on and water began to enter the tank. The drain was left running for a few minutes. After closing the drain, the garden hose was removed and everything was checked for leaks. One of my tricks for this is to have a wad of toilet paper or paper towels below anything that might leak. Same for working on a sink, but then it is easiest to have a sheet of two from the newspaper laying under everything to find the drips.
With the kitchen hot water open and no leaks, it was time to clean up. Wanting to know how long it takes for the tank to fill up had me checking and making a note of the time.
After all the clean up and another cup of coffee, water still wasn't coming out of the kitchen sink. It seemed there was some air coming out, but finally one of the other sinks was tried. Water came out, then a little air as expected. Then water started to come out again. So I turned on the cold water at the kitchen tap and nothing. To make an already long story a little shorter, the bubbler on the kitchen sink became full of crud during the process and water wouldn't flow. So after that was cleaned water flowed. Once good flow with no air pockets was ensured at all faucets, the circuit break to the water heater was set back to the on position.
Now about an hour later we have hot water again. Maybe I will try taking a long shower tonight. My face has a few days growth and I could use a shave.
About $25 in parts and tools sure beats about $300 for just a new water heater. We will likely have to get one in a few years, but that is not today.
jtk
So, a lot of consideration was given to looking for a water heater and what all goes into the proper replacement.
It is amazing how some national retailers have such terrible web sites for finding what a person wants. They are likely sitting in their stores wondering why they do not have as many customers in the store as they have people working there.
One web site had two major brands on their main page for water heaters. When either one of them was selected the web site told me those are not available at the stores nearest to me.
When we visited the stores, those brands were in the store and prominently displayed.
The sales associate helping us was notified of this. He explained there wasn't anyway for him to take such customer feedback up the chain of command. He also wasn't sure if he was going to still have a job at the end of the day.
Hey retailers, listen to the people you hire when they tell you what customers are saying. A lot of people would rather go to a competitor and be done than to go take an online survey and wait for you to get it together.
The best help we received was from a person at one of the small local hardware stores. He gave me the feeling that he had been there a long time and was pretty confident that he was going to be there in the future. He also seemed to have knowledge about the problem. When I described the pluming in our house, he even knew the type and the problems associated with it. The only problem is they didn't have the correct heating element in stock.
After looking around and figuring how much hassle replacing a water heater can be, my decision was to try to determine what was wrong and just replace the bad part. The breakers were turned off for the water heater circuit. The connections at the water heater were all checked for any sign of voltage. Then the different components were checked. My meter indicated the lower heating element was open. So a new heating element and the wrench (a 1-1/2" socket that needs to fit a thin nut) to remove and replace the element was purchased.
Before going to town to purchase parts a lot of different web sites were visited to make sure I didn't need any special thread sealer or other items. We did buy a goose neck hose bib adapter because of the drain on the water heater being so close to the floor that it would have been difficult to attach a hose.
The power was turned off a day before and it was interesting that almost 24 hours later the water was still tepid coming out of the hot water tap. There may not be any problem with shooting hot water through a garden hose out in the yard, but what the heck, why take any chances. The hose was run along the floor, out the door and to a point a few feet lower than the drain. The drain was opened. We ran this for a few minutes and then turned on the hot water in the kitchen. Then the water heater shut off valve was closed. We let the water drain until there wasn't anymore coming out the hose in the backyard.
The wires were removed from the lower element and moved to the side and out of the way.
There was a little corrosion around the fitting for the lower element. A small wire brush was used while running the vacuum cleaner and holding the crevice tool near the lower element. After removing the element the wire brush was used on the inside threads again with the vacuum wand held close by to clean any crud out of them.
The element was removed. It was a little tight, but that is what leverage is meant to do. The new element was installed and the wires were connected. This was all checked with a good light at hand just to make sure.
After all this was done, the shut off valve was turned on and water began to enter the tank. The drain was left running for a few minutes. After closing the drain, the garden hose was removed and everything was checked for leaks. One of my tricks for this is to have a wad of toilet paper or paper towels below anything that might leak. Same for working on a sink, but then it is easiest to have a sheet of two from the newspaper laying under everything to find the drips.
With the kitchen hot water open and no leaks, it was time to clean up. Wanting to know how long it takes for the tank to fill up had me checking and making a note of the time.
After all the clean up and another cup of coffee, water still wasn't coming out of the kitchen sink. It seemed there was some air coming out, but finally one of the other sinks was tried. Water came out, then a little air as expected. Then water started to come out again. So I turned on the cold water at the kitchen tap and nothing. To make an already long story a little shorter, the bubbler on the kitchen sink became full of crud during the process and water wouldn't flow. So after that was cleaned water flowed. Once good flow with no air pockets was ensured at all faucets, the circuit break to the water heater was set back to the on position.
Now about an hour later we have hot water again. Maybe I will try taking a long shower tonight. My face has a few days growth and I could use a shave.
About $25 in parts and tools sure beats about $300 for just a new water heater. We will likely have to get one in a few years, but that is not today.
jtk