Water Heater Tips

Tim Carter, of http://www.askthebuilder.com, demonstrates some helpful installation tips for gas and electric water heaters.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• water
• heaters
• hot
• heater
• gas
• electric
• vent
• pipe
• pressure
• relief
• ball
• valve
• tim
• carter
• ask
• builder

[zavalza99]

hi i want to know ,my pilot light ,dont stay on a high tempeture,but stay on a low tempeture ,if u cant help me ,please

[AsktheBuilder]

@zavalza99 Change the thermocouple.

[malachy1847]

Would you suggest a few carbon monxide alarms / detectors fitted in the basement and around the home... maybe if folk could stretch it.. dump the old gas water heater... and go for a 'electric' Hybrid Water Heater.. Just a idea as there could be stack up on pay back plus the Tax rebate... if your old gas heater is on the way out.....

[AsktheBuilder]

@malachy1847 I've got quite a few columns at my website about this. Go read the ones about Tankless Water Heaters to get an in-depth analysis of payback times.

[wgattuso]

YOU SAID!!!!!

@wgattuso I hate to tell you this, but the method you've been employing is very dangerous. In many states, it's illegal. If someone turns off both valves by mistake, the T&P valve fails, and the thermostat fails, the heater becomes a bomb. Water heaters explode with violent force every year here in the USA. By not having a valve on the HOT water side, the faucets become the secondary pressure relief point.

WHAT STATES is it ILLEGAL!!!!! Your a handy man not a plumber!

[AsktheBuilder]

@wgattuso Uh, it's pretty obvious you've not done your homework. I'm a master plumber. Go read my bio. Secondly, it's not my job to tell you what states it may or may not be legal in. If you're interested in that data, go look it up. If you understood basic Physics, you'd know that you'd NEVER want to put a valve on the cold and hot lines of a water heater. Okay, we're all ready now for your ranting. It's sure to come on your next comment. The one that will get deleted per my Comment Policy.

[malachy1847]

@malachy1847 Thanks for the 'Heads Up' regarding your website it's really informative and a credit to youu, as it takes the homeowners through so things but step by step educatingall of us, as you go.........[Maybe this is the wrong Forum but I was just wondering about the new next best thing being pushed by some Plumbing Contractors...those 'Electric Hybrid water heatertanks'.. the type that has a 'reverse cycle refrigerent compressor' mounted on top feeding a large hot water storage tank..]

[AsktheBuilder]

@wgattuso Put down the spiked egg nog. You need to be cut off. Where in the video do I say it's "almost an everyday occurrence"? Totally not true. The point is it's possible. Just Bing or Google water heater explosions and there are stories of water heaters that become intercontinental ballistic missiles. Seriously. Go back 25 years into the Journal if Light Construction to see photos of one that launched through the roof of a house from the basement.

[wgattuso]

@AsktheBuilder Your saying if the t&p valve fails and the thermostat fails while having both hot and cold water valves off is a normal and almost an everyday occurrence. These are three things that have to happen in a perfect timing. You have a better shot at winning the lottery. Please let me know what state the plumbing code say "YOU CANNOT PUT VALVES ON BOTH THE HOT AND COLD WATER LINES ON A WATER HEATER" I live in NY with one of the strictest plumbing and electrical codes.

[nate379]

@vrejian You don't put a valve on the hot line because you need to allow for expansion... if the cold and hot side are colds, no where to expand to. Yes the T&P valve "should" open then, but it's not smart to rely on it.