Water Heater Maintenence

[Big bob]

Unhook it and lay it on it's side.

[Big bob]

Originally Posted by Big bob

First thing is always change the drain to a full bore ball valve. Yours is probably clogged already. So buy this and this first. https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Eau-...s%2C999&sr=8-3


https://www.amazon.com/House-Mods-HM...s%2C517&sr=8-5

But for now we need to clean out what you have. Attach your garden hose to it and take the end out side. Get an air compressor with a blow nozzle and a bucket. Open up the valve on the heater and blow air in it by way of the hose putting the hose in your bucket to see your crap. Repeat till clean. Replace as instructed. Repeat yearly or as needed.


Short bursts of air don't blow up your tank. Play with it till you find the best blast.


Your electrodes are most likely fine they are just buried in slag. Might take the bottom one out and rig up a hose to vacuum out the crap.

If yours will not drain shut your water off. Then relieve the pressure then keep all closed to make a vacuum and quick change your valve.

You will need an impact to remove the rod. Just tap it lose then hand remove and install or you can do damage slinging it around.

So you thanked me without reading?

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by Big bob

So you thanked me without reading?

No I read and followed that…..

Didn’t follow the links but the rest yep that’s what I did

[Mike Mercury]

one aspect to look at with tankless... is the minumum volume of water flow needed for it to activate itself.

My first tankless (the one on the pic I posted) was a Bosch that required 0.8 gal-per-minute flow to turn on. After a lightning strike that took out a lot of electronics in the house (including the Bosch tankless)... I replaced it with a Rinnai model that has a 0.6 gal-per-minute minimum flow requirement. Much better.

[Big bob]

I have water heaters over thirty years old. I am surprised most don't ever change them. 20 bucks to save thousands.

[Aerovette]

Mine is 15 year sold and every now and then I used to hear it popping. Then it stopped. Water is still plenty hot.

[Big bob]

Ever replace your anode rod?

Has anyone here ever replace your anode rod?

[Grey Ghost]

Originally Posted by Big bob

Ever replace your anode rod?

Has anyone here ever replace your anode rod?

Only when I was doing electrolysis on a bunch of junk lol

[Don Rickles]

WOW! What a difference!!! Too hot!

Replaced the shower head too, huge improvement!

[TheRealBadger]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

one aspect to look at with tankless... is the minumum volume of water flow needed for it to activate itself.

My first tankless (the one on the pic I posted) was a Bosch that required 0.8 gal-per-minute flow to turn on. After a lightning strike that took out a lot of electronics in the house (including the Bosch tankless)... I replaced it with a Rinnai model that has a 0.6 gal-per-minute minimum flow requirement. Much better.

Two 75 gallon power vent units with a whole house hot water recirculating. Cheaper. Efficient. Instant hot water and never run out of it.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by TheRealBadger

whole house hot water recirculating.

are you heating with hot water (radiators) ?

[TheRealBadger]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

are you heating with hot water (radiators) ?

No

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by TheRealBadger

No

whats the purpose for wanting recirculating hot water ?

[Big bob]

So you don't have to wait for the shower on the far side of the house to heat up.

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by aerovette

Mine is 15 year sold and every now and then I used to hear it popping. Then it stopped. Water is still plenty hot.

I have a 10.5 year-old 30 gallon electric. I've drained a few gallons off every few months so no sediment build-up.

But lately it makes a loud popping sound once in a while, just randomly as far as I can tell and not often. Water is still hot.

Anybody know what the popping sound might be?

And don't tell me it's the anal rod. I just went to the proctologist a month ago, everything was fine.

[Big bob]

Expansion and contractions.

[TheRealBadger]

Originally Posted by Big bob

So you don't have to wait for the shower on the far side of the house to heat up.

Ding ding ding.

Instant hot water at every tap.

[Mike Mercury]

doods... like i know what recirculating hot water is.

I've only seen that in commercial buildings though; mainly because they also heated with hot water.. Was curious if there was a ubique application for home use I didn't know about. I mean, it's gotta cost a little bit extra I imagine...

[Big bob]

Then why did you ask?

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by Big bob

Expansion and contractions.

Yeah but it's over 10 years old, but just started popping the last couple of months.