Water Heater Maintenence

[Don Rickles]

Anyone.....Our water temperature has been falling lately, (3 year old heaters)....We really could use a water treatment system but just haven't gotten around to it....The water heaters (2) are in the crawl space and they're low boys @48" in height, it's a bitch to go down....

After just a couple years the build up from the hard water cakes the electrodes and accumulates in the bottom of the tanks. Time to replace the electrodes and remove the hardened white deposits....

Hopefully, this will help to extend the life of the heaters by a couple extra years....

Anyone else go thru this BS....?

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

Anyone.....Our water temperature has been falling lately, (3 year old heaters)....We really could use a water treatment system but just haven't gotten around to it....The water heaters (2) are in the crawl space and they're low boys @48" in height, it's a bitch to go down....

After just a couple years the build up from the hard water cakes the electrodes and accumulates in the bottom of the tanks. Time to replace the electrodes and remove the hardened white deposits....

Hopefully, this will help to extend the life of the heaters by a couple extra years....

Anyone else go thru this BS....?

Get a gas water heater, before Brandon outlaws them, too.

Problem solved.

/thread

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Get a gas water heater, before Brandon outlaws them, too.

Problem solved.

/thread

No natural gas in the area, it would have to be LP/Propane then I'd have to add a chimney...too much trouble....

[DAB]

man up? cold showers for you!!!

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by DAB

man up? cold showers for you!!!

I like a super hot shower! I'd rather have to add more cold to bring it down a few degrees, then freeze!

[DAB]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

I like a super hot shower! I'd rather have to add more cold to bring it down a few degrees, then freeze!

i have no idea then.

we have a very fancy water treatment system, so hard water is not a concern at the taps or the boiler/water heater (propane tankless Navian).

[Bill]

Originally Posted by DAB

man up? cold showers for you!!!

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

Anyone.....Our water temperature has been falling lately, (3 year old heaters)....We really could use a water treatment system but just haven't gotten around to it....The water heaters (2) are in the crawl space and they're low boys @48" in height, it's a bitch to go down....

After just a couple years the build up from the hard water cakes the electrodes and accumulates in the bottom of the tanks. Time to replace the electrodes and remove the hardened white deposits....

Hopefully, this will help to extend the life of the heaters by a couple extra years....

Anyone else go thru this BS....?

Not sure how you would do this, but my 30 gallon electric is very accessible in my "laundry" room.

I put it in in 2012 and about every 3 months I hook a hose up to it and drain several gallons off the bottom. My water is softened, so it probably isn't even necessary, but I do it anyway.

There's no place else you can put them?

[DJ_Critterus]

I always liked the tankless water heaters. Plenty of hot water that never runs out....

[Onebadcad]

I have the biggest tankless, got it four years ago, as had six under roof.
No regrets, no problems, no maintenance,,, best $2K I have spent except for that weekend in bangcock.

[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.

[LATB]

A tankless exterior mounted is real nice. No additional exhaust and like DJ posted, the hot water never runs out.

[MadInNc]

Originally Posted by LATB

A tankless exterior mounted is real nice. No additional exhaust and like DJ posted, the hot water never runs out.

Had NG ran to house and have Renanni Tankless outside.

Prior was a 40 gal electric WH but it couldn’t even fill up Jacuzzi w hot water

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

Anyone.....Our water temperature has been falling lately, (3 year old heaters)....We really could use a water treatment system but just haven't gotten around to it....The water heaters (2) are in the crawl space and they're low boys @48" in height, it's a bitch to go down....

After just a couple years the build up from the hard water cakes the electrodes and accumulates in the bottom of the tanks. Time to replace the electrodes and remove the hardened white deposits....

Hopefully, this will help to extend the life of the heaters by a couple extra years....

Anyone else go thru this BS....?

In a previous house, the water tank was in the garage, which allowed for doing a semi-messy job without worry. I never changed teh electrode, but I removed the drain faucet and sucked out the sediment using a shop vac and a steel rod to break things up. It bought me two more years, but ultimately failed from a leak.

[Big bob]

Most never change the anode rod. If you change them and keep it flushed they can last a lifetime. Don't and replace them because you wouldn't properly maintain them.

[Vandelay Industries]

I know it can be done, but I'd be uneasy having an outdoor mounted water heater when the temps get down near 0.

Another reason to move to floriduh.

[04 commemorative]

Soften your water

[VITE1]

Drain the tanks once a year and then run water through them for about an hour.

[Grey Ghost]

I have a 600' well. I've replaced mine a couple of times over the decades - electric.

You can test on the elements. Should be 12 or better, anything 10 or below should be replaced. They say the top element is the one that usually kicks on/off and does the majority of supplying hot water. Your sacrifiicial anode may be gone, if your water is that bad. I never had to replace mine, but replaced the elements and thermostats - they are inexpensive.

Mine 50 gallon is easily accessible and parts are inexpensive though.

Why two and why are they in a crawl space? How much work to move them for easier access? One day they may go bad and you aren't healthy enough to repair them....Any type filters to treat the water?

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I have a 600' well. I've replaced mine a couple of times over the decades - electric.

You can test on the elements. Should be 12 or better, anything 10 or below should be replaced. They say the top element is the one that usually kicks on/off and does the majority of supplying hot water. Your sacrifiicial anode may be gone, if your water is that bad. I never had to replace mine, but replaced the elements and thermostats - they are inexpensive.

Mine 50 gallon is easily accessible and parts are inexpensive though.

Why two and why are they in a crawl space? How much work to move them for easier access? One day they may go bad and you aren't healthy enough to repair them....Any type filters to treat the water?

Thanks everyone!

GG, Our well is 485’ a deep one too…. Pump is set at 100’. We actually have two wells, pump and dump Geothermal heating.

I say crawl space but the “basement “ is 56” high, not tall enough to stand. This is where all the utilities are located. I split the water heaters one for the kids and kitchen, the other for the master bathroom. Same with the 3 zoned heating systems.

This limitation on height caused the lower water heaters, as regular heights were too tall….

I guess it’s more out of site, out of mind situation going on here….

I have flushed both and replaced elements over the years, it’s a pain in a butt…

I’ll look into these tankless heaters, I assume the electric ones will require a 240/ double 20amp breaker? Aero could wire it! It would take some doing to run a wire up to the bathroom….

Houses….always something!