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Plumbing leaks anywhere in the house can potentially damage surfaces and interior structures in your home, so any time you find one, you should repair it promptly. When you notice leaking behind the shower escutcheon plate, it's usually because the shower arm is either too loose or it has corroded. There's also an outside chance that the pipe between the shower diverter and the head has developed a pinhole leak or that one of the supply pipe joints is leaking.
Like all appliances, hot water heaters require routine maintenance in order to perform as they were designed to do. Failure to properly maintain your hot water heater can lead to unexpected noises, unpleasant odors and a reduction in your hot water supply over time. A variety of chemicals and cleaning products can help keep your hot water heater clean to maximize performance and extend the life of the appliance.
A faulty water pump thermostat can cause a wide variety of different issues with other parts of your car. Troubleshoot a water pump thermostat with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
Tankless water heaters are typically smaller than traditional tank water heaters, so the options for their installation are usually more flexible. If you're replacing a conventional heater with a tankless heater in an existing home, you can simply put the new heater where the old one was, or you can take advantage of the greater flexibility to put the heater in a more convenient place. You must, however, be sure to follow the installation requirements specified by the heater's manufacturer.
Water jets in hot tubs consist of an insert that fits into a housing attached at the outer wall of the tub. Typically, you replace a directional or fixed jet if's damaged, or when upgrading the appearance of the tub with new jets. While replacing jets is not complicated, a few considerations come into play. Follow a simple procedure to replace water jets in your hot tub.
Tankless water heaters have a number of clear advantages over other types, but they are also commonly more expensive. Find out if tankless water heaters are worth the money with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
If your hot water heater element needs to be replaced, you'll be able to tell by watching out for a few key signs. Find out how to know if your hot water heater element needs to be replaced with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
If your water heater tank won't drain, all you really need is a metal coat hanger to take care of the issue. Find out what to do if your water heater tank won't drain with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
When it comes to replacing your hot water heater, the main expense is the heater itself. Figure the cost of replacing a water heater with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
The location of your water heater thermostat will depend on the type of water heater that you have in your home. Find a good water heater thermostat location with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
Limescale deposits will build up in your hot water heater over time if you're not careful. Get limescale out of water heaters with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
Water heaters can definitely be an eyesore, but you can actually incorporate them into the larger design of your basement in a very simple way. Hide your water heater with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
You always need to make sure that you're setting the temperature for electric hot water tanks in a very particular way. Learn about temperature settings for electric hot water tanks with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
Burping a hot water heater is a great way to alleviate some issues that you may be having. Find out how to properly burp a hot water heater with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
Reigniting a hot water heater is something that you really need to do as cautiously as possible. Reignite a hot water heater with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
Setting water heater element temperatures always requires you to keep a few very specific things in mind. Set water heater element temperatures with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
When your hot water heater starts to leak, it would be helpful if the unit would turn itself off automatically. Turn off the hot water heater automatically when it starts to leak with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
A few different problems could potentially crop up with the relief valve on your hot water heater. Find out about relief valve problems on a hot water heater with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
Checking the voltage on a hot water heater is going to require the careful use of a device called a multimeter. Use a multimeter to check the voltage on a hot water heater with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
There are a number of common installation mistakes when it comes to a hot water heater that you're going to want to do your best to avoid. Find out about common mistakes in hot water heater installation with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
If your water heater is continually flushing, you're going to want to troubleshoot the unit in a few distinct ways. Find out how to troubleshoot flushing a water heater with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
Cutting electricity usage for a water heater is something you can do in a few key ways depending on your preferences. Cut the electricity usage for a water heater with help from an area manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service's Independent Contractors Division in this free video clip.
Replacing a therm hot tub heater element is something that requires you to completely power down your unit. Replace a therm hot tub heater element with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional in this free video clip.
Replacing a dip tube in a gas water heater is a lot easier than you might suspect. Replace a dip tube in a gas water heater with help from a plumbing, heating and cooling specialist in this free video clip.
Just because your gas water heater drain valve has started to leak doesn't mean that you should start to panic. Find out what to do if your gas water heater drain valve is leaking with help from a plumbing, heating and cooling specialist in this free video clip.
The first thing you want to do when trying to fix your new gas water heater is remove the burner assembly area. Learn about problems that you may encounter when lighting your new gas water heater with help from a plumbing, heating and cooling specialist in this free video clip.
Your primary goal in setting up an aquarium is providing a positive, healthy environment for your underwater plants and creatures. Circulating the water in the tank helps create a clean, oxygen-rich atmosphere for your aquarium. Aquarium bubblers and water pumps are forms of equipment that make this happen.
Hot water baseboard heaters used in rooms and other areas of a home may be individually controlled by zone valves and thermostats. Zone valves are electrically activated devices that control the flow of hot water to the heater. Each valve in the system operates with an assigned thermostat. You can hook up your baseboard heater thermostat to a zone valve using the proper materials, tools and basic do-it-yourself skills.
While some still prefer the authenticity of a wood-burning fireplace, many have traded these classic home-warmers for easier-to-handle gas fireplaces, taking all of the work out of creating a warming indoor blaze. If your enclosed gas fireplace isn’t performing at the same level as it did when it was new, a number of issues could be at the root. While attempting serious repair to this unit is risky, you can try some basic troubleshooting procedures before you resort to calling in the professionals.
According to the California Energy Commission's Consumer Energy Center, the average lifespan of a water heater is 13 years. When it eventually wears out, the water heater may leak all over the floor or produce insufficient hot water for your home. When this occurs, it's time for a new unit. Rheem manufactures both tank and tank-less models that use either gas or electricity. If you're replacing an electric unit with a gas version, you should have the swap out performed by a professional.
Although both natural gas and propane are hydrocarbon-derived fuels, and both are burned in their gaseous state, they are delivered to the appliances that use them at different pressures. For this reason, the internal components designed for the gases differ. The only practicable way to convert a propane heater to use natural gas is to obtain a model-specific, manufacturer-approved conversion kit that contains all the necessary parts.
Understanding water flow through streams is a task that scientists have been tackling for decades using the establishment of weirs. A weir is a small dam specifically designed to create overflow for the purpose of monitoring and measurement of a water's activity. Using a Clausen-Pierce Weir Gage in conjunction with the weir is how scientists make and maintain accurate measurements of the water flow.
Aquarium heaters are essential for regulating tank temperature, especially for warm-water fish such as tropical species. Though very small tanks may not require a heater, larger tanks need one that provides about 3 watts per gallon to keep the tank temperature steady. Tetra is one of the largest manufacturers of products designed for ornamental fish keeping, including aquarium heaters designed for tanks up to 55 gallons. Tetra aquarium heaters require little effort to install and are simple to operate because they are automatically programmed to heat the water to the ideal temperature.
Some models of GE Profile-series refrigerators contain a built-in heater element that prevents frost from forming on the ice supply lines and coils. If the heating elements stop working, it's possible to replace them with new units. GE manufactures a replacement heating kit that you can install using only a few tools. Once the new unit is in place, frost will not form inside the refrigerator and the thermostat will automatically control the heater elements.
One thing that many people find annoying is the discovery — after stepping into the shower — that there is no hot water, meaning they must either wait for the water to heat, take a cold shower, or go without a shower. This can be a common occurrence if family members take showers around the same time, or if you take a shower when the washing machine is in use. You may work around this problem by installing a second water heater in series with your first water heater.
Water heaters aren't usually the culprit when your pipes start to bang, but they often take the blame. The startling noise occurs when fixtures quickly close and abruptly stop water's movement in your pipes. The residual kinetic energy of the water rocks backward and forward through your copper pipes until the energy dissipates, similar to your car rocking when you hit the brakes unexpectedly. The energy knocks your pipes into studs and shakes your water heater. You can fix many causes of water hammer with nothing more than a wrench, but other causes require the help of an experienced plumber.
When you operate gas appliances, such as a gas water heater, you should always have a fresh-air intake vent that allows fresh air to flow into your home. The intake vent pulls fresh air in, while an exhaust vent pushes the stuffy air out. The prospect of installing any type of ductwork may seem intimidating, but the installation process should take no longer than an hour or two.
An expansion tank is a safety feature often found on hot water heaters as well as on boilers used to heat homes. When water heats up, it expands, which puts high pressure on the tank in the boiler or the water heater. This weakens the tank over time, possibly causing it to burst. The expansion tank allows water to flow out of the main tank when it expands, relieving pressure on the tank. Some expansion tanks contain a rubber bladder that pushes the water back into the main tank as it cools, but if your expansion tank does not contain…
Sump pumps are an important component of basement drainage systems and many basements experience heavy flooding without them. Therefore, you need to determine if capping your pump is the right thing to do. Sump pumps often use rigid plastic drainpipes to discharge water from the sump well; these pipes are typically glued or "solvent welded." Occasionally, a sump pump discharges water through a flexible hose, similar to a washing machine drain hose or garden hose. Once you determine your sump discharge pipe type and locate its end, capping the line requires only basic tools and plumbing skills.
A hot water heater that regularly pops the thermostat may have one or more defective heating elements. Hot water tanks may have one or two elements, depending on the tank capacity. If an element is wearing out or if it short circuits, it may trip the thermal fuse wired to the circuit, or the thermostat may struggle to switch on and off. Test the thermostat and the elements with an ohmmeter to check for circuit continuity.
Polyethylene tubing is a durable, flexible material for use in plumbing systems. Because the material can withstand temperature extremes both hot and cold, it can be used to connect plumbing fixtures to the household water supply, as well as to dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances. Polyethylene tubing is typically sold in coils and cut to the required length. Use a crimping tool to attach compression fittings on each end so the tubing can be connected to standard plumbing fixtures.
The pilot generator in a gas wall heater is an assembly consisting of the ignition system and a small L-shaped pipe for the pilot light. The igniter lights the pilot flame on the end of the L-shaped pipe. The pilot then lights the burner in the wall heater to produce heat to warm the room. Buy a new pilot generator assembly from your heater's manufacturer, or take the old part to an HVAC shop for help in matching it with a new unit. Replacing the assembly takes less than an hour using handheld tools.
Hot-water heat is used across the United States in many homes and is often prized for its effective yet simple method of delivering heat. The heat comes from a hot water boiler that radiates the water through the baseboard heaters. If you're replacing your old, aesthetically unpleasing baseboards or replacing ones that are not working properly, be prepared for a moderately challenging task; the job is not particularly difficult for those with experience in soldering and various home repair, but may take quite a bit of time.
Homeowners faced with roof ice dams each winter may want to consider installing an electric eavestrough heater to warm the gutter, downspout and edge of the roof to prevent the formation of ice dams. Several different companies make eavestrough heaters that homeowners can install themselves with a few basic hand tools.
The benefit of using a portable gas engine welder is that you can use it to power your welder at a relatively low cost. If you’ve ever operated a welder straight into your home’s electrical socket, chances are you used a lot of power for operation. That can translate into a huge power bill. Naturally, the gas engine welder is only beneficial if it starts.
A water baseboard heater operates by heating water and producing steam. If the water pipe that runs from your water source to the heater bursts, the heater will be inoperable until you repair the pipe. Repairing the pipe should not take much time as long as the heater is easily accessible. The process includes the removal of the old pipe and the replacement of the new pipe, as you do not need to make changes to the heater itself.
The pilot valve on a Blue Flame wall heater works with an ignitor to light the gas from the burner. Under normal operation, the pilot produces a flame that burns constantly at a low level. The flame ignites the burner in response to changes in room temperature or adjustments to the heater's thermostat. The pilot valve attaches to the gas valve via a long, flexible tube. Both the pilot valve and tube are typically sold as a unit. Replacing the pilot valve takes less than an hour to do.
GE water heaters allow for instant access to hot water, great news for tired bones when a warm bath is desired at the end of a long day. None of this is possible if the old heater is on its last leg and is ready to burn up or already has burned up. This situation calls for proper installation of a replacement heater, a DIY project that even those with little handyman skills can perform in an afternoon.
Although the Rinnai tankless water heater is a convenient way to save money on energy costs, it does require periodic maintenance. If an “LC” or “00” code appears on your unit's display, it is an indication that the interior of the unit is developing a buildup of lime. When this happens, you need to flush the system. Flushing the heat exchanger in a Rinnai water heater involves the use of a portable recirculating pump, which you can find at home improvement centers. You will also need several gallons of food-grade white vinegar, which dissolves and cleans away any lime buildup…
Gas heaters are a clean, efficient source of heat for any room in your home, including your basement. Gas heaters can be vented directly from your basement to the exterior of your home; they draw in fresh air to be used in combustion through that same pipe.
