Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [hot-water]

Questions about systems that produce and distribute heated water.

428 questions
17
votes
3 answers

Turn off hot water without hot water valve

I have a leaky pipe on the hot water side that I'd like to fix. Following the pipes back to the water heater, I don't think there's a shutoff valve installed anywhere in the line, not even at the water heater outlet. At least, not one that is…
Sittin Hawk
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16
votes
5 answers

How do electric hot water heaters explode and what can be done to prevent that from happening?

My neighbor and good friend is a union steamfitter, and general handyman. He had to replace his electric hot water heater last year and he did it himself. My wife and I have to replace ours now, and he says its a super simple job and he has offered…
hotmeatballsoup
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9
votes
6 answers

Why does our hot water tank start working when we shut off the cold water valve to the tank?

We live in an apartment and do rent but we are only getting lukewarm water it will not get above about 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Our maintenance man has been over here trying to figure it out but no such luck. For some reason when we turn off the…
Cally
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8
votes
1 answer

How do I fix a shower mixer so I get hot water without turning the knob all the way?

I have a single knob shower, Valley brand. Almost the entire range of the turn from off to completely hot, it is just cold water. Only in the last half inch of the turn does any hot water start mixing in. Unfortunately, this leaves little room for…
tghw
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8
votes
3 answers

Are electrical screws a standard diameter?

I've just had to reset the thermal cutout of my immersion heater. Whilst removing the cover, I've stupidly dropped the nut somewhere behind the tank. Fishing around with a magnet has pulled up all sorts of metal objects, but unfortunately not the…
Tom Wright
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8
votes
2 answers

Why does my water heater's drain line rejoin the outlet pipe?

I know very little about water heaters and plumbing. Done some minimal work, but never water heater hookup. I need to replace my 20 year old AO Smith 50 gal gas water heater in a house I've owned for nine years. Water heater is in the basement,…
DS_
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7
votes
2 answers

Why does shutting off cold water valve to the water heater shut down cold water in entire house?

I'm a new homeowner so maybe my understanding is off. My question is, why would turning off the cold water intake valve on the top of the heater turn off cold water to the entire house after about 12 hours? I thought turning off the cold water…
VivaLebowski
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6
votes
3 answers

What type of hose should be used when flushing a water heater?

I know that a hot water heater should be flushed yearly to mitigate sediment buildup. What kind of hose should be used? Is a simple garden hose sufficient, or will the hot water melt or damage the rubber? Are there heavy-duty or heat-resistant hoses…
Frank T
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6
votes
1 answer

Very low hot water pressure entire house

Setup: Electric 53 Gallon Heater, installed in 2014 by previous owners. Location: Tampa bay, Florida, Home built in 1961, typical cinder block house. WE purchase the home in December and all has been working great. Issue: Very low hot water…
apeek2901
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5
votes
4 answers

Hot water temp in shower/tub fluctuates

I live in a condo that has 13 units in two buildings and am the president of the board. A few months ago we had a new water pump installed in our boiler room. Shortly after that all three units in my tier of the building experienced hot water…
QR600
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5
votes
6 answers

Code for elevating water heater in garages?

A gas/propane water heater in a garage is elevated. This is to ensure the open flame (at the bottom) is above a certain height (?) to avoid any combustible fuels in the garage from igniting. This all makes sense. But does it apply to electric/heat…
DA01
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5
votes
4 answers

Fast hot water - tankless heater as backup or recirculator

My master bathroom is the farthest from my electric water heater (traditional with a tank) on the other side of the house. All other faucets are much closer and receive quick hot water. During the bathroom remodel I've been spoiled using the guest…
s0rce
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5
votes
2 answers

How long should the hot water last during a shower?

Given a 40 gallon natural gas water heater, and a shower head with a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute. How long should the shower be able to maintain 105°F water temperature? Assume the average cold water supply temperature is 58.7°F. The tank…
Tester101
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5
votes
4 answers

Replacing toilet shut-off valve and need to turn off water; Need to turn gas water heater to pilot?

I'm replacing a toilet shut-off valve (clean water flowing into tank) on the first floor of my (100-year old) home. I'm reading that I need to shut off the water, then drain the lines, before making the repair. This toilet is on the 1st floor of a 2…
JaredH
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5
votes
5 answers

Why does hot water only run for 30 seconds in bathtub?

In the bathroom of this rental is a tub with a shower diverter. It's an older setup with a hot & cold faucet and a center valve (one direction diverts to shower, the other to the tub faucet). If I turn on only the hot water, I get hot water for…
GeoNOregon
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