Question: My gas water heater is 15 years old and it does not seem to heat water as fast as it used to. Can I tune it up myself and what might cause the reduced hot water volume? - T. L. Answer: Heating water accounts for about 20 percent of the typical family's utility bills. A simple tune-up will not only lower your utility bills, but it will increase the hot water volume for morning showers.Every month or two, drain several gallons of water from the valve at the bottom of the water heater. This removes some of the sediment that settles to the bottom of the tank.
A thick layer of sediment can insulate the hot burner heat exchanger from the water. This results in less hot water output and a slower recovery rate (time required to heat the incoming cold water).
For more effective cleaning, close the cold water inlet valve. Open the hot water faucet in the nearest bathroom. With an electric water heater, turn the electricity off first so the top element does not overheat and burn out.
Quickly open and close the cold water inlet valve several times. This stirs up the sediment in the bottom of the tank. Drain out a few more gallons. Close the tank drain and open the water inlet valve. When all the air is forced out of the bathroom faucet, close it too.
Feel the top portion of the water heater tank. If it feels warm, add an insulation jacket. Make sure to allow for clearance around the draft hood at the top and the combustion air inlet near the bottom.
If your water heater does not have heat-trap pipe fittings (one-way valves), either install them or insulate the water pipes above the water heater. Insulating a three-foot length is usually adequate.
There are several possible causes for reduced hot water supply. You can troubleshoot some of these causes yourself. The thermostat may have accidentally been set lower. Check the hot water temperature at the nearest faucet. It should be 120 degrees. .
The burner orifice may be dirty. Check it by looking at the flame. It should be steady and blue, not yellow. Cleaning requires a service call.
Setting the thermostat above 120 degrees will increase the hot water volume, but it wastes energy. If everything checks okay, but there's not enough hot water, consider a new super-efficient water heater. Some have lifetime no-rust warranties and can cut your water heating costs by $100 per year.
Write for Utility Bills Update No. 808 showing a gas water heater troubleshooting guide listing 29 common problems and 60 possible causes and corrective actions, and a list of the most efficient new gas water heaters.
Please include $2.00 and a self-addressed envelope. Write toJames Dulley, Deseret News, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244.
Question: We are building a sunspace and we want to install a heat-circulating fireplace. We want the chimney to obstruct as little of the view as possible. How can we build one? - E. H.
Answer: If you have a source of inexpensive firewood, a heat circulating fireplace can provide economical heat. A prebuilt zero-clearance model is probably your best choice and easiest to install yourself.
Use an approved (flow manufacturer's recommendations) double wall flue pipe. Instead of covering it with wood or brick, slip large green vinyl piping (for storm drains) over it. This will block less of the view.