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player ready...Q. We’re not getting enough hot water to fill the tub for a warm bath. Should we replace our 50-gallon hot water heater?
Danile Herold, Glen Ellyn
A. A 40- or 50-gallon water heater should have no problem filling a tub, said Richard O’Connor, training coordinator for the Plumbers Joint Apprenticeship Committee Union Local 130 in Chicago. The water temperature should measure between 120 degrees to 130 degrees. If the temperature changes dramatically at the spigot, there may be a problem with the hot water heater. Lack of maintenance is a common cause of hot water complaints, O’Connor said. If the tank is not flushed regularly to remove sediment that accumulates in the bottom of the tank and on the heating coils, the tank will work inefficiently. Corrosion and rust also can damage the interior pipes of the tank.
To flush the tank, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The general procedure is to turn off the power and shut off the incoming water supply. Then open the relief valve at the top of the heater and connect a garden hose to the bottom drain. Direct water from the bottom drain to the outdoors or to a floor drain. After a few minutes of clear water flow, close the relief and drain valves. And don’t forget to turn the incoming water supply back on.
Water heaters vary from 20 to 80 gallons in water capacity and they can be powered by electricity, natural gas, oil and propane. Forty- or 50-gallon, gas-powered storage-tank heaters are most common in the Chicago area, O’Connor said. These work by releasing hot water from the top of the tank when the hot water tap is turned on. To replace the hot water, cold water enters into the bottom of the tank through a pipe inside the tank. Because the tank’s water is constantly being heated, energy is wasted. Plumbers call this stand-by heat loss. Some newer storage tank models are more efficient than the older ones.
To prevent stand-by heat loss, there are demand water heaters, one of many alternative designs available. Instead of a storing water in a tank, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit, and either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water as needed. The disadvantage is a slow water flow. But the manufacturers of these units say the flow is usually sufficient for small households.
Water heaters are classified by the tank’s peak hour water demand, the so-called first-hour rating (FHR). Federal law requires that the FHR be featured on the unit’s Energy Guide label. To estimate the peak-hour demand of a household, consider that a person uses between 15 and 25 gallons of hot water for a bath and less than 10 gallons of hot water for a five-minute shower. Most washing machines use about 22 gallons of water; the amount of hot water that is used depends on the setting for each load. Water heaters also are classified by an Energy Factor (EF). The higher the EF, the more efficient the unit is in terms of heat loss. To compare manufacturer models and certified ratings, check the Arlington, Va.-based Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association Web site at www.gamanet.org.
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Have a question about home repair or maintenance? Send a brief note to Home Remedies, Your Place, baiduhai, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611, or e-mail [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Unpublished letters cannot be answered individually.