I’m replacing most of my ancient (iron) water pipes and started to remove the cold supply from the water heater. It ‘really’ didn’t want to move, so rather than use a bigger pipe wrench I stopped at the union above the heater. This got me to wondering if there is adequate support in the water heater to allow me to remove that last bit of iron pipe or if I would have more likely ‘broken’ the water heater, in trying?
And on a related note, can CPVC be used in to/out of a water heater (nat. gas), or does it have to be a certain distance away?
TIA
Thon
Replies
Tab,
You can use CPVC right to the water heater. It is rated for hot water so no issue with heat. One issue that I have had numerous times over the years is when trying to remove galvanized piping from the water heater the threads tend to break off in the water heater. So my advice is to stop at the union for now and wait until the heater fails to install the rest. Before installing the CPVC shove a long narrow screw drive down the remaining pipe to the heater. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside out and tends to "honeycomb" shut. Slows water flow a great deal. DanT
Since the average life of a water heater is between 10 and 11 years, you might just consider replacing your 10 year old heater while you can shop around and find a good deal rather than waiting until you have cold water on the floor and the need to replace it immediately.
Bill
Then his should have died long ago (to hold the average), since our WH is 28 and counting.
While the national average water heater life is between 10 and 11 years, your actual lifetime will strongly depend on the chemistry of your water and whether you bother to check for anode health and replace it before it is entirely consumed.
I've never checked the anode. However:
1) The water is slightly alkaline here (limestone aquafer).
2) I've always had a filter and water softener feeding the heater, meaning that sediment and scale buildup is minimal.
3) It's electric, and electrics probably last 50% longer than gas in general.
It is not clear from our warrantee data that electrics last much longer than gas units. I would check the anode, if the anode is good, the tank will rarely leak!
Bill
When transitioning to CPVC on a hot line, you should use the special expansion unions that are made for that purpose.
>>And on a related note, can CPVC be used in to/out of a water heater (nat. gas), or does it have to be a certain distance away?
No.
"Care should be used to prevent contact of the CPVC pipe with heat-producing sources. Gas water heaters require the use of a metallic nipple or appliance connector at least six inches long to be installed above the flue piping as a transition piece to prevent damage to the CPVC by excessive heat build-up from the flue. CPVC can be installed directly onto electric water heaters with special transition fittings. Some codes require metal connectors on electric water heaters; consult applicable code requirements prior to installation."
http://www.harvel.com/piping-cts-water-heater.asp
And just put in a new water heater, there's probably enough mineral build-up at the bottom of the tank to significantly reduce efficiency.
According to 1 manufacturer, 1/2" of mineral buildup on the bottom reduces efficiency 75%
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And if it already hasn't happened, prices on water heaters are going up by as much as $150, due to the new burner designs.Not a bad idea to buy a new heater.
Already happened 6 months ago. DanT
We are supposed to see it in July.
>>And if it already hasn't happened, prices on water heaters are going up by as much as $150, due to the new burner designs.Not a bad idea to buy a new heater.
Good point.
Having looked closely at somewhere around 2700+/- water heaters over the years, I think the hazard of flame roll out from the combustion chamber has been vastly over-rated and don't think the benefits outweigh the costs.
Even when the flame guards are completely off or poorly fit into place (which is very common) I rarely see significant signs of such roll-out.
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I'm matching tool donors to a church mission to Haiti - we're shipping a bus converted to a medical facility in (now it looks like) April and can fill it with clothes, tools and all sorts of stuff needed in that poorest of all countries. A few hand tools or power tools can provide a livelihood for an otherwise destitute family. Please email me if you have tools to donate.
Thanks to Jeff and David and Jim and Rich and Steven and Mark and Jason and Shep and Jen and Mike and Joe and Bill and Ken for their offers!
Several donations have arrived! Thanks and God bless!
The new burners prevent flammable vapours from igniting. In other words, the idiot who stores gas next to his water heater won't have his house burn down. But that same idiot will probably now figure it's safe to store gas in his furnace room.
Having said that, I know of a kid down the street who was burned in that same situation. Bad,bad scarring. And he was about three at the time.
I am sure I have not dealt with the number of heaters Bob has but I am sure it is in the 2-300 range and I agree 100% with him. I disagree with your assesment as the unit still has to get air to combust and if you can get air in it you can get vapors. My understanding is they are to prevent fires from flame roll out like when the water heater is in the basement and someone piles dirty clothes next to it. I have witnessed this a number of times. Or their kids plastic toys are all around it. DanT
A much more common danger with gas water heaters in my experience are people putting flamable objects on top near or in touch with th flue.
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I'm matching tool donors to a church mission to Haiti - we're shipping a bus converted to a medical facility in (now it looks like) April and can fill it with clothes, tools and all sorts of stuff needed in that poorest of all countries. A few hand tools or power tools can provide a livelihood for an otherwise destitute family. Please email me if you have tools to donate.
Thanks to Jeff and David and Jim and Rich and Steven and Mark and Jason and Shep and Jen and Mike and Joe and Bill and Ken for their offers!
Several donations have arrived! Thanks and God bless!
Agreed. But don't tell to many people. Next they will mandate a cage around every appliance.
Each manufacturer has a different system. Bradford White uses a burner compartment that has a "screen" around it. The perforations are designed to allow air in, but if gasoline vapours were to ignite inside the burner compartment, the flames can't escape the compartment. It's not the rollout that is the concern, but the igniton of vapours in the surrounding area.
Thanks for all the excellent responses.
Probably won't replace it now as my (extremely) frugal nature makes it very difficult to throw anything away that still works <G>--though I appreciate the info on age/efficiency. Am still pondering using it as a storage tank for solar heated water.
Its temp is set so that showers are taken using only hot water (in winter) and some days that temp seems warmer than others. Have wondered if this is related to mineral build-up--or my imagination??
Thanks again.
Thon
>>Its temp is set so that showers are taken using only hot water (in winter) and some days that temp seems warmer than others. Have wondered if this is related to mineral build-up--or my imagination??
My experience is that that the high temp varies from time to time and day to day.
Say your water heater is set to 120 (typical - don;'t go much higher).
The temp might drop to (guessing here) 115 before the burner comes on, and thew temp may go back to 120 or maybe a bit more.
So: say that overnight it's dropped to 116. Person A showers. The burners come on and heat it to 120+. Person B showers. It will be hotter (and that 5 degree difference can be perceived.)
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Tool Donations Sought
I'm matching tool donors to a church mission to Haiti - we're shipping a bus converted to a medical facility in (now it looks like) April and can fill it with clothes, tools and all sorts of stuff needed in that poorest of all countries. A few hand tools or power tools can provide a livelihood for an otherwise destitute family. Please email me if you have tools to donate.
Thanks to Jeff and David and Jim and Rich and Steven and Mark and Jason and Shep and Jen and Mike and Joe and Bill and Ken for their offers!
Several donations have arrived! Thanks and God bless!
Tab, see Bill Hoover's comment below. If you change the anode rod before it is totally consumed, the tank can last many , many years. Anodes are about $15, and I change mine every 6 years. PaulEnergy Consultant and author of Practical Energy Cost Reduction for the Home
CPVC is fine, but definitely use the special steel-to-PVC/CPVC transition fitting. You should not just screw plastic into metal or vice versa because the coeficients of thermal expansion are so different the threads will eventually leak, especially on hot water due to the greater temperature swings. Don't screw any brass or copper to your steel piping; the transition from plastic must be to steel, not copper or brass if your piping is steel.
Look carefully at the nipple (3/4" pipe) coming out of the top of the water heater. If it has a grooved ring around it, its no ordinary pipe -- its the pipe the Mfg supplies with a check ball inside.