Do they slowly break down or just stop immediately. Our pilot light has gone out twice in the last week. We have seen MUCH windier days around here. Just curious.

Water heaters usually break down because they get filled with lime (if you don't drain them at least once a year) or the thermostat fails, or they begin to leak.

If your pilot light is blowing out, have you:
1- Cleaned the pilot light and burner assembly (a small wire brush or stiff toothbrush will help). SHUT OFF THE GAS FIRST.
2- Made sure your burner chamber cover (the thing you moved to relight the pilot light) is back on properly.
3- Your chimney isn't leaking or smashed or broken someplace.

You heat your hot water?
What luxury!

BGnR

---

"Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto! You're beautiful!"
"If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster."
"Near the day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky."
"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans."

How would it get hot if it were not in some way heated?

I put toast in my toaster.

The main way they give out is by lack of maintenance, which results in the sacrificial anode rod being consumed and corrosion attacking the tank itself before the owner gets around to replacing the anode. One sign of this is water dripping from the leaking base of the tank and putting out the pilot. A second sign is catastrophic failure of the tank and destruction of much of the house from water damage (if it is located indoors). You need to check it ASAP in case the pilot is going out due to a tiny leak. It could be just an issue with the pilot or wind, but believe me, you do not want to take a chance...the bottom could bust out at any time and then the water will continue pouring out since the water heater inlet is likely connected directly to the water main.

Go to this site for tons of info on how to maintain and/or buy a water heater: [www.waterheaterrescue.com]

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

Thanks, Peeps! I am going to look more into it when I get home. Never knew they had to be maintained in any way.

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lipskidder
Never knew they had to be maintained in any way.

That's why they come with either a 6 or 12 year warranty. They figure that a one anode tank will last at least 6 years (depending on water quality) before the anode is gone and the tank fails, and a two anode tank will last at least 12 years. After that, failure at some point is guaranteed if you don't replace the anode. On the other hand, if the water in your area is particularly noncorrosive, you can maybe go twice as long before tank failure.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

BGnR, thank you.

EVERY time I hear about a "hot water heater" I snicker in my head.

Why would anyone heat their hot water? I just heat water that isn't hot.

Never understood why people don't just call it a "water heater"

Why would you heat your COLD water ?
Most people want the cold water to be cold.

If the pilot is going out, you probably need to replace your thermocouple. You can get one at HD or Lowes for about $6. It a sensor that sits next to your pilot light and keeps the gas turned on as long as it senses heat from the pilot. If pilot goes out, there is no heat from pilot and it closes the main gas valve (normal operation). If the thermocouple get burned up, it looses a lot of it's output so main gas is turned off even if pilot is still burning. With main gas off pilot then goes out.



Here's how:

[www.rd.com]

Fred Also

If you replace it do Not buy a Whirlpool from Lowe's gas or electric, they're both junk. My
electric Whirlpool lasted lest than 3 years, they replaced it but what a hassle to get it
changed out. If this one goes I'm probably going to chuck it whether it's under warranty or
not and get a decent brand name at a plumbing supply, live and learn. Search for them on
Google or somewhere you'll find complaints.

---

Grateful11

I think they slowly break down. Just last night I found ours silently weeping in the basement.


outcast

Quote
BigGuynRusty
You heat your hot water?
What luxury!

Before I clicked on this thread, I bet myself that this would be pounced on within three posts. Thanks for not disappointing me.

As far as the term "Hot Water Heater" goes, if it truly irks you, you need to lighten up!

And just to annoy you types further...

PIN number!

ATM machine!

AC current!

My 6 year Rickels hot water heater lasted 20 years - I guess I'm lucky!

Quote
Lux Interior

Quote
BigGuynRusty
You heat your hot water?
What luxury!

Before I clicked on this thread, I bet myself that this would be pounced on within three posts. Thanks for not disappointing me.

As far as the term "Hot Water Heater" goes, if it truly irks you, you need to lighten up!

And just to annoy you types further...

PIN number!

ATM machine!

AC current!

That stuff appeals to the old biddy contingent on the forum.

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

old biddy?

what is an old biddy anyway? who talks that way ;?

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Hurts like a bastid...

Quote
mrbigstuff
old biddy?

who talks that way ;?

Young biddys.

Quote
Lux Interior
And just to annoy you types further...

PIN number!

ATM machine!

AC current!

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