Official Gramps' Memorial Eternal OT Thread

#27,401
#27,401
1972 Grad said:
On the new house we are building, I decided tankless wasn't worth it for 2 people, after reading all about it. We put in a 50 and a 40 gallon electric. In N.C., we installed a commercial 80 gallon electric. In Florida, it's a 40 electric. House is really small there.We have a single 50 where we are now, and have never run out of hot water.
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Memory test for ya mind vault. Who is this that was in the news 36 years ago almost to the day?

220px-Patti_Hearst.jpg
 
#27,402
#27,402
NorthDallas40 said:
Oh and remember people. I’m an engineer! This is all home owner knowledge porn for me. 😬

I asked another buddy engineer yesterday when he changed his anode rods last when I was looking for a tap. His reply “you can buy replacement anode rods?!” Eh, I’m a nerd. At least he knew they had one! 🤷‍♂️
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I had known about the rods, but was unaware they needed to be changed every 5 years. My home is 5 years old this September so I'll mark it down on the to do list.

Thanks for the info ND40.
 
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#27,403
#27,403
NorthDallas40 said:
What a damn day. So we’ve been in the new house 5.5 yrs. Time for hot water heater maintenance and I knew it was gonna be a PITA but I had no idea. Yearly the tanks get flushed but now it’s time for the major maintenance.

  1. New anode rods
  2. Clear and reset the thermal expansion tank
  3. Install a spring check valve
  4. Install full port ball cock drain valves to ease yearly flushing.

First up is the thermal expansion tank. I knew the thermal tank was jacked based on prior maintenance and now that I was installing the check valve it would be a closed system and that needs to be set properly. Turns out the idiot plumber didn’t set the precharge and my stupid ass never verified it. The pressure differential was big enough that water pushed past the diaphragm 🤬 I drained it and it still holds pressure so I set it back up. I’ll check it in a couple of months need to keep an eye on it now with the check valve. If it leaks down I’ll replace it.

No big deal on draining and installing the full port valves. No issues.

Now it’s time for the anode rods. They were due. Had to drag my air compressor over and impact wrench out the factory ones. 🤬 And I find that the dumbass that installed the factory rod galled up the threads on one! 🤬🤬🤬 couldn’t get the replacement rod to start and buggered up the threads on it. Had to chase down a 3/4 NPT tap and clean the threads. Dremel off the first thread on the new rod. Installed. Leaks on power flushing the tank...🤬🤬🤬🤬 chased the threads BETTER this time and retaped the new rod, swapped the rod from the other heater to see if it seated better. Works. 😃

Power flush both tanks, refire the burners, success.

with chasing parts and more expansion tank work than planned what should have taken a couple of hours took seven damn hours 🤬🤬🤬🤬 a plumber would have dry humped me though with all the work I did. Saved serious coin and greatly extended the life of the tanks.

I’ll take it. But .... DAMMIT! 😥
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Easier just to buy a new house.
 
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#27,412
#27,412
ETV said:
I had known about the rods, but was unaware they needed to be changed every 5 years. My home is 5 years old this September so I'll mark it down on the to do list.

Thanks for the info ND40.
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If you can check the original parts list you can substitute a cheaper aftermarket. Our house units are Ruud/Rheem they use magnesium. The shop is AO Smith/State Select that’s aluminum. The outdoor living is Whirlpool they use aluminum/zinc. Probably not a big deal but keeps the chemistry consistent in each hot water supply. All ports are standard on residential hot water tanks 3/4-14NPT
 
#27,423
#27,423
AshG said:
You'd think that by age 42 I'd be smart enough to not go grocery shopping on Superb Owl Sunday.
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I did that today around noon time.....Kroger was busy. Lordy lou.....you'd think an earthquake was fixin to strike & people were gonna be stranded for months on end. They were getting bottled water & cokes....the whole 9 yards.
 
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