Water Heater question.....shit is leaking out the bottom.

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

I come home from work and the little bugger has been leaking out the bottom all over the utility room floor. I've cleaned it all up and there doesn't appear to be a long term problem with the flooring. I caught it rather quickly. A couple of bath towels cleaned it up.

Here is my question though:

I bought it at Lowes. It has a six year warranty. I'm five years in. The paperwork and my receipt say to call the water heater manufacturer. Are these poor bastards gonna dick me around? Has anyone on here ever had this problem? The guy at Lowes says they will likely give me an authorization code. I should get the code and bring the water heater back to them in the morning.

If those hillbillies in Tennessee dick me around, I'll take the water heater back to the folks at Lowes and tell them to honor their receipt which clearly states on it: 50 gallon gas water heater/6 year warranty.

Let me just say for the record. I hate those fucking retards at Lowes. Why I even shop there is a mystery. What those clerks know you could sometimes fit in extra small thimble.

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

it's probably a staged type warranty and they'll only give you the value of 1 year, water heater is shot if it's leaking out of the bottom. i'm assuming it's inside or in the garage, is it gas or electric?

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

might i suggest an "on demand" type unit that will pay for itself in about 18 months and reduce you water useage as well, my company sells the rinnai brand and i love the one i have in my house. smaller, more effecient, less consumption, no drawbacks to this type system. go to their website and check out the calculators, it may be worth a look.

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
it's probably a staged type warranty and they'll only give you the value of 1 year, water heater is shot if it's leaking out of the bottom. i'm assuming it's inside or in the garage, is it gas or electric?

I have no doubt it's shot. Leaking out the bottom for sure. A very very small leak but enough to accumulate a good puddle for one day. It's gas and I installed it five years ago. I have no problem installing another one. I was hoping I would get a credit towards the next one. The price of these bad boys has about doubled in five years.

I just have a bad feeling about calling these jokers. It seems like any way folks can try and screw you, they will. Tomorrow will probably be no different.

Wish me luck.

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
might i suggest an "on demand" type unit that will pay for itself in about 18 months and reduce you water useage as well, my company sells the rinnai brand and i love the one i have in my house. smaller, more effecient, less consumption, no drawbacks to this type system. go to their website and check out the calculators, it may be worth a look.

Can you send me a link ?

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

www.foreverhotwater.com

the only time it operates is when you turn on the faucet, you can have 4 thermostats in different rooms to control that areas temp (kids area lower to reduce the risk of scalding). not sure you could do it yourself but if you are adept at such things it shouldn't be a problem.

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

I just did some looking at it. Very impressed. The water heater now is next to the washer/dryer in the utility room inside the house. Do they generally install these systems in the same place that the heater was? The house is old, built in 1942. Are there any significant upgrades that would need to be done to get a unit installed? They appear to be $600 to $1300. I assume they come in different sizes? The house is only 1000 square feet. What does installation normally run? Any information you have personally is preferred than getting it from the various sites that sell the units. Thanks.

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

Looks like the list price on the one that would best suit my house is $934. Any idea on installation costs and time it takes to install?

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

it will require "venting to outside air". if the utility room is on the outside wall, they have a kit and it's akin to putting an exhaust fan in the ceiling except it's in the wall, they provide a "cap" for the outside to keep out the critters. i would install it where the plumbing hook-ups are now and they provide 2 flex hook-ups that will need to be mated to existing piping be it copper or cpvc type. t-stats are a 2 or 3 wire hook-up and you can mount them close to a sink or shower to lessen finish work in restoring the sheetrock. this is probably a 2 day type job for a novice, if you decide to try this get my email and i'll give you my number or have my service man call and talk you along the way.

C.P. · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
www.foreverhotwater.com

the only time it operates is when you turn on the faucet, you can have 4 thermostats in different rooms to control that areas temp (kids area lower to reduce the risk of scalding). not sure you could do it yourself but if you are adept at such things it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm kinda lazy tonight..just took a peek at your site, looks cool.
Again, I'm tired and lazy, I have 75 gal. Hot Water Heater.
Can they convert this.Will it accommodate a 5000sq ft home

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

not my site c.p. but we are an authorized dealer, a home that size may require 2 units depending on how your plumbing is laid out. the payback is worth the investment when you weigh out the cost of a new h20 heater and the savings you will enjoy.

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
it will require "venting to outside air". if the utility room is on the outside wall, they have a kit and it's akin to putting an exhaust fan in the ceiling except it's in the wall, they provide a "cap" for the outside to keep out the critters. i would install it where the plumbing hook-ups are now and they provide 2 flex hook-ups that will need to be mated to existing piping be it copper or cpvc type. t-stats are a 2 or 3 wire hook-up and you can mount them close to a sink or shower to lessen finish work in restoring the sheetrock. this is probably a 2 day type job for a novice, if you decide to try this get my email and i'll give you my number or have my service man call and talk you along the way.

I wouldn't install it myself. The wife would not allow it. When it comes to something like this I would just shell out the bucks.

I'm not sure I can convince the wife that this is the best bet. Maybe if I have her take out the leaking water heater and hook up the new one she would agree.

Wild guess here but the cost plus installation sounds like about $1800 no?

C.P. · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
not my site c.p. but we are an authorized dealer, a home that size may require 2 units depending on how your plumbing is laid out. the payback is worth the investment when you weigh out the cost of a new h20 heater and the savings you will enjoy.

Thank You Sir:toast:

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

couple of other thoughts.....no power and unlike the traditional GAS water heater this one will not work.

this thing will make hot water until you run out of gas or run out of water, temp will be the same if you let it run for 1 hr or 5 minutes. max temp setting is 140 degrees.

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

where are you located legend? i would try and find a service tech, look at the local greasy spoon at breakfast that's where they'll be and ask one if he wants to do some "side work for cash" on a saturday. most companies, mine included, don't mind a guy making some coin on the side.

you should be able to get this installed for 150-200 cash, you'll provide materials and he'll do the labor.

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
couple of other thoughts.....no power and unlike the traditional GAS water heater this one will not work.

this thing will make hot water until you run out of gas or run out of water, temp will be the same if you let it run for 1 hr or 5 minutes. max temp setting is 140 degrees.

Don't the gas ones run on electricity?

The site says it runs on 120volt?

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
where are you located legend? i would try and find a service tech, look at the local greasy spoon at breakfast that's where they'll be and ask one if he wants to do some "side work for cash" on a saturday. most companies, mine included, don't mind a guy making some coin on the side.

you should be able to get this installed for 150-200 cash, you'll provide materials and he'll do the labor.

Got a pan under the leaking heater. Will see what I can muster up tomorrow. Wife wants it fixed or something lined up soon. A damn wife, who needs em?!

Legend-I-Aint · Jun 11, 2008

teazeman said:
where are you located legend? i would try and find a service tech, look at the local greasy spoon at breakfast that's where they'll be and ask one if he wants to do some "side work for cash" on a saturday. most companies, mine included, don't mind a guy making some coin on the side.

you should be able to get this installed for 150-200 cash, you'll provide materials and he'll do the labor.

Washington State

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

t-stats run on electricity and the gas valve is electronic, hence no power and no hot water. traditional gas water heaters will still provide hot water without the need for electric service.

teazeman · Jun 11, 2008

Legend-I-Aint said:
Washington State

may cost a tad more than 150-200 out west, like i said it should be fairly easy to find a guy that will do it for cash. he will probably need his service truck, we allow ours to be driven home and i don't know what the policy out west is?