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FAQ
Question: When I am in the laundry room and
the water heater is operating, I hear a rumbling sound coming from the water heater. What could cause this?
Answer: Rumbling sounds coming from a water
heater are an indication that sediment is built up on the bottom of the water heater. What you are hearing is water that is
trapped in the sediment and is boiling. This is an indication that the water heater is not operating efficiently. Sediment
will not allow the heat to transfer to the water in the tank, which sends the heat up the flue.
You may try draining a few gallons of water off the bottom
of the water heater tank. This is done by attaching a drain hose to the valve at the bottom of the tank. Allow it to drain
for about five minutes.
WARNING: HOT WATER IS DANGEROUS. DISCHARGE THE WATER
INTO A FLOOR DRAIN, LAUNDRY TUB OR BATHTUB. HOT WATER WILL KILL YOUR GRASS IF DISCHARGED ONTO THE LAWN. HOT WATER WILL CRACK
A TOILET BOWL IF DISCHARGED INTO THE TOILET.
Many newer models of water heaters have a new feature that prohibits
the buildup of sediment in the tank. If your heater is an older model, it may be cost effective to replace the water heater
if the buildup is severe.
Question: I am hearing a whistle sound that seems to
be connected to the plumbing system. It comes and goes at times, but I can't find the cause of it. What could cause this?
Answer: The sound you are describing is usually
caused by a toilet fill valve that is slowly leaking. To locate the leaking toilet, remove the lid of each toilet tank and
adjust the fill valve mechanism until it stops. Once you have found the toilet causing the problem, repair or replace the
fill valve.
Question: We need to
replace a toilet in our home. We have heard coworkers and friends complain that the new toilets do not flush properly, and
that they require multiple flushes. What is the recommendation for toilet replacement?
Answer:
When the federal government mandated that new toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush, manufacturers had to develop
a toilet that would achieve this but that would also flush properly (clear the bowl) and carry the waste to the city sewer
or septic system. Some of the early models did not do this properly. Since then, the complaints have forced the manufacturers
to develop new ways of flushing toilets. One new way is the use of a pressurized toilet tank. This model looks like a regular
toilet, but it has a pressure tank inside. When flushed, it works like a commercial toilet. A large surge of water enters
the bowl and clears the bowl of any waste. These toilets work well, but are not as quiet as a conventional model.
When
considering a new fixture for your home such as a toilet, we recommend that you choose a fixture made by one of the major
manufacturers, such as American Standard, Kohler or Eljer.
Question: There are four
people in our house, two adults and two teens. We are constantly running out of hot water. After a five-minute shower, the
water starts to turn cold. This change occurred quite recently. Help!
Answer: There are
two possibilities. First, the dip tube has broken off. This is a tube that forces incoming water to the bottom of the tank
so that hot water will be drawn off of the top. When the dip tube breaks, cold water entering the tank mixes with the hot
water and cools it down. This can occur in both gas and electric models.
Second, if your water heater is electric, the lower element that heats the water may not be operating properly, thus
only the upper half of the tank will heat up. The cause of this problem could be a bad element or a thermostat malfunction.
This type of problem should be evaluated by a qualified technician.
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