I woke up Sunday morning and decided to get in the shower and realized that I had no hot water. And, while a cold shower can be quite refreshing on a hot summer day, it is not too hot this week. So, I stood under the cold water for as long as I could stand it forgoing my hair until after the h2o heater could be fixed. I called the plumber that installed my NEW water heater three years ago and they called me first thing Monday morning. I was hoping they could get out Monday morning so I could wash the body and my hair in Warm water. Unfortunately, there were other clients that had more pressing issues first thing in the morning so I would have take the COLD shower. Ugh! It was bone-chilling cold. It was miserable but I made it through. Those are the times I wish I had short hair that was easy to get wet and clean. No such luck. I have a thick-healthy head of long hair.
The guy came out and replaced the burned out element in less than thirty minutes. However, my h20 heater had 2 heating elements for just such an occasion. Unfortunately, when they installed the heater 3 years ago, they did not check to see that the top heating element was working properly. The plumber said it had jostled loose when it was installed and wasn't touching the top part of the tank to determine that it was hot, or cold. So, my question is, if they didn't make sure that the unit was working properly before they left 3 years ago, weren't they partly to blame for the lower element burning out in three years? There was some calcium on the burned out element (because apparently I should be draining the tank yearly), but who does this? Does every homeowner actually drain their water heater annually? Or more importantly, do they drain a gallon or 2 a month like the manufacturer requests? I had know idea.
I do now. I went out on the web in search of "how to drain your water heater" and found lots of different results. The one I followed? My manufacturers directions. A long process, but hopefully, I won't have to invite the plumber out every 3 years.
80.00 labor/15.00 part -- not covered by warranty.
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Water heater blues. Don't you love it? After we replaced our water heater we started smelling rotten eggs from the hot water. We're on well water and apparently some minerals in our area react to the magnesium rod in heaters and produces this after effect. The manufacture suggests draining a gallon, add bleach, let it sit, and drain completely. And yet the smell could come back. The installers suggest removing the stupid rod which isn't need in our area (which voids the warranty). It's a no win situation.
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