Name:   Shortbus - Subject:   Plumbing/Water Heater Question Date:   4/22/2014 3:42:03 PM

Just wanted to make some water heater info known.

I had my relief valve leaking.

Happened after the regulator out at the street was replaced.

I would come into the cabin and turn on the water heater from cold.

Turns out that the street regulator includes a check valve.  (Water cannot go from house to main)

By heating the water in the checked house system, pressures went to 150# on 100# cpvc.

You can get a pressure gauge that connects to your hose bibb.

Toilet ran, washing machine connection dripped, etc.

Finally installed an expansion tank on the cold side of the heater.

The time a water heater lasts depends on the zinc rod inside.

It disintegrates sacrificially in place of the tank metal.

A 5 year warranty heater has one,  a 10 has two rods.

Just replace every 4 or 5 years and you have a 25 year water heater..............................

If your heater is 15 years old,  get rid of it before the flood.