Don't Throw It Out!
Jon Diagnosing What Was Wrong with Our Water Heater
Why did our shower water start hot and turn cold in less than five minutes? I
hate having to rinse the shampoo out of my hair with cold water!
We had hot water, but only for a few minutes. So, the water heater worked, but not correctly. Jon was on a
mission to diagnose the problem and repair it. This ten-year-old Calorex water heater (called a boiler here in Mexico) was a good-quality unit, and he did not want to replace it. Repairing it would save a lot of money, he was sure! It turned out to be multiple
problems, but all were solvable for a reasonable price.
Jon Made Sure that the Pilot Light was Lit
He Set the Temperature Selector to Caliente (Hot)
We had warm showers for only four or five minutes! Jon began reading and watching YouTube videos until he understood the problem and how to repair it.
Over time, minerals
can build up at the bottom of the water heater tank, interfering with the
heating element and causing inconsistent water temperature. Sediment buildup
inside the tank can act as insulation, preventing the water from warming
efficiently.
Mineral Deposit Globs Found Inside Our Water Heater!
Our water heater is inside a cabinet in the condominium hallway connecting eight apartments. I envisioned a flood outside the eight condo units on our floor and convinced Jon to call a plumber to help with this mess.
This Could Result in a Flood in the
Common Condominium Hallway!
Jon Gathered Equipment Needed to Drain the Water Heater
Regularly flushing your water heater can remove sediment
buildup and improve heating efficiency. According to most recommendations, you
should flush the sediment from your water heater at least once a year to
prevent buildup and maintain its efficiency. This tank was ten years old and may
have never been serviced!
This is important in RV water heaters as well as in condo units and standalone homes.
Plumber Poured Water Off the Sludge and Down the Drain
It took three men to do this nasty job—the plumber, his
assistant, and Jon! They turned off the water supply to the water
heater, then attached a hose to the faucet on the side of the tank,
running it into a 5-gallon bucket. After opening the pressure relief valve on
the tank, they turned on the water valve. Nothing happened. The faucet was clogged
with sediment, so they removed it.
Holding the female end of the hose tight to the hole, they
drained the tank water into the bucket, emptying it into the nearby floor drain
each time it filled. After emptying the water heater, they briefly turned on
the water supply to the tank to further flush it. Jon used a hacksaw blade to
dig out the remaining sediment.
Jon Pouring Water Off of the Sediment, Down the Drain
Some Large Mineral Crystals Caught in the Drain
Grunge and Minerals Collected in a Garbage Bag
They disassembled the water heater faucet and cleaned it, then
re-attached it to the tank. After making sure the pressure relief valve
and faucet were closed, they refilled the tank and turned on the gas.
Jon turned on the house faucet
closest to the water heater to allow it to flow. Water, air, and small bits of minerals were flushed from the water line. Next, he cleaned the faucet screen, now full of minerals and grunge. Every faucet and shower head screen would need to be cleaned to restore good flow. Great, hot water flowed!
Jon Cleaning the Minerals from the Bathroom Faucet Screen
After over three hours of hard work and cleanup, the guys
finished the job. Jon paid them 1500 pesos for their time, about $75 US. A new
water heater of the same quality would have cost over 10,000 pesos with
installation ($500 US). This repair saved us over $400 US!
We will put “Flush Water Heater Yearly” on our calendar. We’ve
learned from the locals to repair appliances rather than replace them, as long as possible. We were
ready to buy a new washer and dryer two months ago, but the serviceman told us
they were good quality and worth fixing. He was right—a small repair expense
saved us hundreds of dollars and extended the life of both appliances! He also
suggested a product to clean our dishwasher so it would work better. Another
cost savings!
Thank you to Jon for helping write this technical article. If you have any questions or suggestions, I'll run them by Jon and get back to you. You can leave comments below. Thanks!
Terry L Turrell and Jonathan P. Turrell, Authors
