What Do Rust Stains On Outside Wall From Your Ac Drain Line Mean
If you notice rust stains running down the wall on the exterior of your home below the emergency drain line, you should have it inspected.
Sometimes, this an indication that water has been collecting in air conditioners emergency drain pan for a long time. The long-term effect causes the pan to rust and then slowly drip rusty water down the side wall. Even if you dont see water there presently, its worth looking at because if the pan rusts through it can leak inside your home. Or worse, not show up immediately and begin to grow mold.
Where To Install A Tankless Gas Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are popular because they are compact, energy-efficient, and produce a seemingly endless hot water supply. Water on demand is the main driving force.
You can buy a tankless gas water heater in exterior and interior models. The units are specific to each installation, so you need to know which installation method you use before purchasing. In other words, you cant install interior tankless outside and vice versa.
You can tell the difference between the two based on venting. The tankless outdoor units have built-in venting located in the front of the unit. The indoor tankless water heaters need a vent flue attachment at the top.
Outdoor tankless water heater models work for outdoor installations like on the exterior wall of your house. They have a built-in vent on the front of outdoor heaters.
Indoor tankless water heater models require indoor installation. They cant withstand severe weather conditions, like outdoor models. They are usually installed inside a garage with venting to the exterior, usually through the exterior wall.
Indoor installations of tankless water heaters are usually along the interior side of an exterior wall. While uncommon, installation inside a basement, interior room, or attic is an option. A garage is a popular installation location. The most important consideration is proper ventilation of exhaust gases to the outside.
How To Flush Or Drain A Water Heater Tank
Following are the steps to take when flushing or draining a water heater. This video gives you a great overview:
1 Turn off the water heaters gas supply or electrical power, depending on whether the water heater is gas or electric. On a gas water heater, you can simply turn the gas control to Pilot.
2 Turn off the cold water inlet valve that controls the supply of water to the tank. Be sure this is the incoming cold water valve, not a valve for the outbound hot water . If this valve has a lever like the one shown below, turn it perpendicular to the pipe.
3 Attach a hose to the tank drain valve at the bottom of the water heater, and run the hose to a drain, to the outdoors, or to a large bucket. Make sure the end of the hose is below the level of the drain valve.
4 Open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house and the water heaters pressure-release valve to let in air so the water heater can drain. This prevents a vacuum from forming as the water drains.
Caution: Remember that the water exiting the water heater will be very hot! Be very careful to prevent scalding. If you want to be extra safe, allow the water heater to cool for several hours before doing the next step.
5 Open the water heaters drain valve. If youre just flushing sediment, allow 3 or 4 gallons to exit until the water from the drain valve runs clear. Then close the drain valve and the PT valve. Open and close the cold water supply valve a few times to flush clean water into the tank.
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Perform A Quick Flush
Before you shut off the water, connect a garden hose to the drain valve and try and flush the water heater tank a bit while the water pressure is on. To do this, open the drain valve for a few seconds and then close it again. The pressure will blow out any sediment stuck in the valve and help the tank drain faster. If quite a bit of sediment comes out, you can repeat this a couple of times.
Be sure that you’ve run your garden hose to either an exterior location or into your bucket to catch the water and sediment that will be released.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Water Heater Wont Drain
If your water heater is draining slowly or wont drain at all when you open the drain valve, try opening the pressure-relief valve . This may break the vacuum that prevents the water from escaping.
If the water heater wont drain or is draining slowly, the problem is likely to be that too much sediment has built up in the water heater. Sediment can clog the water heaters drain valve.
The steps below show you how to break the sediment buildup so you can drain a clogged water heater through the drain valve.
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Last Word Of Precaution: Consultyour Heaters Manual And Warranty
The tips that weve mentioned above are greatfor general reference. Most modern water heaters operate in such a fashion thatwould allow you to use these tips with no issues. Still, we recommend that youcheck your water heaters manual to confirm that everything is where we say itis based on our instructions.
While our technicians can certainly identifyand work with any abnormal configurations, for the sake of brevity this postsimply touches on the most common cases.
Lastly, be sure that anything you are doingdoes not void your warranty. Replacing the drain valve, pressure valve, or thelike usually does not affect your warranty but, again, there may be somespecific instances. Better safe than sorry!
Can You Install A Tank Water Heater Outside
Electric and gas tank water heaters should not be in outdoor locations without shelter. We recommend installations inside the garage, storage area, attic, or indoors. Some exceptions do apply.
If you live in a warm climate that doesnt have harsh winters, you can install them in an outdoor water heater enclosure or weatherproof shelter. Outdoor locations are not best in cold weather. Unlike tankless models, tank models make water heating harder and less energy efficient.
However, an outdoor water heater enclosure is not for all tank water heaters. The diameter of the water heater cannot exceed 30 inches, which will eliminate some models. Typically these enclosures will fit up to an 80-gallon water heater.
I dont usually recommend galvanized steel enclosures because they are not constructed with a back and are generally not sealed or insulated. The steel enclosure doesnt have a back because it sits up against the house. These enclosures are also prone to leaks from rainfall which can cause the tanks exterior to rust.
If you intend to install a water heater outside inside a galvanized steel enclosure, we recommend that you not install the water heater directly on the ground. You can use a raised platform or purchase a steel raised water heater stand so that water does not collect in the bottom of the enclosure and rust out the tank. Also, if using a gas water heater, you dont want water collecting in the burner chamber.
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Water Dripping From A Small Pipe Outside The House
We bought a house recently, and there is a couple of small pipes in the wall outside the house under the kitchen window. One of the pipes is constantly dripping water. I was told by a pest inspector that this was from furnace and it’s OK, but I still have concerns and wanted to ask for opinions.
The pipe is in a weird place, dripping on a concrete in patio area of the backyard. If I were to design this and knew it would drip constantly, I would put it in a less prominent place.
There is also a musty smell in the kitchen/family room area the source of which I haven’t found yet. Might this be related?
Here is how it looks:
So, do you think this dripping is normal? If not, what should be the next steps? Should I call a plumber?
“If you live in the county, you can get away with all kinds of things.”
I live just outside of city limits in an unincorporated portion of the county. The county building code and permit requirements are nearly identical to what applies for the city. There are minor differences I’ve learned of but nothing substantial. I’m sure it varies from place to place, something Austin often doesn’t consider in his comments.
Horizontal Ac Air Handlers Ac Air Handler In Your Attic
Your central air conditioner is typically made up of at least two pieces of equipment. The condensing unit, a.k.a. the AC condenser and the indoor unit . The condenser is the machine in your yard with the compressor and outdoor fan motor. The air handler, a.k.a. indoor fan coil or furnace is typically located in your attic or garage.
Many people dont even know the air handler is part of the air conditioning system. Often, people mistake the unit in their attic as just the heating system, it actually serves double-duty. Regardless if you have gas heating from a furnace, or heat pump heating from an air handler, you have an evap. coil inside your home that is connected to the outdoor unit. This coil is where condensate is collected and removed. It gets drained outside your home via the condensate drain line. Typically this line terminates on the side or rear of your house, but can be located almost anywhere.
Air conditioner drain lines are made from PVC . Size-wise this pipe or PVC fitting is about as thick around as the circle created when you put your index finger and thumb together .
Horizontal air handlers should have two drain lines which terminate on the side or back of your house. Most often these two terminations will be in line with each other. One will be down low near your foundation, the other up high near the attic. The low one is the AC units primary drain line, the one up near the attic is the air conditioners secondary or emergency drain line.
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Causes Of Too Much Pressure In A Water Heater
When the pressure builds up in a water heater, it usually means one thing: The heating element needs replacing.
This is because the heating element is what heats the water in the tank.
As the temperature of the water increases, the amount of electricity used to keep the water warm also rises.
When the heating element burns out, the heating element no longer works properly.
The best way to prevent this problem is to regularly change the heating element.
However, if you have already replaced the heating element once, chances are good that it will need to be replaced again soon.
Another cause of increased pressure in a water heater is a clogged drain line.
If the drain line becomes blocked, the water cannot drain away from the tank.
Instead, the water sits inside the tank until it backs up into the overflow pipe.
In some cases, the water level in the tank drops below the bottom of the overflow pipe.
This results in a higher than normal pressure reading.
A Loose Pipe Connection
Another possible cause for a leak near the top of your water heater is a loose pipe connection. Your water heater has two pipe connections on top of it: one carries cold water into the tank, and the other delivers hot water to your homes plumbing fixtures. If these pipe connections are loose or rusty, water can leak from them.
What to do about it: If water appears to be leaking from the connection points of these pipes, you can use a wrench to tighten them. On the other hand, if the connections wont tighten or the water leaks directly from the pipes, its best to contact a plumber for help. They can inspect the pipe connections and repair or replace the leaky pipes.
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Causes Of Overflow Pipe Corrosion
Over time, corrosion can weaken the integrity of the overflow pipe. Corrosion weakens the metal pipes that make up the overflow pipe.
Eventually, these weakened pipes can break down completely.
Corroded pipes can also develop leaks over time.
These leaks can eventually allow water to escape from the overflow pipe and back into the tank.
If you suspect that your overflow pipe has been corroded, contact a professional plumber immediately.
Exterior Tankless Water Heaters
Lets look at the outdoor models first. Outdoor tankless water heater installation is best on a sunny sidewall that is not easily visible for warmth and aesthetic purposes.
Tankless water heaters installed on the exterior must stay as warm as possible, particularly during winter. It is also essential to have the water supply lines insulated to prevent freezing.
Many people are installing fencing or some other decorative covers to hide the view of the tankless water heater and maximize curb appeal.
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New Construction Or Remodels
Common Causes For A Hot Water Heater Leaking From The Overflow Pipe
Diagnostics play an essential role when working with the overflow pipe since a wrong diagnosis can lead to more severe repercussions than normal. We will cover the common causes of a hot water heater to leak from the overflow pipe. However, double-check that you found the right cause before allowing yourself to get too relaxed.
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Water Heater Leaking From Drain Pipe
Water heaters are a modern commodity, that is when they work properly. However, sometimes you walk by your water heater and find that it is leaking water, and that is a problem. So, why is it that your water heater is leaking from the drainpipe?
Your water heater could be leaking from the drainpipe because the pressure relief valve is damaged or has a weak seal. It could also be that your water supply lines are worn out and need to be replaced. Otherwise, there could be a buildup of sediment in the tank, or the tank itself could have burst.
You can find out the exact cause if you examine the water heater. Follow along as we explore the possible causes and solutions to water leaking from your drainpipe.
Replace The Drain Valve With A Ball Valve
A ball valve is much larger than a standard drain valve. By replacing your drain valve with a ball valve you’ll not only unclog your tank, but you’ll also prevent sediment from clogging it in the future. Here’s how to replace your drain valve with a ball valve:
- Purchase a brass 3/4″ Ball Valve and two 3/4″ dielectric nipples. . Each nipple will attach to one side of the ball valve.
- Use teflon tape on the thread of the nipples that screw into the the ball valve.
- Keep in mind that the handle of the ball valve should open AWAY from the tank. Use the teflon tape on the second side of one of the nipples .
- Double check that ALL faucets in the house are CLOSED. This will create a vacuum in your water heater and prevent the water from “pouring” out.
- Place a bucket and towels under the drain valve.
- Using an adjustable wrench, loosen the drain valve.
- Slowly unscrew the drain valve. Be prepared for some water to pour out of your tank.
- Even if your tank is clogged, you’ll most likely have some water escape. If the issue is a faulty drain valve, you most certainly will have water.
- Immediately insert the new ball valve. This should only take a few seconds.
- Connect a garden hose and drain your tank.
- Once your tank has drained, you should either replace the ball valve with a regular drain valve or remove the handle for safety. The handle could inadvertently be opened and drain your tank. This could cause water damage and/or serious burns.
Watch the Video
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What Is An Overflow Pipe
A temperature and pressure relief valve does just what its name suggests: relieves temperature and pressure from a water heater. If the internal pressure in your hot water heater reaches or exceeds 150 pounds per square inch, or if the temperature of the water exceeds 210 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature and pressure relief valve will open.
When it opens, hot water comes rushing out of the water heater and through the temperature and pressure relief valve drain pipe. This release of water prevents the water heater from exploding due to excess pressure and temperature. Given this crucial function, its important that you ensure the proper operation of your temperature and pressure relief valve at all times.