Pre2018

Getting Yourself Into Hot Water

Most of the time we think of the expression “getting yourself into hot water” as something that is less than desirable. A situation that is not good. Trouble.

At Hot Water 911, we look at that expression a bit differently. We want you to be able to get yourself into hot water. We want you to be able to put your customers and clients into hot water. It’s what we pride ourselves in. If you don’t have hot water, we get you back into hot water ASAP. Because hot water is a relative thing. When you are a restaurant, you need hot water for sanitation and hand sinks. When you are a hotel, you need hot water for showers and food service. When you are a home owner, you need hot water for baths and laundry. This is the kind of hot water Hot Water 911 likes to get you into. We take you out of the hot water that is your problem and put you and your customers or family back into the hot water that provides you comfort.

So, whenever you are out of hot water, let Hot Water 911 get you back into hot water. Water heaters are what we do…it’s all we do.

Who Thinks About Hot Water On Hot Days Like This?

Whew….it’s a scorcher out there today. And, I don’t know about you but I’ve been showering with very cool water for the past few days. I’m not sure if there is any truth to this theory but I’m hoping that by showering in cool water, I will feel cooler during the day. If you know differently, don’t tell me…I want to believe in this theory. 😉

So,why even think about hot water today? Think sanitation. Think health. While you and I might not want to soak our perspiring bodies in hot steamy water, the bacteria and viruses that scramble around on dirty dishes, pots and pans, medical instruments, dirty laundry, dialysis equipment and more need reliable hot water to be destroyed. When we go out to eat, we rarely think about the function hot water plays in the restaurant business to sanitize the dishes and utensils you use when eating. When we go to the doctor, we don’t stop to think about how hot water may be used to help sterilize equipment. When we drive past the dialysis center, we never think about how reliant the patients that depend on dialysis are on hot water. Well maintained water heaters play a far bigger role in our everyday life than we give it credit for. So much more than just our showers.

So, as you are mopping the sweat off of your brow today, give a little mental salute to the under-appreciated water heater. And kudos to the highly trained technicians that come running out to repair and maintain those same water heaters. Without them, sanitation needs would not be adequately met and life as we know it would be a lot less healthy.

And, to answer all of your hot water questions and water heater needs, you can always rely on Hot Water 911. Call us at 1-800-GO HOT WATER (1-800-464-6892)

Hot Water 911: What To Do About Water Heater Leaks

Water heaters….can’t live with them, can’t live without them. Oh wait…maybe that’s men…or women….I’m confused.

Here’s what I do know. When your water heater isn’t working, your world changes. Maybe only for a day or two, but, it definitely changes. We tend to take our water heaters for granted whether it is on a personal use level or on a business use level.

So here’s an interesting scenario…what happens if you still are getting hot water but, you happen to see that there is water on the floor around your water heater tank? What should you do?

You should know that there are a few reasons that there might be water on the floor around your water heater and they don’t all mean that you need a new water heater. You could have something as simple as a loose valve that is causing a leak. And…water around the water heater does not always mean that you have a leak!! Your water heater could be experiencing condensation ( when cold water is introduced into the hot water heater tank, condensation is formed and will drip down the sides of the tank and create what may be misdiagnosed as a leak).

So…the smartest and safest thing to do if you see water pooled around the bottom of your water heater is to call experts in water heaters. That’s what we do….it’s all we do…so, if you ever have questions or concerns or problems regarding your water heater, email us or give us a call at 1-800- GO HOT WATER (1-800-464-6892). We are always happy to help you with your water heater problems.

Hot Water 911 Feels Spring in the Air

So one week we are talking about snow blocking your flue pipe and the next week we are talking about Spring maintenance. What gives? Well we don’t know about you but we are so ready for Spring that we thought, if we start thinking Spring thoughts…..well, who knows…hope springs eternal…

And since knowledge is power, let’s be proactive.

First, it is really important to familiarize yourself with your water heater. We can’t stress that enough. If you just think of it as this big clunky machine in your basement or machine room that automatically heats your water, you are going to feel very helpless the day you turn on the sink and only cold water greets you. So, now, when your water heater is “healthy” take a look at it. Find out if your water heater is a high efficiency condensing unit or if it is a standard low efficiency non-condensing unit. Find manufacturer’s name and the model and serial number of your water heater, usually located on a vinyl tag (sometimes it’s a little elusive) somewhere on the water heater. Write it down and if possible, go to the manufacturer’s website and enter the model and serial number information there and you can do a little forensics on your water heater and print out an Owners Operational and Maintenance sheet (O&M). If you happen to have an AO Smith or a Bradford White type water heater, you can click on their links on the side panel of this page. With your O&M sheet you will learn where the valves are, where the pilot light is, where the anode rod is, where the safety controls are and how to regulate your temperature settings. Take that O&M information back down with you and stand in front of the water heater and do a sort of scavenger hunt with each of it’s components. Once you know what each component is called and where it is located, you are already incredibly well informed.

Now what can you do with that information? One thing that we recommend all of the time is to do an annual flushing of your water heater. We tend to think of Spring as a time to do chores and maintenance around our home or building so, Spring is an excellent time to flush your hot water tank. Whether you have a gas type or electric (and, of course, you now know this because you have read your O&M) you need to shut off your water heater by turning off the electricity that goes to the water heater. Make sure you turn off the gas to your water heater. Now, find a garden hose and bring it into your basement or machine room. You will want to hook up the hose to the bottom drain valve of your water heater and run the other end of the hose into a floor drain or into a basin. With protective gloves on (the water will be very hot) you will open the drain valve and let the water run out until you see the water becomes clear. When you are done, turn off the drain valve and disconnect your hose (remember that there is water still in the hose so be careful). At this point, if there were no problems with the draining (in other words, the water easily flowed out) and the water turned clear, you are most likely good to go. If you were not able to drain the water because it was “scaled up”, you will need to call in an expert to help you with your scaling problem. If , while draining the water you smelled something like rotten eggs, this may also be indicative of a problem with your water heater and you would want to call an expert out to help.

Once you are done with the flushing, there is one more thing that you can do in the annual maintenance of your water heater. While the gas to the water heater is still off and the electricity to the water heater is off, take a vacuum cleaner and remove the burner compartment cover and vacuum inside to remove debris and dust. If you find that the burner compartment has what seems to be soot, this is another time when you would want to call your water heater expert to assess the situation. Once you have cleaned around the burner compartment, you can turn the electricity to the water heater back on as well as the gas to the water heater back on and relight the pilot light. Remember to put the burner compartment cover back on.

So now you can see just how easy it is to do some simple maintenance to your water heater once you are armed with good information. Always remember, though, that if you ever feel unsure about what you are doing with your water heater, stop and call your water heater experts. We at Hot Water 911 are always happy to help with questions, guidance or hands on support.