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| Urban Plumbing Service, Inc. Water Heater Information "A Business Built on Honesty and Dedication..." |
| READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY The information given is in regards to a 50 gallon Rheem water heater. |
Complaint: I'm running out of hot water too quickly.
The most common factor that causes this complaint is too much water use. The homeowner can expect
the following results from their water heater if no other hot water has been used, they are working from a
full tank of hot water, and the temperature is set at the standard 120 degrees (*Please note* the average
40-50 gallon water heater will take about one hour to recover completely):
The most common factor that causes this complaint is too much water use. The homeowner can expect
the following results from their water heater if no other hot water has been used, they are working from a
full tank of hot water, and the temperature is set at the standard 120 degrees (*Please note* the average
40-50 gallon water heater will take about one hour to recover completely):
 | On flow restricted faucets (showers, lave faucets, kitchen faucets, etc. - unless the homeowner | |
| has removed the flow restrictor) approximately 2.5 gallons of water is able to go through the faucet per minute. The homeowner could expect to run a shower for approximately 25 minutes. This figure could be less if the temperature outside is cooler than normal or if the desired water temperature is higher than normal. | ||
| On faucets without flow restrictors (washing machine boxes, or if the owner has removed the | |
| flow restrictors from any other faucet) the faucet would allow approximately 4 - 5 gallons of water through per minute. The homeowner could expect to run a shower for approximately 12 - 15 minutes. Again, this figure could be less if the temperature outside is cooler than normal or if the desired water temperature is higher than normal. | ||
| On the deck valve at the big tub, the faucet would allow approximately 18 gallons of water through | |
| per minute. The homeowner could expect to run the water for approximately 5 minutes. See the information under "The hot water temperature does not seem to be hot enough" for more information. | ||
| Homeowners must take into account the use of any other hot water prior to their use: If other | |
| family members have taken showers, if the washing machine has been run with hot water, if the dishwasher has been used recently, etc. |
Suggestion:
 | Homeowners may want to adjust the temperature on their water heaters. When we install a water | |
| heater it is preset for a safe temperature of 120 degrees. Less hot water is used the higher the temperature is set. Turning up the temperature will result in slightly higher electric bills based on how much the temperature is adjusted. Turning up the temperature is not suggested in households with children or adults who may scald themselves. Directions on how to adjust the temperature can usually be found in the owner's manual or online at http://www.rheem. com/dealers/catalogRes_detail.asp?id=24 | ||
| Upgrading to a larger water heater would help the situation, but the cost to upgrade may out | |
| weigh the desire for more hot water. Also note that larger water heaters will use more electricity and may require additional work by an electrician. |
- A 60 gallon water heater would give aprx. 5 additional minutes of water usage on faucets with
flow restrictors, and aprx. 2.5 - 3 additional minutes of water usage on faucets without flow
restrictors. (numbers would be less for high water volume per minute faucets i.e. the deck valve
at the big tub). - An 80 gallon water heater would give aprx. 15 additional minutes of water usage on faucets with
flow restrictors, and aprx. 7.5 - 9.5 additional minutes of water usage on faucets without flow
restrictors (numbers would be less for high water volume per minute faucets i.e. the deck valve
at the big tub). - A 120 gallon water heater would give aprx. 35 additional minutes of water usage on faucets with
flow restrictors, and aprx.17.5 - 22 additional minutes of water usage on faucets without flow
restrictors (numbers would be less for high water volume per minute faucets i.e. the deck valve
at the big tub).
Complaint: The hot water temperature does not seem hot enough.
There are several factors that often lead to this complaint.
There are several factors that often lead to this complaint.
| The preset water temperature of 120 degrees may be too low. | |
| Rheem water heaters are built with a special feature called “EverKleen” that is meant to reduce | |
| the yearly maintenance of water heaters. This feature causes jets to shoot cold water into the bottom of the tank while the hot water is drawn from the top of the tank after it is heated. If a homeowner runs a faucet with a high water volume per minute (i.e. the deck valve on the big tub) with the hot side wide open, it causes the cold water from the bottom of the tank to mix with the hot water at the top of the tank. This will result in a cooler temperature. |
Suggestion:
| The homeowner may want to adjust the preset water temperature on their water heater (see the | |
| information given above) | ||
| Homeowner’s should not run the hot water wide open on any faucet with a high water volume | |
| per minute (i.e. the deck valve on the big tub) |
Complaint: It takes a long time to get hot water to a particular faucet.
There is usually one reason for this complaint.
There is usually one reason for this complaint.
| The copper piping that carries hot water from your water heater runs in a loop. This means that | |
| the faucets that are hit first will get hot water faster than the faucets that are hit last. Having flow restrictors in your faucet will also delay the amount of time it takes to receive hot water because less volume is able to go through the faucet. Homeowners should use a timer to track the exact amount of time it takes to get hot water to the particular faucet before calling our office so that there is a timed reference. |
Suggestion:
| Before construction begins a recirculating system can be installed. A recirculating system | |
| allows hot water to constantly be running through a loop so that hot water is always with in 5' of every faucet. This causes the hot water to be accessible with in seconds on any faucet. |
- Drawbacks regarding a recirculating system include higher electric bills because there is a
certain amount of heat loss due to the water constantly running through the pipes. To help
counteract the electric bill, homeowners often put their recirculating system on a timer. So if a
timer is set to come on at 5am-9am and again at 3pm-10pm, hot water would not be readily
accessible during the middle of the day or in the middle of the night. Timers are not required,
but it is highly suggested.
| Before construction begins a split water heater system may be installed. This would mean the | |
| homeowner would have two separate water heaters running separate areas of the house. This would dramatically reduce the wait time to get hot water to a faucet, but some delay would still be expected |
- Drawbacks regarding a split system include a higher electric bill due to maintaining two water
heaters, space may be a factor, and it will not eliminate the wait time all together.
| Before construction begins a booster heater system may be installed. This would allow a | |
| booster heater to feed one particular area and reduce the wait time to get hot water to that area. |
- Drawbacks include a higher electric bill, although it is not as substantial as a split system or a
recirculating system, there is a down time in the hot water that would cause a spot of cold
water after a few minutes of use. James does not recommend a booster heater.
Rheem offers an excellent water heater that we install standard on all of our jobs (unless the
homeowner has requested a different brand). We have had very few problems with these water
heaters and feel that they offer superb quality. If after reading this letter a homeowner still believes
there is something wrong with their water heater, they should contact our office at 941-748-6964 to
make an appointment to inspect it. If upon inspection, the water heater in question meets these general
guidelines of performance the homeowner will be subject to a service charge of $50 plus time (or the
current rate), due at the time of the visit. We hope this information is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Urban Plumbing Service, Inc.
homeowner has requested a different brand). We have had very few problems with these water
heaters and feel that they offer superb quality. If after reading this letter a homeowner still believes
there is something wrong with their water heater, they should contact our office at 941-748-6964 to
make an appointment to inspect it. If upon inspection, the water heater in question meets these general
guidelines of performance the homeowner will be subject to a service charge of $50 plus time (or the
current rate), due at the time of the visit. We hope this information is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Urban Plumbing Service, Inc.