Tradespeople Facing Technical Issues
Electricians, plumbers and other tradespeople are encountering technical problems with equipment and installations. These range from electrical circuit issues to plumbing system malfunctions and identifying legacy machinery.
SOURCES (50)
“I have this exact setup on several hot water heaters, as it allows easy replacement. My inspector made me step upna size when I used PEX B, but with PEX A, 3/4" was sufficient”
“Just because it's code doesn't make it right. You forgot the important word in that statement. Minimum code.”
“Having a hybrid system would increase the complexity, not decrease it. I didn't say that it'd decrease complexity. I'm proposing an option that would actually meet OP's constraints in a way that (I hope) limits complexity (and the size of the battery). I'm also not an electrical engineer, so I'd love better ideas. :)”
“Hey everyone. I own a plumbing company, so I have HALF a clue what im doing. This isnt for my unit, but an employee's. The breaker for the condenser outside keeps tripping, but not immediately. The unit will run multiple cycles potentially before tripping. This is a new problem this year. I have a tech coming to look at it this week from a company we work with, but he likely wont be charging me so Id like to save him the trip if possible. Its a 5 year old Goodman 1.5 ton unit. Label says 15A”
“Does that have a temp + pressure relief valve on it? Looks quite different to what's required where I am in my country, we have to fit a temp+pressure relief valve, and a cold water expansion valve (assuming that's instead of an expansion tank which you fellas over there seem to use instead), and a drain valve down low for removal, and also the hot water cylinder would need a seismic restraint strapping kit on it to tension-secure it onto a structural wall. Oh, and we need to lag/insulat”
“I've been helping a friend out with her plumbing. Replaced all the old leaky copper with PEX, except for a few bits still hiding in the walls in a couple places. She just shot me a message saying that her shower isn't as hot as she'd like it to be. Water heater is in the basement, shower is on second floor. It's a pretty straight run, about 15' of 1/2" pipe, with... I think three elbows after the branch from the 3/4" line. Kitchen sink gets plenty hot, she says, and”
“i once was changing out a water heater cut the earthquake strap with an old pair of snips. got hit by a 220 v line. knocked me clear avrossed the garage. popped every breaker in the house. who ever installed it naild the brace into a 220 line thats why you are supposed to use nail guards on every stud”
“What temperature is the heater set at? Do you and your partner take showers at significantly different temperatures? It also sounds like a flow sensor could also be an issue. Set the temp at 120 Fahrenheit, no higher. And I would do a flush. That Rinnai model is all copper piping internally. You are not going to hurt the pipes.”
“I have a Noritz. I use 4 gallons white vinegar in a 5 gallon bucket. On a dual exchange heater you should turn off the gas and run the hot water until you see an error code and keep the unit plugged in and turned on. If the vinegar turns blue it is working and you have a little build up of scale. If it turns green you have a lot of build up. The scale dissolves in the vinegar and you can't see it. I let mine run over night. Also drain any water from the unit first so the vinegar doesn't”
“Tell the HVAC guy his duct is moving unless he can figure out how to make water run uphill.”
“Looks like maybe the dielectric couplings were bad? It is definitely electrolysis.”
“Sorry, I replied to the wrong comment. But you are correct. Idk what the pex manufacturers would say but code book sizes all water line in such a way to not exceed 8 ft per second.”
You’re missing the required valve kit. You’d have to add that to flush it.
“The whole house is designed in a single pipe system, so nobody can fully disable theirs, we want to change that, hence the bypass. Everything stays as is but install the radiator to the right. So you agree flow will be very weak and heating not optimal? Keep in mind the house is 10 stories and this is the first floor.”
“Has anyone been to Vic's class and learned about "Cloud Impedance"? And how the grounding wire on a water heater will arc if loosened from the grounding bar? I think there needs to be some facts checks here. submitted by /u/aktion1388 [link] [comments]”
“They didn't used to build things that were designed to fail so they could sell the same thing 10 years later. planned obsolescence”
“I just this spring replaced my furnace for efficiency sake and the fact that no one could service it. It was original to the home and heated it every year perfectly since install in 1953. Good pick grandpa!”
“Apparently, McGraw went out of business in 1974. Their commitment to quality was too strong. Their water heaters were too well built and lasted too long. They didn't get repeat business because replacement water heaters weren't needed! Doesn't seem to be the case today!”
“Both me and my co worker have UEI meter and official UEI temp clamps, both keep reading about 3 degree differences, is there an official way of confirming who’s is right? submitted by /u/liam6622 [link] [comments]”
“I have a 240v 2 element tank that is showing 240v on the top element, I replacement the top thermostat and still not making any heat. all wires are clean and well connect. I have no idea why I would have 240v but it’s not making heat. is the current too low? The tank was working fine last year submitted by /u/kyle88 [link] [comments]”
“I’m an electrician in South Carolina troubleshooting a hot tub. It is shocking people who touch the water while standing on the concrete pad that it’s set on. When I test the water or equipment ground of the hot tub to the wet concrete or earth, I get 4-6 volts. I get the same results when testing the earth to the grounded housing of the A/C and water heater about 50ft away, as well as from the earth to the neighbor’s A/C unit 100ft in the opposite direction. These results are the same even if t”
“Hi Everyone, Looking for some guidance on how I can approach the install of the Rheem Water Heater Booster where I don't have 14 inches of pipe above the hot water tank and the pipe is on a slant - see photos for ref. Thanks!  submitted by /u/Same_Variety5853 [link] [comments]”
“Hi Everyone, Looking for some guidance on how I can approach the install of the Rheem Water Heater Booster where I don't have 14 inches of pipe above the hot water tank and the pipe is on a slant - see photos for ref. Thanks!  submitted by /u/Same_Variety5853 [link] [comments]”
“Hi Everyone, Looking for some guidance on how I can approach the install of the Rheem Water Heater Booster where I don't have 14 inches of pipe above the hot water tank and the pipe is on a slant - see photos for ref. Thanks!  submitted by /u/Same_Variety5853 [link] [comments]”
“Gas powered tankless sitting behind cut up 2x4s, sitting on composite board but hardee board will go on the other side of that. My plumber said it's good but engineer friend said no. It's in Denver area. I assumed it'd have to sit on some insulation but maybe spray foam around will do it? NORNRC661-DV-NG is the heater. submitted by /u/86_TG [link] [comments]”
“The range from the water source is in the 350-400 PPM range before heading into the CR Spotless and in the 2-4 PPM range after exiting the CR Spotless (but it exits through a short hose that I attach my pressure washer to). I turned the water on for 5 minutes to flush everything out and it’s still in the 2-4 PPM range after letting the water run for 5+ minutes after putting in new resin.”
“Putting a brass tee on the heater nipple with the expansion tank on top is perfectly fine.”
“Dang thanks I had no idea pex could be loud in the walls I’ll pick up some of those before I close up. What’s the cause the movement of the pex itself?”
“Hello, as title says no hot water. I’m going to say I’ll need to replace the hot water valve, but I’m hoping it might be something more simpler. submitted by /u/_answered_ [link] [comments]”
“I need help finding a replacement part. It's and apater for a Daikin mini split from an ctxs07lvju indoor unit to a brc944b2 thermostat. Thanks in advance! submitted by /u/CaterpillarHour9309 [link] [comments]”
“Plumbers of Reddit! I recently swapped out our 30/50 pressure switch for a new 40/60, age, corrosion and in search of higher water pressure, we decided it was time. Well it solved several issues, water pressure is better the new switch is working fine under normal conditions, until it isn’t. When we lose power, which is all too often, and someone runs the water down to empty it doesn’t kick back on automatically. My cut in pressure is 38psi in the tank, which is by the book. Should we increase i”
“Quick question ----> what is the best setting for the main water valve in the house and/or individual unit valves? I always thought they had to be wide open as far as they will go. Tonight I only had the main shutoff partially open - maybe 3/4 or 1/2 a turn from when the water starts flowing and my water pressure seems just the same as it always was before and nothing seems different? I would have thought having them just barely on would make the water pressure just a trickle but it seems nor”
“Update: the igniter won't spark, so the problem starts there. The Honeywell may be fine. Now I have to figure out how to get the igniter to spark. Must be a Sunday on a holiday weekend.”
“Background: I have about 6 years in residential refrigeration repair (Sealed Systems) But outside my own world and research provided by others I'm not an expert. Question: Could a heat exchange plate, with enough water volume being pumped through it, and with 30 feet of bare 1/4 copper line before it to Help knock down the discharge temperature, be sufficient enough to drop the temperature down if I'm aiming for to cool a 1,500/2K BTU system? Bonus question: would a water and a glycol mi”
“That's your water quality and water heater scale. to accurately help you go in a direction i would think about this, what is the water quality coming into the home and second how old is the water heater and if it has been serviced. These two things can introduce minerals into your water distribution system.”
“Thanks! Looking online, it does seem that such small electric water heaters are mostly placed directly under a sink or in a shower, and not to feed a big tank? Can any water heater work for this, or do I need to look for a specific type?”
“Thanks for all of the answers. Even the snarky sarcastic ones. I obviously shut off the water, as I mentioned earlier. Got a hold of a plumber. This is not my home I’m not a homeowner, but I do know that Reddit is fairly fast at getting advice for these sort of things. The sound freaked me out and couldn’t get a hold of the homeowner. Pardon me for my lack of basic knowledge on water heaters, glad for your responses 🫡”
“Any advise on replacing the attached? It tripped the circuit out today and after removing I found the heating element to have gone. Assuming it’s decades on an alternative may be needed? submitted by /u/SaintHelierr [link] [comments]”
“Hi all, We got a Rinnai tankless water heater, suddenly the shower started taking longer to get hot, maybe 5 mins, it is the farther away shower I believe but I don’t think it should take that long. The solution is to turn on the faucet in the upstairs bathroom to get the hot water to start It was fine before, I recently flushed the water heater, we also replaced the valve cartridge thinking that might be it. Still same issue. We have tried alternative shower heads with no avail. After turning f”
“In regard to a question someone posted about their dryer circuit. I originally told them that they should see 240V hot to hot, and 120V hot to neutral, and why both are important. This guy responded and now I’m questioning my entire understanding of the world. I work with three phase stuff and controls, so maybe I’m just a moron. submitted by /u/DrawerNo1855 [link] [comments]”