Home Improvement Today?

Ah, ok. I was planning on that style. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Makes me think of this gem…
https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/utah/ci_4188445
In a nutshell, house blocked neighbors view, dispute ensued, gable vents were installed.

 

Heating elements for water heaters, will the resistance read different on one that is about to burn out compared to one that is good? Or will they all read good until they go out?

 

Just test continuity. Disconnect both wires from the element then test continuity.

 

Will the reading be different on one that is in good shape compared to one that has not yet burned out but getting close?

 

If your testing resistance one could be less then the other and both could still be good. That's why I just test continuity. If it has cont it's good. If it doesn't it has failed. They are super easy to replace and fairly cheap so if your worried about one just replace it. Also, when you drain the heater keep the water supply on so you can flush all the crap out of the unit. Then shut the water down and drain it. Flushing them yearly help prolong their life and capacity.

 

I’m thinking ours are getting close to needing to be replaced. This water heater was installed around 2012, and I think I’ve replaced the elements at least once, maybe. The one before this I’d have to replace both elements AND thermostats yearly, not sure why. I trashed it after 6 years. I’ve always said I would drain and flush it yearly, but it never happens.

 

Here's another thing to check yearly that nobody does, anode rods. If they ever get used up the interior of the water heater will be toast in no time at all. The only reason I do mine yearly is because my new house has a high efficiency water heater that will be stupid expensive to replace. Oh and aluminum anode rods suck. They leave a gummy film in the tank and they don't last. Hmm wonder why the rod that came with the stupid expensive high efficacy water heater was aluminum? Planned obsolesces maybe?

 

Water softeners are especially hard on anode rods. That's why I have a tankless hot water heater (no anode rod).

 

I do have a water softener. The softener was installed about a month after I moved in so the aluminum spent 11ish months in softened water. The magnesium spent 12 months in soft water. I put it back in after inspecting it. Come July I'll pull it again to see how it does. There is no way the aluminum rod would have lasted 2 years. And with the aluminum rod there was a BUNCH of crap that came out with the flush.

 

Different types of anode rods are available depending on the water quality.

https://www.nebraskyplumbing.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-a-water-heater-anode-rod/

• Anode rods are generally created from metals including magnesium, aluminum or zinc.
• Magnesium anode rods are expected to work better in a home with soft water.
• Aluminum anodes are appropriate for homes with hard water and a high PH.
• Zinc anodes work best if a home is starting to smell like rotten eggs and is best for replacing water heaters that already dissolved.

 

So, a little bit of a house update. Appraisal came through; while the value came up fine, we had to do a couple things. There was peeling/chipped paint on the door ledges and some trim in the carport. Scraped What I could and gave it coat of primer and paint just to satisfy the appraiser.





The front door wood needs replaced, but I scraped off what I could and primed it with an oil primer to give it some time before I do. It looks rough, but isn't "peeling" anymore. Also had to install a couple GFCI's...

 

Are you selling?

 

Buying. Fixing the peeling paint was a loan requirement due to the house being built in '65 and possible lead. While they didn't even mention the only 60amp electrical service . That's gonna be a fun upgrade in the Spring if this all goes through...

 

I figured the seller would fix that stuff. Why i was confused for a min

 

OK. That's funny. Appraisers are truly clueless. Almost as clueless as most home inspectors.

Good luck with the new home man. They are a giant PITA but owning makes it all worth it somehow.

 

Actually the owner and I got together to knock out the list; I bought all the stuff. Buying the house for below market value, so $100 in paint and outlets is nothing. Seems like a strange deal, but I got to know more about the house. He bought it at auction, but had done work on the house for I'm guessing 20 years as he's a local contractor/handyman.

 

Oh my...I have a 60 amp circuit just to charge my car. I can't imagine running a whole house on just 60 amps!

 

100A is the minimum standard for the NEC. Times have changed and we use way more power then in the 60's.

 

Planning on a 200amp upgrade in the Spring before needing the air conditioners. Little ol' lady lived there all her life for the most part alone so I guess there was never a need to upgrade. Might have to bump up the time frame if I run into issues beforehand... I'm running out of money just talking about all of this