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water heater anode rod replacement
Saturday, September 21st, 2013 05:56 pmWith Q's help, I finally got around to replacing my water heater's anode rod this July.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
rain rain and another day
Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 10:24 pm
It has been raining every day for the last 2 months, it seems like.
Not a constant rain.
Not a spirit-eroding rain of bleak unending grayness.
An on & off rain. Several times a day, on some days.
The sun still shines, in-between.
The earth stays wet.
Mushrooms grow.
This evening while driving home, looking at the puffy clouds and blue sky, it occurred to me that it hadn't rained yet. A day without rain! I could post about it!
But then the air smelled moist, as it does after a rain, and the streets were wet with water. It hadn't rained where I work, but it had rained here recently. As I drove on, it sprinkled on my windshield some. So it wasn't a completely rain-free day for me, either.
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It's not a good omen at the beginning of the work-day, when you jot down all the things you'll need to test, to verify that your code updates haven't broken anything, and it takes you an hour to finish the list.
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Zorro has been losing patches of fur. It worries me. Hopefully it was only due to fleas and scratching. We put a dose of Tritak on her a few days ago; hopefully that will make it better.
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My cellphone died, so I bought a "new" battery. Two weeks later, it died again. It wouldn't turn on, and it didn't show a charging light when connected to the charger. It seems to have been a problem with the micro SD-card. After removing the card, the phone turned on ok. When I put the card back in, it was still fine. Maybe the card had gotten loose or something.
What does the HBOOT recovery option do, anyway? After the 2nd time the phone died, I was able to get to the HBOOT menu, and I selected that option. But afterwards, the phone still didn't turn on, until I removed the SD card.
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**Don't** put sticky-backed paper in the shredder. Not even if you fold it so that the sticky side sticks to itself. The sticky stuff will still end up sticking to the shredder blades.
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I replaced the anode rod. I want to write about that. But it involves some photos and some video, and I don't have the time or energy now.
I haven't been getting enough sleep.
anode rod, impact socket, impact wrench
Thursday, January 24th, 2013 03:00 amA video in which I explain my plans for replacing my water heater's anode rod, and demonstrate some of the tools which may be used. Also shown is how to remove a socket from a universal joint.
what to do with old keyboard and zip drive, etc...
Saturday, February 9th, 2008 11:26 pmComputer and Electronics Recycling Programs at stores...
Staples
- $10 fee for large items; smaller peripherals taken for free
Office Depot (this brochure has more details and states that all recycling occurs in the U.S.)
- $5, $10, or $15 fees depending on size of box
This PDF file lists other companies that participate in recycling programs.
I bet when I go to my local Staples Customer Service desk, the person there will never have heard of the program, or that I'll be the first person who's wanted to bring in something to recycle there. I bet I'll feel self-conscious, awkward, and silly.
I disassembled 30 old floppy diskettes and separated the plastic and metal parts... I wonder if the metal can go with the aluminum cans. It doesn't seem to stick to a magnet. I suppose now I can do the same for my stack of old zip disks. I hope this stuff actually ends up getting recycled; otherwise it would be a waste of my time.
Mohawk makes a brand of carpet, "everStrand", made out of post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Another carpet company makes a line of carpet made out of recycled old carpets.
We put the old leaky water heater down by the street, since next week the trash service picks up large items. But it disappeared within a few hours. I can't imagine why someone would schlepp off such a heavy thing, unless they can get money for the metal.
Staples
- $10 fee for large items; smaller peripherals taken for free
Office Depot (this brochure has more details and states that all recycling occurs in the U.S.)
- $5, $10, or $15 fees depending on size of box
This PDF file lists other companies that participate in recycling programs.
I bet when I go to my local Staples Customer Service desk, the person there will never have heard of the program, or that I'll be the first person who's wanted to bring in something to recycle there. I bet I'll feel self-conscious, awkward, and silly.
I disassembled 30 old floppy diskettes and separated the plastic and metal parts... I wonder if the metal can go with the aluminum cans. It doesn't seem to stick to a magnet. I suppose now I can do the same for my stack of old zip disks. I hope this stuff actually ends up getting recycled; otherwise it would be a waste of my time.
Mohawk makes a brand of carpet, "everStrand", made out of post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Another carpet company makes a line of carpet made out of recycled old carpets.
We put the old leaky water heater down by the street, since next week the trash service picks up large items. But it disappeared within a few hours. I can't imagine why someone would schlepp off such a heavy thing, unless they can get money for the metal.
(no subject)
Sunday, February 3rd, 2008 07:44 pmI have hot running water again in my house. It was a novel experience, heating water on the stove one morning and washing my hair in the kitchen sink, but I'm glad I don't have to do that all the time. And while washing oneself with cold water is possible... the cold water that comes out of the faucets in winter is dang cold.
Water Heater Maintenance notes
- Periodically open the drain valve and allow the water to run until it flows clean; this will
help prevent sediment build-up in the tank.
- Water heaters contain a sacrificial anode rod to protect the tank from corrosion. Instead of corroding the tank, water ions attack and eat away the anode rod. The rod must be maintained to keep the tank in operating condition. Replacement of a depleted anode rod can extend the life of your water heater. At a minimum, the rod should be inspected annually after the warranty period.
More info on this here.
Water Heater Maintenance notes
- Periodically open the drain valve and allow the water to run until it flows clean; this will
help prevent sediment build-up in the tank.
- Water heaters contain a sacrificial anode rod to protect the tank from corrosion. Instead of corroding the tank, water ions attack and eat away the anode rod. The rod must be maintained to keep the tank in operating condition. Replacement of a depleted anode rod can extend the life of your water heater. At a minimum, the rod should be inspected annually after the warranty period.
More info on this here.
(no subject)
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 10:30 pmUnless I change my mind again, I've decided to vote for Edwards in the primary. Posting this here is as much to remind me of my decision as anything else.
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Forestfen apparently still has the notion that BDSMers are "devil-worshippers". I asked her, "If I don't believe in God, what makes you think I believe in the Devil?" She seemed surprised when I said of the people in my group, "They're all darn Christians too."
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While making a purchase at the auto parts store, the way one of the employees behaved in relation to another person that walked into the store seemed remarkably ...shady... to me. Gave me the uncomfortable feeling that the employees were involved in something illegal.
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I'm looking into whether to get a tankless water heater. It may end up depending on the installation costs relative to a "standard" tank heater. One of the Bosch gas tankless models uses "hydrogenerated ignition". The idea of using water to create a flame seems amazing to me:
"Hydro-generated ignition works much like the giant turbines in a hydroelectric dam using the flow of water to generate electricity. When a hot water tap is opened, cold water flows through the 1600's hydro generator. The flowing water spins a tiny turbine, which, in turn, instantly produces electricity. This electricity creates the spark required to light the burners and the water is then heated as it passes through a copper heat exchanger."
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Time for bed. Past time.
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Forestfen apparently still has the notion that BDSMers are "devil-worshippers". I asked her, "If I don't believe in God, what makes you think I believe in the Devil?" She seemed surprised when I said of the people in my group, "They're all darn Christians too."
.
While making a purchase at the auto parts store, the way one of the employees behaved in relation to another person that walked into the store seemed remarkably ...shady... to me. Gave me the uncomfortable feeling that the employees were involved in something illegal.
.
I'm looking into whether to get a tankless water heater. It may end up depending on the installation costs relative to a "standard" tank heater. One of the Bosch gas tankless models uses "hydrogenerated ignition". The idea of using water to create a flame seems amazing to me:
"Hydro-generated ignition works much like the giant turbines in a hydroelectric dam using the flow of water to generate electricity. When a hot water tap is opened, cold water flows through the 1600's hydro generator. The flowing water spins a tiny turbine, which, in turn, instantly produces electricity. This electricity creates the spark required to light the burners and the water is then heated as it passes through a copper heat exchanger."
.
Time for bed. Past time.
less of coincidence
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 10:30 pmI just remembered, the reason I had gone into the basement last weekend, was because while I was taking a shower, the water pressure dropped inexplicably, and I wanted to make sure no pipes had burst. I didn't find any leaking pipes, but it was while I was in the basement that I got the idea of insulating the pipes from the water heater. That drop in water pressure during the shower could well have been the first sign of the heater failing.
less confused
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 08:55 pmLooks like the leaking water must have extinguished the pilot light in the water heater. Still a coincidence that this happened on the same day as I chose to insulate the pipe.
It would just be TOO MUCH of a coincidence if my water heater broke at precisely the same time as I was wrapping the pipe. I just can't believe it, yet...
According to the label on the water heater, it is 21 years old. So it shouldn't be surprising if it were to fail, at such an age.
But... I came home, and the water was still warm when I washed my face. Then I went down in the basement and wrapped about 2 feet of the hot water pipe where it exits the heater, with insulation. Then I noticed that the ground under the water heater was a bit moist... I did not recall if it was that way the other times I've been in the basement.
I recalled when we had to replace the water heater at Forestfen's house... it had rusted through at the seams, and water/vapor was spritzing out of it when we had the hot water running... the ground under the water heater was quite wet, by the time we noticed it.
Not wanting things to go that far, in case my water heater here was also leaking, I decided to turn on some faucets in the house, and watch the heater for signs of leakage. I didn't see any leaks, but then thought that maybe it only happens when the heater is actively heating the water. So I went and turned on the tub hot water faucet, on high, to get the water heater to turn on.
But it didn't turn on. When I went back in the house, I noticed that the water was running cold!! No hot water!
Ehhh???
I know I couldn't have accidentally hit some knob or button on the heater to cause this, I just know it... But...???
The knobs were still showing on, not off. So what could it be? I did not smell any gas, so there wasn't a gas leak...
Maybe the pilot flame went out? But how? Why? I did not touch the gas pipe.
Eh?
According to the label on the water heater, it is 21 years old. So it shouldn't be surprising if it were to fail, at such an age.
But... I came home, and the water was still warm when I washed my face. Then I went down in the basement and wrapped about 2 feet of the hot water pipe where it exits the heater, with insulation. Then I noticed that the ground under the water heater was a bit moist... I did not recall if it was that way the other times I've been in the basement.
I recalled when we had to replace the water heater at Forestfen's house... it had rusted through at the seams, and water/vapor was spritzing out of it when we had the hot water running... the ground under the water heater was quite wet, by the time we noticed it.
Not wanting things to go that far, in case my water heater here was also leaking, I decided to turn on some faucets in the house, and watch the heater for signs of leakage. I didn't see any leaks, but then thought that maybe it only happens when the heater is actively heating the water. So I went and turned on the tub hot water faucet, on high, to get the water heater to turn on.
But it didn't turn on. When I went back in the house, I noticed that the water was running cold!! No hot water!
Ehhh???
I know I couldn't have accidentally hit some knob or button on the heater to cause this, I just know it... But...???
The knobs were still showing on, not off. So what could it be? I did not smell any gas, so there wasn't a gas leak...
Maybe the pilot flame went out? But how? Why? I did not touch the gas pipe.
Eh?
(no subject)
Monday, January 21st, 2008 01:26 pmThe power went out at my work. So I went to eat lunch early, and then for a walk. It was very cold outside, though sunny. In a sandy area, I came across some neat small ice formations - they looked like crystals pushed out of the sand and/or like little white long-stemmed mushrooms. I looked it up, and they are called ice needles.
If I had taken my new cell phone with me, and had remembered that it has a camera, I could have taken a photo of the ice needles I saw. I still haven't gotten the internet working on it though. Once I get the right data cable, I will try "seem editing" and/or reinstalling the phone's Motorola software to see if that helps. As well as installing Opera Mini. In any case, I've got some learning to do about cell phone software and modding.
If the power still isn't back on at work yet, I will go wrap some fiberglass insulation around the water pipes where they exit from the water heater. I noticed those pipes were quite warm and having them uninsulated probably wastes a bit of energy and heat. I also need to measure the diameter of the pipes so I can get some fitting pipe-sleeves to put on the pipes, further away from the water heater and its flue.
If I had taken my new cell phone with me, and had remembered that it has a camera, I could have taken a photo of the ice needles I saw. I still haven't gotten the internet working on it though. Once I get the right data cable, I will try "seem editing" and/or reinstalling the phone's Motorola software to see if that helps. As well as installing Opera Mini. In any case, I've got some learning to do about cell phone software and modding.
If the power still isn't back on at work yet, I will go wrap some fiberglass insulation around the water pipes where they exit from the water heater. I noticed those pipes were quite warm and having them uninsulated probably wastes a bit of energy and heat. I also need to measure the diameter of the pipes so I can get some fitting pipe-sleeves to put on the pipes, further away from the water heater and its flue.
