Barometric pressure & water heaters

[John Ranalletta]

Our water heater, in service since 1994, develop a sporadic leak. It seemed unusual that a leak could "heal itself" temporarily, however, it could be explained by a thick layer of sediment at tank bottom.

 

The plumber who installed a new one said that barometric pressure seems to have an effect on water heaters. His information is based on years of replacing heaters and his company has anecdotal evidence of heater service calls being coincident with big barometric pressure swings.

 

Go figure.

[motoguy128]

There could be some truth to it. If the air pressure drops, the water proessure in the line will liekly stay constant, since it's dependant on pump or the height of a local water tower and not impacted by air pressure. that being said, I'f suprised that a shift of maybe 0.1 psi or less would be the difference between a leak or no leak since. If that was the case, then simply reducing the thermostat should most any leaks.

 

Either way, IMO, if the HWH is more than 15 years old, leaking, has a lot of scaling, just replace it. I think when we replaced ours 2 years ago, I think it cost maybe $500 installed for a basic AO Smith natural gas unit. Most old appliances aren't worth repairing, especially when a large water leak could cost you $100 to repair amoung other possible damages and wasted energy costs.

 

Also, the newer unit will be more effecient an will have a 5-10 year simple payback anyway, depending on how cold your current unit is.

 

In our case, the old unit was noisy. The scaling causing it to make poping noises as disolved gasses came out of solution. It also had burn marks on the outer casing from overheating due to the scale. Our water is very hard. The newer units have less scaling issues.

[ESokoloff]

Sounds like a wife's tale to me.

[John Ranalletta]

Those were the exact symptoms. Anyway, there's a new one in place. Since I don't do plumbing, the cost was higher than yours, installed w/ warranty.

[John Ranalletta]

Sounds like a wife's tale to me.

No, I'm sure he was a plumber.

[motoguy128]

Those were the exact symptoms. Anyway, there's a new one in place. Since I don't do plumbing, the cost was higher than yours, installed w/ warranty.

 

I don't do plumbing either, just live in a small town, used a private plumber that only charged around $40/hour... took him 2 hours, so it was $80 + $520 for the HWH. He even disposed of the old one for me.

[John Ranalletta]

I remember Keokuk. Interviewed for a job there in 1960 with a car parts maker. I think they made dashboard and rubber bits. The execs took me to the country club for an early lunch and ordered/drank martinis for two hours.

 

I was going to take the job, but the crickets that kept me up all night before the interview scared me off.

[Calvin (no socks)]

My water tower is taller than yours, I live at or near sea level........and I am closer to the equator.

 

I've heard that the atmospheric pressure can also induce labor in clinical studies.

 

Suggest we start a study on water heater leakage, linked to barometric events...Hurricanes would produce the desired results quicker! What is a couple of millibars between friends....Show me a chart and graph...

[11101110]

More likely to be fluctuations in the city water pressure. Typically goes down during the day as comercial and industrial users open the valves. The daily change in water pressure is far greater in magnitude than barometric pressure.

[Flyer5]

Have a pressure regulator installed .

 

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