Water Heater (San Antonio, Austin, Anton: house, to buy, cost)

[dawgbert]

We have been in a Ryland home for a little over two years. Our water heater leaked yesterday and we called a plumber. He said as of eight months ago all water heaters installed had to have an expansion valve. The water heater was covered under warranty but the expansion valve was not ($350) and the labor was not ($519).

He said the State brand water heaters were lasting about 2-3 years where they should last 15 years. He said they are replacing quite a few of the State water heaters.

My question is: Is it in fact a law that expansion valves have to be installed on new water heaters?

[fusQer]

Did you contact Ryland homes? My highland homes has at least a 5 yr warranty on the water heaters, I think.

I don't know the answer to your question but my water heaters have expansion tanks, house built in Aug. 08.

[kevcrawford]

Code on water heaters is in fact changing and I believe that it includes them all having to have an expansion tank.

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by dawgbert

...My question is: Is it in fact a law that expansion valves have to be installed on new water heaters?

San Antonio, yes. Unincorporated Bexar County areas, no.

[Deep Forest]

Anybody have any experience with "on demand" water heaters. Good concept except I hear the installation eats your lunch.

[AFMike]

[electric] Water heaters are easy to replace and cheap to buy...just did my neighbors for $300

[smitty12]

Originally Posted by Deep Forest

Anybody have any experience with "on demand" water heaters. Good concept except I hear the installation eats your lunch.

I've got one and am very happy with it. Though I doubt I would put in an electric one.

The obstacle to putting in a gas one will be up-sizing your natural gas line. Typically a tank gas water heater only needs a 1/2 inch line. Any reasonable sized tankless will require a 3/4 inch. When those babies need gas they need a lot... I installed mine as part of a much larger remodel that involved reworking gas lines anyway.

I think the electrical ones also need a larger amp circuit, but I didn't really look that hard at them either.

Here is a link to an earlier post I wrote about my Return on Investment on it though.... Note that didn't include any cost for gas line re-work.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...ml#post7205502

[goodmanm]

Originally Posted by Steel Man

San Antonio, yes. Unincorporated Bexar County areas, no.

City code (page 10):

"Thermal expansion control is limited to the use of expansion tanks (per water conservation requirements of 1998)."

http://epay.sanantonio.gov/dsddocume...nts%202006.pdf

[ushetgeri]

Originally Posted by dawgbert

We have been in a Ryland home for a little over two years. Our water heater leaked yesterday and we called a plumber. He said as of eight months ago all water heaters installed had to have an expansion valve. The water heater was covered under warranty but the expansion valve was not ($350) and the labor was not ($519).

He said the State brand water heaters were lasting about 2-3 years where they should last 15 years. He said they are replacing quite a few of the State water heaters.

My question is: Is it in fact a law that expansion valves have to be installed on new water heaters?

I have exactly the same problem with State water heater in Highland Homes that was installed 4 years ago. No help from them either in getting a replacement.
The distributor Ferguson is in Austin [the local branch of the distributor apparently does not stock these] and I need to haul the water heater myself. There is a plumber who says he can get one locally by switching brands as a replacement but asks for $725 for installation with the extension valve.
I am not sure if I already have one and/or needs to be replaced with the tank. Can any one can tell me where it would be located?
I just wonder if the customer gets charged extra because the water heater comes free, because $725 seems to be expensive.

[elnina]

according to: Water Heaters - Expansion Tanks
An inexpensive expansion tank installed on the cold water side of your hot water heater will solve this problem. (...) Follow the instructions and this can be done in 1/2 hour or less!
go figure...