Posted on: Friday, December 27, 2002

HOME HANDYMAN
Replace water heater after seven years

By Glenn Haege

Q.My water heater is about 10 years old. The past few months, the water wasn't heating

up much. I have never drained it in all these years. Sometimes it will heat beautifully, sometimes nothing. Do I need a new heater, or is there any hope of fixing this one?

A. Water heaters only have a seven-year life expectancy. You got your money's worth out of this one. I think you are better off investing in a new water heater rather then in repairs.

Q. After living in my condominium for nearly two years, I still cannot understand why my windows are so drafty. The condo is only four years old, and we still have the original windows. Since we moved in, I have stripped and caulked around the windows twice, yet I still have a problem with drafts.

The windows are double-paned vinyl. They flip down when you need to clean them. I don't believe they are filled with argon gas. I do not have storm windows, so I am assuming this may be my problem.

Do you have any solutions?

A. If the problem is really with the windows, you can eliminate many of the drafts with interior storm windows such as those

made by Magnetite, www.magnetite.com. Magnetite kits can be ordered direct from the company by the do-it-yourselfer. Your condo might also be suffering from negative air pressure that is literally pulling in the air from outside. If this is the case, installing a Skuttle Model 216, or the Xavier Equaliz-Air, will take the pressure off and should do a great deal to stop the drafts. Do not waste your money on exterior storm windows. They are not effective.

Q. My wife and I live in a 6-year-old home that has a septic tank and drain field. I just had the tank pumped out because of a septic smell that occurs when our master bathroom toilet is flushed. This action did not stop the smell. I have checked the toilet vent pipe from the roof, and it appears to be free of any clog.

I'm at a loss as to what to do next. One more thing that I should mention is the fact that when the toilet is in its final flush stage,

I notice bubbles coming up from the bottom of the bowl. This may be the terrible odor that we smell. Can you help me find the cause of this odor?

A. It sounds like you are not getting a complete flush and seal cycle in your toilet. I would like you to do two things: Check to see if the water level in the tank is at the full mark. Then flush the toilet and watch the complete flush and fill cycles. The tube going to the overflow tube has to have a slight arch. If all that looks good, then clean out the drain holes under the rim of the toilet. Turn off the water, flush, then pack wet paper towel under the rim. Pour two 16-ounce bottles of Lime Away down the flapper ball hole, let sit about an hour, then remove paper towel, turn water back on, then flush.

Glenn Haege writes for the Detroit News. Reach him at editor@flashcom.net, or visit www.masterhandyman.com.