If you’re one of those people, and I’m betting you are, because I was too . . and you just turn on your faucet and you get water and you never think I’m so lucky to have good, clean water coming out of my faucet, then do not move to my town. Never in my worst nightmares did I think some place could have such horrible water.
We do not drink our tap water. We do not cook with our tap water. Our chickens do drink the tap water. That may be considered animal cruelty but so far, they have not complained.
For those who have suggested getting a tankless water heater, they cannot hold up to our bad water . . or let’s say, they don’t hold up as well as the regular old timey type water heaters. So, they’re out . . no chance of having one.
Over the weekend, I found that the water heater was leaking but it sits in a bowl and we still had hot water so I wasn’t upset. Vince thought it was the heating element because they never last more than a year and ours had been replaced in December, 08 so we were about 11 months into the 12 month life of our heating element.
Vince checked it out and it was not the heating element. Which meant . . this guy had to be called.
They came. They looked at the water heater and they said “Oh, great!”
“It’s still under warranty so all you have to pay for is labor to install it.” Then I said “Oh, great!”
Then they called and said “Not so great!” My current water heater was put in as a warranty replacement for the previous water heater and you can’t keep getting free water heaters. They replace it once and poof . . no more warranty apparently. Whatever!
Want to guess how long this new water heater will last? Don’t waste your guess by thinking past 2012! How crazy is that? It isn’t Rheem . . I’m not aggravated with them at all. It’s any water heater. They just don’t last in this town.
And for those who have suggested we get a filter and water softener . . we have both! We have this water softener.
It’s a RainSoft and just to prove to you that paying more doesn’t necessarily give you a better product, this is what the previous owners of this house paid for this water softener!
My plumber didn’t believe me so I found the paperwork to show him. I’m not saying RainSoft makes a bad product but I’m saying . . this has been a worthless piece of . . I can’t say what I’m thinking .. water softener. The repairman has to come from Springfield, MO and it costs over $200 just for him to come here and so far, he’s never been able to set it so that our water is right.
It sounds like a freight train when it regenerates, it doesn’t have any mechanism to bypass itself if someone accidentally turns on a faucet at 2 a.m. when it’s regenerating. I’ve been ready to get rid of this water softener since the 3rd day we were here!
The plumber agreed that our water softener has something not right but he wouldn’t touch it. He told us Sears makes one that was on sale for about $600. I called Vince and said “the plumber thinks we should get rid of this water softener and get one at Sears for about $600″ so Vince went to Sears and got it and the plumber is installing it now! I really didn’t say that but Vince is as sick of the water softener as I am so he really did get it and the plumber really is installing it.
The new water softener isn’t going to make our water heater last any longer though. Hopefully it will make our water safe for the chickens to drink and won’t sound like a freight train when it comes on at 2 a.m.
And, we’re putting in a new whole house filter that also won’t make the water heater last any longer but from what I’m seeing, it may result in new carpet sooner in the basement! Don’t ask me how Vince is going to change the filter in that thing without getting my carpet wet.
If you have good water straight out of the tap, be very thankful!
I live in the land of hard water with lots of stuff in it. Water softeners help but like your’s they don’t totally solve the problem. Water using appliances and plumbing are almost constantly needing something repaired. We don’t drink the water at the farm and refilter drinking water here at home. I feel your pain! Hugs, Gwen
We have 3 very large rainwater tanks (I live in Australia). The water is very soft. We could attach a filter, but I’m happy with it as it is. Part of our town water supply is borewater – can’t stand the taste! And it is hard, and corrosive…
Judy – I’ll trade you water for heat! I haven’t had the furnace on yet this fall and decided to turn it on Friday night. Hmm.. smells like gas.. quickly shut it off. Found out the fan motor is shot so it’s not venting outside. Good thing I like it cool in the house since I can’t use it till after the new one is installed tomorrow a.m.
Judy, Judy !!! Wasn’t that a PLUMBING truck ? Girl, what about your stove ? Maybe a gas hot water heater would serve you better. Just hoping ! Glenda
What chemical or mineral is in your water that makes it so terrible? I know Kansas has terrible water … NE has wonderful water! Tastes great and does not ruin water heaters or softners. So … move to NE!! LOLOL Sorry all of this has happened. Tomorrow will be better.
I second Julia……..Nebraska has good water. Ours is pretty hard, but good tasting & no bad smell.
Nebraska totally had great water when I was growing up – but that doesn’t help you (alas no pipeline…). What a predicament – have you had the water independently tested to ensure the city is doing the right thing? Thought about a rain water tank? They are used extensively here in Oz and for many people in the bush it is their only source of water… many ‘townies’ are starting to install them as well. There is bound to be a lot of info on the net and even if you only used rain water for your hot water it might save on calling the plumber! I never, ever take such things for granted – hope the new softener works!
Sorry to hear about the water heater…. you would think that if they can’t make something last 1 year, it should have a continuing warranty.
The water here in Edmond OK is great….it’s a combination of aquifer/well and lake water and if they have to buy some from OKC, they even retreat that water so it is consistent.
My search for a new water heater is ongoing. Got one quote this afternoon and will get another tomorrow morning. I am getting quotes not only for the water heater but asking about the heat and air…yikes… sticker shock! Part of the cost is coming up to revised codes on gas appliances. But, since everything is from 1989, I figure I will make some up with the tax credit as well as with the improved efficiency. I figure that I’ll have a heart attack when I hear about installation of a geo-thermal system. I am sure I won’t do it, but I just want to check it out.
Liz
Another suggestion you have probably considered and rejected, but have you thought of a reverse osmosis system hooked up in front of the heater and softener? It would have to be a high-capacity one, I’d imagine, to keep everything filled up, but I know a few folks who have them and swear by them, and it would keep the gunk out of the other stuff.
The one down side is you have to add minerals back into the water to make it healthy for drinking – if you drink absolutely pure water, it will actually leech nutrients from your body. BUT, your plumbers/appliance folks would know more about how to best set them up.
I can’t believe your elements last one year – I’ve never had one go bad in my life. Best of luck with the new, non-freight-train softener…
Hey, look at this way, Vince got to shop for something that you actually need! LOL! What is up with the water in your town anyway? It sounds disgusting!
Our water is pretty good but taste dirty a couple times a year for a couple months at a time. We have a water filter hooked directly to our tap water in the kitchen. It is just a small one from Walmart but I can really tell a difference.
The water here too is hard water and we have a reverse osmosis system. The water in a neighboring town, you CANNOT drink the water, it is loaded with arsenic! Last year when our homeschool drama club presented Fiddler on the Roof, the private school we used for the play…well we had to tell everyone not to drink the water out of the water fountains and sinks. Needless to say, we brought in our own water.
My parents used to live in a small town in Illinois ( across from St Louis ) and the water they had etched their glasses,, yep,, etched the glasses,, took the shine right off the glass! I couldn’t believe it!
I’m a “hard water” lover ( soft water makes me feel all slimey ) but that was too much for me!
sorry Judy,,, I feel for you!
Beth in Dallas
How ironic…. the ads directly above the comment box are for Sears water heaters and water softeners!
We’ve had an Ionics system on our house for 10 years and love it. You really can tell the difference! It filters the water prior to hitting the hot water tank and supposedly helps that last longer. It was fairly pricy, but maintenance on it is fairly minimal (add a bag of salt every couple months) and the filter only needs to be changed every 18 months or so (by the vendor at a cost of about $150).
So glad to hear that not everything is coming up roses in your little corner. (Sorry I am just feeling a bit snarky.)
Our hot water is part of the main boiler which means that we “never” run out of it until it – or one of its parts is broken & then we are without until the maintenance man gets to work & gets a plumber over, who gets the right part, etc.
I have no idea about softness or hardness… It tastes o.k., but our fridge has a filter, so I use that. I like it cold without ice.
I too live in an area with yucky water! Farming community has a way of putting stuff in the water that when combined with the natural occuring stuff means you don’t drink the water! We used to have a Rain Soft water system, so Boy do I know what you mean about loud! I never thought they did what they said it would! Now it is Culligan, Sears or another local company and then with an osmosis system the water is ok to use for cooking and some of the animals! Our cats will ONLY drink the bottled!
Though for some reason, EVEN with our hard water our water heaters do last longer than 2 years! Thank heavens!
Had great water in Chicago..didn’t even have a water softner and yes, yes, yes, I do miss it. Our water here etches our glasses. The glasses only last about 6 or 7 months. I replace them every year. Can’t stand to drink milk out of etched glasses.
If you are on an electric Cooperative, call them about rebates. You might qualify.
I don’t understand why the replacement water heater was not guaranteed.
And yeah, I think if your water heater goes out every 2 years and you keep getting the same brand as a replacement, you should never have to pay for a new water heater. If they guarantee their water heater for 5 years they should stand by that guarantee.
I sure wouldn’t buy another one of that brand and I’m going to do some research because that’s crazy.
And yeah, our water is hard as granite. We don’t need iron pills around here, our water is hard enough.
We have a gas WH and you have to replace them too.