 Unqualified builders. (by NE [PA]) May 28, 2026 6:09 PM
 Unqualified builders. (by DJ [VA]) May 28, 2026 6:26 PM
Unqualified builders. (by NE [PA]) May 28, 2026 6:44 PM
Unqualified builders. (by NE [PA]) May 28, 2026 6:45 PM
Unqualified builders. (by Plenty [MO]) May 28, 2026 7:17 PM
Unqualified builders. (by WMH [NC]) May 28, 2026 7:42 PM
Unqualified builders. (by 6x6 [TN]) May 28, 2026 8:05 PM
Unqualified builders. (by 6x6 [TN]) May 28, 2026 8:12 PM
Unqualified builders. (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) May 29, 2026 2:52 AM
Unqualified builders. (by gevans [SC]) May 29, 2026 7:18 AM
Unqualified builders. (by DJ [VA]) May 29, 2026 8:43 AM
Unqualified builders. (by Deanna [TX]) May 29, 2026 9:11 AM
Unqualified builders. (by zero [IN]) May 29, 2026 9:15 AM
Unqualified builders. (by MikeA [TX]) May 29, 2026 11:46 PM
Unqualified builders. (by Robert J [CA]) May 30, 2026 7:42 AM
Unqualified builders. (by Robin [WI]) May 31, 2026 2:36 PM
Unqualified builders. (by zero [IN]) Jun 1, 2026 10:28 AM
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Unqualified builders. (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 6:09 PM
Message:
Some people are not qualified to turn a screwdriver or swing a hammer. I have a property with a water heater located behind an access door in a dormer. The water heater needs to be replaced. That’s fine. I picked up a new one. that is just a little bit Fatter than the one that is in there. On my way to the property, I was wondering if this would fit in the existing access door. Not something you typically question when you swap out a water heater. Well, when I get there, I go up the two flights of steps, and I measure the access panel. Not only is it 5 inches too narrow for the one that I got, it’s also too narrow to take out the old one that the original owners had installed! Whoever put that in originally must’ve thought it was going to last forever. It’s 4 inches too wide to get out of the existing access door. There’s no way to enlarge the access door to swap out these water heaters. I’m going to have to find something that is taller and skinnier that hopefully fits and then once I remove the old one, all I’m going to be able to do is hopefully push it to the side and leave it in there. --174.249.xx.xx |
Unqualified builders. (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 6:26 PM
Message:
I feel your frustration.
Why can't you widen the door? --72.218.xx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 6:44 PM
Message:
It’s framed in place with siding on the outside. The access is actually from a 3rd floor porch. Strange set up, but I’m thinking the 3rd floor bathroom was an add on at some time. --174.249.xx.xx |
Unqualified builders. (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 6:45 PM
Message:
The only water heater I’m finding that fits 21-1/2 by 55 seems to be a Rheem mobile home water heater, but that drops me down to 40 gallons. --174.249.xx.xx |
Unqualified builders. (by Plenty [MO]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 7:17 PM
Message:
Look for mobile home water heaters or some rv... maybe those are on demand. Or can you change to on-demand? --172.59.xxx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 7:42 PM
Message:
Drain and cut up the existing water heater with a sawzall to get it out?
New water heaters are all fatter than old ones - thanks, Congress! I think we have run into the "won't fit in old space" a few times now. I'm pretty sure he had to go with a smaller (fewer gallons) heater at least once?
We ran into a big problem at our own house: one of the HVACs was built into the wall behind the tub - put in place while building the house with no thought to "how will we replace that someday?" We ended up have to abandon the space and put the new unit in another room altogether. --73.216.xxx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 8:05 PM
Message:
"Some people are not qualified to turn a screwdriver or swing a hammer. "
That is very evident every house I buy. --73.19.xxx.xx |
Unqualified builders. (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: May 28, 2026 8:12 PM
Message:
"Not only is it 5 inches too narrow for the one that I got, it’s also too narrow to take out the old one that the original owners had installed!"
I run into these things as well. Almost nobody thinks and plans ahead.
I believe most think: "I will never be back here to replace it", or "I will sell it before I need to change that out", or (insert answer here) --73.19.xxx.xx |
Unqualified builders. (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 2:52 AM
Message:
Easy solution but expensive where install a demand natural gas water heater on the wall where if wall is to exterior can vent water heater combustion and combustion air through the wall without using a chimney. With piping can install easily. If the water is well or the town uses well water then will require a water softner. Demand water heaters only hold 2 to 4 litres of water as this is a low mass heater. Once faucets are turned off the temperature drops to room temperature. In house install a natural gas demand water heater in 2005 where only cleaned inside no parts. Takagi is the best brand for being reliable. Lowes left Canada where before the A O Smith natural gas demand water heater was made by Takagi in Japan.Demand water heaters the primary heat exchanger is made of copper and secondary heat exchanger is made out stainless steel as this is how a high effiency heater works where the exhaust temperature you keep your hand there. --216.110.xxx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 7:18 AM
Message:
Pull the siding and go in from the outside wall? I've done that...
Too many times I've heard "can't see it from my house" or some such nonsense justifying a junk job. --216.218.xxx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 8:43 AM
Message:
I think, if I was planning to keep this house long-term, I would do as gevans.
Remove and take apart what you ned to and redo it all with better dimensions.
Then, this will be the only time you will have this headache. --72.218.xx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 9:11 AM
Message:
I have one kind of like that-- but at least it's open to the room. I bought it at tax sale in 2014. EPA regs have changed twice since then, so I'll never be able to replace it with a hwh that will fit its diameter in that closet. My strategy will be to replace it with a tankless on demand when the time comes. --172.58.xxx.xx |
Unqualified builders. (by zero [IN]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 9:15 AM
Message:
I remember getting a new stubby water heater to replace a bad one in an apartment. It is under the staircase. You have to go thru two 24" doors to get to the closet it is in.
Get there and the new tank will not go thru the doors. Same gallon and brand, but they changed the efficiency rating by adding more insulation, thus making it a little wider.
Had to remove the stops on both doors to get it to work. I was cussing the current POTUS at the time because he started it all.
Fortunately they changed sizes back somehow. Maybe made them a little taller?
But, if this is a hold property I agree that demo work or re-routing lines to make it easier next time is in order.
On demand will work, as long as the water quality allows it to last long enough to make it worthwhile if it is electric. --47.227.xx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 11:46 PM
Message:
I have 40's in many of my 2/1's. Never been a problem. I did have to cut one up that was in the attic and wouldn't fit through the remodeled scuttle hole. I'll never do that again. It took forever with a Sawzall to get it cut up.
Is there another location you can relocate in the house you can relocate it to? --99.64.xx.xx |
Unqualified builders. (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: May 30, 2026 7:42 AM
Message:
I installed 50 gallon high recovery gas water heater years ago for a single family house with 6 bedroom and 5 bathrooms. The water heater used to be located on a side deck, now being used for a ping pong table and a second refrigerator. So I was tasked with installing the water heater under the deck. The deck had a trap door with curbed stair case with limited width and height clearance.
I required the owners have me install a NEW Self Cleaning water heater with a second anode -- an electric one that extends the water heaters life by 7-10 years. I've replace that second anode system twice. So after 30 years of service, the water heater started to leak.
Since the homeowner has a maintenance insurance replacement policy, they refused to allow me to do the replacement. I have, of course, a State Contractors Plumbing License (C-36) with all types of insurance. And I'm an authorized dealer for the water heater extended electrical anode. The insurance company sent over a plumber who was going to charge the owners an additional $4,700, to remove and replace the old water heater, without an extended anode. And the insurance company was only paying for a water heater.
So I was called to check out the new water heater. The replacement wasn't a high recovery, nor 50 gallons. It was only a 40 gallon with a standard 40,000 BTU burner. It had only a 6 year warranty on the core. I explained to the owners of the house, they paid $4,700 for an inferior water heater replacement that won't even last the 6 years, due to use. And it was installed without a City Permit. So the owners contacted the city and they send an inspector out, who red tagged the installation and turned it off. Not properly vented, not enough straps and no drain pipe from the T&P relief valve. I was then asked to do the correct replacement. But turned down the job. Once an install has been touched by jokesters, the liability is too high to repair everyone's mistakes. --47.155.xx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by Robin [WI]) Posted on: May 31, 2026 2:36 PM
Message:
I went on a Parade of Homes tour recently. Lovely brand-new houses, clearly geared toward empty-nester/retirees. Single-floor living, large walk-in showers, etc.
I was intrigued to see where they put the mechanicals, given the lack of basements. Each house had a mechanicals closet in the garage. Being a geeky LL, I looked closely. In many of them, the water heater had clearly been installed before the furnace was. To replace the water heater, you'd have to disconnect the gas lines to the furnace, and even then it would be a tight squeeze.
They also had a nifty feature--LED light strips under the base of the bathroom vanity. Again, curious, I looked to see where they were pluggged in. Some genius had installed an outlet directly underneath where the sink drain entered the wall. I would never buy a house from that builder!
When I move into my senior years home, I'm going to buy a 1950s ranch and remodel it myself. --108.201.xxx.xxx |
Unqualified builders. (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Jun 1, 2026 10:28 AM
Message:
But the receptacle placement is a feature. When the light is out you know you have a leak.
Amazing that the house passed inspection with that. --149.34.xxx.xxx |
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