Just moved into a duplex. Both floors have separate utilities for everything except we share a water heater. It doesn't last long at all. Are the landlords required to install two or are we stuck with one?
Comments
Grumgar OP t1_jaa4iqu wrote
10698 t1_jaa6krb wrote
Probably not. But water heaters -- at least the traditional tank-type units -- do require regular maintenance to function properly, and we all know how most landlords are when it comes to preventive maintenance.
If it has been more than a couple years since the unit was drained/flushed of sediment buildup, that, along with other neglected servicing, are likely causing the unit to perform below its potential.
Charlesinrichmond t1_jaafm32 wrote
Talk to the landlord and tell them it doesn't ask long and ask if you can get a bigger one. No certainty but might work
dreww4546 t1_jaahuhx wrote
I live in a 12 unit building with 1 waterheater to supply everyone. It is a huge industrial one from the 1920s..and it works almost top well.
dreww4546 t1_jaai4nr wrote
A lot of water heaters have 2 heat elements, one up high and one down low. If one of these is burned out it would result in a short life for hot water. -courtesy of my THIS OLD HOUSE addiction.
Danger-Moose t1_jaalz8a wrote
I had this problem but it was very noticeable. As in it never really got hot.
dreww4546 t1_jaameak wrote
One element is the heat up element and one is the keep warm element. So if the heat up element is dying or dead that would mean only luke warm water.
Danger-Moose t1_jaamj2d wrote
Huh, well there you go. It must have been my heat up element. I'm learning so many technical terms! 😉
dreww4546 t1_jaanfdn wrote
And my input is worth exactly what you paid for it.
C4rva t1_jaaqx63 wrote
Make sure that water heater has a separate gas/ electric meter. One of you may be paying for both units hot water.
m0arpepper t1_jab6zbo wrote
Not true. They’re both the same wattage. The top always has priority in an electric heater, but not always triggered.
https://www.canton.edu/media/employee/elec141/Sequence_hot_water_heater.pdf
hugacrv t1_jab8jqm wrote
I just watched this a few days ago. Fascinating how simple the technology is but smarter than you think.
m0arpepper t1_jab991r wrote
That channel is awesome!! I wish I had content like that when I was a kid.
_sarten t1_jabl40i wrote
In a duplex, each unit should have its own water heater. There is an exception, but that wouldn't apply here if you are paying for all of the utilities.
The exception would be if water and heat were both paid by the landlord and the hot water came from the boiler for radiant heat.
ZephyrInfernum t1_jaa07uc wrote
I can't say definitively, but a cursory google doesn't show any kind of requirement for separate water heaters and does show that a single hot water heater is quite common for duplexes. You are likely stuck with your current situation.