This week my sweet daughter Trudy, who works with me at the lumber yard had her hot water heater blow up in the middle of the night.  What a mess the next day.  Her garage was flooded and she had to turn off the water until the new heater was installed.  And it can happen to you if your pop off valve does not do its job.  So here goes an article about a new electric water heater that different than all the rest.  Let me explain why this heater is different than others.

#1 this water heaters yearly cost is about $200.
#2 this tank is not under any pressure.
#3 this heater does not build up any sediment in the bottom of the tank
#4 has only 1 5500 watt pop off element and you can replace the element with out draining the tank
#5 it has a double plastic tank to protect it from leaking and will not rust.

Now let’s compare it to the standard heater

#1 Average cost per year is $429
#2 Tank is under pressure like Trudy’s’
#3 Sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank and on the heating element
#4 Recovery time is 17 to 25 gal per minute and it has 2 elements
#5 Tanks must be drained to replace elements and getting the element out is no easy job.
#6 Metal tanks eventually rust and they conduct electricity.

I own one of the new hot water heaters and love it.  I installed at the lake where there is constantly kids taking showers, and washing towels or dishes.  We have never had a complaint about cold water.  The name of the water heater is an HH20 and it cost less than $300.00.  For more information call 877-840-9165.  By the way it has about 2” of foam insulation between the two plastic tanks to keep the hot water hot.

Now to the mailbag….

Question:  Johnnie we have a smell problem in our bathroom.  It is in our bottom cabinet area.  It smells like mildew.  We have cleaned out everything and nothing has changed.  We have checked the water drainage in the sink, all is well.  Also checked the drainage pipe for the air conditioner which runs down into the bathroom plumbing.  We have checked the plumbing in the sink, toilet and all seemed to be doing well.  Where could this smell be coming from and how do we get rid of it?  We installed wood floors last year.

Answer:  It sounds like water is between the slab and the wood floors or the vent pipe on the roof may need to be cleaned out and you can do that with a garden hose.  Just run some water down all the vents on the roof.  But I must tell you it sound more like moisture is coming through the slab and getting between the wood and top of the concrete.  Clear the vents first, and let’s hope for the best. 

Question:  I have a real fireplace with a brick chimney on the front of my house built in 1959.  It does not have any metal as the new ones do.  The brick goes across the front of my 16 foot big room with book cases on each side of the opening.  The hearth is wide enough to sit on and is three bricks high.  The bricks were not sealed on the outside or inside originally.  I have begun to get white fuzz forming on the seat part and down the sides.  The bricks are flaking off and I have to sweep up the dust like particles and flakes every two to three weeks.  Help!

Answer:  This is an easy one.  Mc Closkey  Patio and Stone Sealer.  You can brush is on.  Just use a stiff brush to get rid of the lime on the bricks.  Then you will be ready to put on the sealer. 

Question:  I love you helpful articles.  We have been working on an old church and trying to renovate it alittle at a time.  It has wood floors and I was told that they were oiled.  The varnish is flaking off.  It looks terrible.  What can we do?

Answer:  When I got out of the navy in 1953 I went to work in a lumber yard that had hardwood floors and we would take the old oil out of our trucks and instead of throwing it away we would apply it to the wood floors and I’m sure that is what they did to the church floors.  Why not sand that varnish off and see if you can test a spot by applying water to the spot.  If the water is absorbed into the floor, then it will take an oil varnish.  Worse case – re oil the floor.  It will be natural look and will last for years.  By the way I am coming to Houston before the end of the month and speaking at the Humble Home and Garden Show.  Come by and see me!

Got a question for Johnnie? Tune in to Johnnie's radio show Saturday mornings on KTSA (5500 AM) from 9-11 or call 828-8907. Reach him on the web at www.AcmeLumber.com.