Question: New federal guidelines for home water heaters took effect in April. The heaters will now be larger than the existing models. Will they fit into Sun City homes that have no basement, or will the homeowners have to modify or rebuild their space?
Answer: NAECA 2015, a new update to the rules for increasing minimum energy efficiency standards was enacted in 2010 and goes into effect on April 16, 2015. To meet these new requirements, more insulation is being added to new water heaters that will increase their dimensions. These increases will vary somewhat by manufacturer. The height of a new unit with the same gallon capacity as an existing unit may be two or more inches taller. The diameter of a new unit that has the same gallon capacity as an existing unit may be two or more inches wider. For units under 55 gallons, add a minimum of three or more inches when planning the space for the heater.
When it comes time to replace your water heater you will need to know more than that you want a 50 gallon water heater. If your water heater is in the basement the larger size will probably not be a problem, but look to see if the heater is close to a wall or the furnace. If your water heater is in the utility room, two inches of additional height or two inches of additional width may prevent a water heater of the same capacity being installed in the space of the old one. One possibility is to replace the old heater with a smaller one. Another possibility is to check the dimensions of other manufacturers to find one of the same capacity that will fit.
Question: I have black/grey spots that have started to appear on my concrete patio after the first few years. My house is about 7 years old. Is there anything I can use to get rid of them? I have tried a concrete cleaner and it didn’t work, or it even made it worse. I noticed that where my grill sits next to the house there are no spots. Does the sun have something to do with it? Thanks for any help.
Answer: If you have already tried a concrete cleaner, the next step is to use muriatic acid. This is a very caustic acid so use it in accordance with the directions on the package and wear rubber gloves and safety glasses.
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