Thanks, Tom, that's a lot to think about. I'm not going to say the cold-water tap is cold here in the twin cities, but I will say it doesn't take long to freeze a fresh ice tray.

One other item related to hot water is a regulated mixer valve in the shower. It would seem to save a lot of fiddling, and I can't imagine they cost a whole lot. Do you know if anything like that is widely available?

Thank you everyone for all the replies and information. It hasn't died yet , but I guess we will replace it soon(like the first day my wife has off)

Dave

Let's just say we aren't "tankless", eh Dave?

Frenchy:

What is a GMO?

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Goatrider:

Did you know that hot water (Not boiling hot when you put it in the freezer.) will freeze solid faster than tap water?

Try it, I didn't believe it until I tried it.

Bountyhunter

Usually true! Works with most tap water that has been boiled. Doesn't work with distilled water (that's a clue as to why it happens).

It happens for the same reason that water is an insulator and not a conductor of electricity.

Bountyhunter

Yah, I've heard that, but it doesn't make any sense thermodynamically. I haven't tried it myself yet. But there are a lot of things in thermodynamics that don't make sense.

It does remind me of an interesting thing that happened last winter. My wife had left a nalgene bottle full of water out of our Brita filter in the car. It was around 0 degrees out. She brought the bottle to me and wondered why it hadn't frozen. I opened it, and it froze instantly. Supercooling is so cool!

oooopsss....
Maybe I should have said GMH = Genetically Modified Heater ?!?

(I know you already have Geneticallly Modified Organisms for sweet corn and, according to Brian, for Texan bunnies ....)

<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Frenchy:

Oh!, for a minute there you had me wondering. GMO in Milwaukee, Wisconsin stands for "Greater Milwaukee Open" which is a golf tournament. I was not able to put water heaters, a French citizen, and a golf tournament together.

You have to remember that just because I am a humble, unassuming, extremely good looking Italian born male, I still do not know everything. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />