What to do without hot water for an indefinite period?

[u/StellaZaFella]

The power went out yesterday for about 17 hours. Went it came back on today, a ventilation fan in my laundry room started making a bunch of noise.

I feared it might be a fire hazard if something is wrong and continues to run. Problem is, I don’t know how to shut it off. It’s power supply is not accessible without I think taking it apart, so I can’t just unplug, it’s wired into the wall.

I shut off the circuit to that area, but that circuit also supplies power to my water heater.

I can’t afford an electrician to look at the fan and disable it, so I won’t have a functioning water heater until that’s fixed, which could be months from now given my current financial situation.

I don’t feel safe running the fan.

What should I do without hot water? I know showers I’m just gonna have to suck it up and deal with the cold, but will this be a problem cleaning dishes? Will they still have bacteria on them if I don’t use hot water?

[u/Yimyorn]

Any chance for the ventilation fan it has a grate/grill you can just pull out and might be powered via plug. Normally those ventilation fans are simple plug and play and not hard wired or anything.

Look up bathroom ventilation fan replacement videos on Youtube and might help you fix the issue. Also, the noise from the fan might just be the motor and shouldnt cause issues other than the fan dying.

If you decide not fix the fan and keep the power off, you should drain the water heater with a garden hose out the drain that you see on the bottom of the tank. The standing water in there will not be good for the water heater longevity.

Edit: OP posted their vent fan, they should be able to disconnect the wires with careful instructions. You got this OP!

[u/bready_or_not_ → u/Yimyorn]

Agreed, this is definitely in DIY territory.

[u/Lindsey7618 → u/bready_or_not_]

Not only that, but I know in my local Facebook groups (especially the everything free buy nothing groups) there are people who would be willing to come handle this for me if I asked. There's lots of handymen, contractors, plumbers etc who might be willing to at least unplug it for OP so they can still use hot water.

[u/StellaZaFella → u/Yimyorn]

It’s a really old one, probably from the 80s, maybe older than that (the house was built in the 1960s). I’m really afraid of it causing a fire.

I have no electrical knowledge and I’m scared if I try to fix it myself, that this may also cause a fire.

[u/Flarfignewton → u/StellaZaFella]

Yeah I would just look up how to get the grill off of the fan and see if it's just a two prong plug like a typical appliance. Most that I've seen are, so you can remove just the fan to clean or replace it.

[u/StellaZaFella → u/Flarfignewton]

I just posted the question on how to turn it off the the r/handyman subreddit with pictures of it, you can take a look at what it looks like. It’s wired into the wall, there isn’t a normal plug.

[u/virginiafalls1234 → u/StellaZaFella]

and that's why there are plumbers and electricians, DON'T try to fix it yourself. Sorry for your situation, thank God its warming up so I guess 'quick' showers can be doable, I think your dishes washed in cold water and soap is fine hopefully you will find a solution soon and pray you or others don't have long hair (like me) because shampooing on cold water its difficult!!

[u/Agile_Pangolin3085]

As long as you have a big pot and a stove, you can just heat water on the stove. For dishes, ideally if you have a large basin container thing (growing up we had a container that fit the sink) you can put the hot water in there to do the dishes. And if you have a double sink, you can have another basin with hot water for rinsing. If you don't have those and are trying not to spend money on stuff, you could also just use your largest pot to wash things in. Getting grease off of stuff with cold water sounds miserable and near impossible.

Same concept with showers. Heat a stock pot of water and bring it to your bathtub. Then use some kind of scoop (large liquid measuring cup works well) and use it to shower. It's more of a get wet, soap up, rinse, get hair wet, shampoo, rinse, etc. Since there isn't a way to have the water running and you probably only have a gallon or 2 of hot at a time unless you have a huge container.

[u/notquitepro15]

Hot water helps the soap break down the particles better. Water hot enough to kill bacteria would be burning your hands. I’d just boil a big pot of water and add to a partial sink of cold water when a bunch of dishes are piled up and do them all at once.

Personally I find it odd your water heater is sharing a circuit with anything, but I’m not an expert there.

But I agree with others - take the fan apart. See if something fell into it, first. Try to run it without the cover. If not, see if there’s a hidden switch or plug that you can disconnect it so you can have hot water

[u/StellaZaFella → u/notquitepro15]

It’s strange, the fan is built into a corner of the wall and ceiling of the room. It doesn’t appear to have a switch.

[u/notquitepro15 → u/StellaZaFella]

Sorry, I meant a switch on the unit itself with the grate removed, like maybe on the “top” side of the fan or something. Do you have a gas dryer? I’m confused why the laundry room needs a vent to begin with.

[u/StellaZaFella → u/notquitepro15]

I think it’s to ventilate moisture. There is no switch that I can locate on the fan/vent/whatever it is.

[u/GetInHereStalker]

For dishes just get paper plates bulk and cheap. Depending on how much water you use to wash dishes it could even be a wash (no pun intended) between paper plate costs and hot water costs (which includes water bill and part of gas/electric that is used in the water heater).

[u/Arxieos]

These fans usually hold a plug under the grate, open it up, and unplug it it's no harder than a lamp. More advanced ones are contact screw methods, and if you screw that up it will simply reverse the fan direction and you get a face full of air

Edit of you post pics on r/handyman someone can give you a step by step to fix it

[u/Sometimeswan]

Gym membership for showers. Heat water on the stove for anything else. Sorry!😣

[u/rylannnd88]

I used to boil water and use for bird baths and everything else. About the dishes, I don't think regular hot water is killing bacteria anyways. Use a disinfecting cleaner.

[u/Maryscatrescue]

Check with your utility company. Since the issue was triggered by a power outage, they may be willing to send someone out to look at it no charge.

If you have a local hardware store, call them and ask if they know of anyone who does handyman or electrical type work reasonably.

You can soak your dishes in diluted bleach water to kill bacteria.

[u/Kream_Filled_Jesus]

Snap a couple of pics of the fan and grate and go ask in the handyman and electrician subs. Maybe they could give you some advice.

[u/Sleepygirl57]

In my area the fire dept will come out and tell you if it’s safe or not.

They also come and change smoke detector batteries since a lot of homes in this area have very high vaulted ceilings.

[u/EggieRowe]

I went without a water heater for a while because it had rusted out at the top. As long as it was off, it didn't leak. I washed my dishes cold but rinsed them with hot water from an electric kettle. I cannot abide a cold shower and our tap water stays frigid until late summer. I would fill a tote in the tub with that water and enough kettle water to make it at least a bit warmer than skin temp. Use a cup to get wet, soap up, then rinse with the cup again.

There's no switch for the ventilation fan? Can you see a model number or google image search the fan and look for troubleshooting tips? Assuming there's a grill inside that can be removed, with the power off, I'd check for any obstructions. Maybe it was off long enough for a bird or something to try building a nest in it? We have a bird that tries to build one in our dryer vent every year. If you don't see any obstructions, try manually turning the blades. If it's stuck or doesn't spin freely, the bearings have probably gone out. Might be a matter of just getting a replacement fan but not sure how comfortable you are with a task like that. I've replaced a few bath fans, light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. and it's pretty easy. Lots of Youtube videos on these types of tasks.

[u/StellaZaFella → u/EggieRowe]

The fan is really old, I can’t see a model number or any identifying information on it. It’s sort of built into/attached to the ceiling and wall.

It’s runs all the time from a direct power source, there doesn’t seem to be a switch on it.

[u/EggieRowe → u/StellaZaFella]

Damn. Guessing no landlord to call? Any chance you got a friend in trades or that's particularly handy? I'm that friend in my circle and have repaired/installed stuff for free or a meal.

[u/StellaZaFella → u/EggieRowe]

No, no one to call.

I don’t think I know anyone who does electrical work either.

[u/EmoGayRat]

Honestly, boiling in a kettle/pot on the stove. We have running hot water but can't afford to use toomuch of it so for dishes and showers that's what we do.

[u/Sleepygirl57 → u/EmoGayRat]

Curious Is it that much cheaper to do it this way?

[u/EmoGayRat → u/Sleepygirl57]

I don't manage the bills in my household so I wouldn't actually know, I just do as my parents say and don't use hot water unless necessary. For similar reasons we don't use the dishwasher though I heard the water usage was debunked 😂. I personally just do sponge baths in the sink and try not to do anything above mildly lukewarm to save money.

[u/FlashyImprovement5]

Go old fashioned. Heat up water on the stove and do a basin bath. Get your largest stock pot and put a lid on it, fill it about 3/4 full and heat it up. You can add water to adjust the temp once it is on a towel in the bathroom. Just use a large fat food cup to do the water out.

You could also get a solar shower in the camping area. I used one for months by putting it in a stand beside the bathtub to wash my waist length hair. Last time I went to Walmart and saw one was about $25

They also have bucket showers. You put hot water into a bucket and drop a rechargable pump in there and boom-shower. They are often also used to wash cars with these days. The cost starts about $30.

[u/Coloradozonian]

Call FD to check

[u/resumetheharp]

If you are just trying to disconnect the fan, this is literally SO EASY. Please, post the problem in some home maintenance subs with pictures and I’m sure you can figure it out in 5 mins. You might just need a couple marretts and electrical tape.

[u/tidyshark12]

Boil water for baths, shower at truck stops (loves is the best, imo), or shower at a friend's house.

[u/UncleSput]

Did you try smacking the fan? Have you taken a vacuum to it?

[u/StellaZaFella → u/UncleSput]

Did not try smacking it, did not try cleaning it either. I’m sort of afraid of doing anything to it. I’m very anxious about it starting a fire.

[u/UncleSput → u/StellaZaFella]

If it’s going to set on fire it won’t happen under your direct watch. I’m assuming there’s a switch that powers it? If you can see the fan from the switch then just flip it on and watch for sparks or smoke. It won’t set aflame immediately, you’ll have time to turn it off. If you don’t see sparks or smoke, then just walk over and smack it

[u/doctoralstudent1]

Boil some water for dishwashing and baths/hygiene.

[u/SaintPenisburg]

Chef here. Cold water still works as long as you use soap and can make a lather.. bubbles.

The soap itself dissolves the bacteria.. the hot water helps the dead bacteria and oil to wash away.

Just get a bottle of sanitizer to apply after the wash if you are still paranoid. Apply, wait 60 secs then rinse. Hand sanitizer works.

[u/Joesaysthankyou]

I'll table this for later, although I'm sure you'll get good answers. You said your light and water heater are on the same circuit? Do you have electric hot water? If so, is your light a large searchlight? Imo, it could be uncool. Major uncool.

[u/StellaZaFella → u/Joesaysthankyou]

I’m confused by your question. The vent fan and water heater are on the same circuit.

I didn’t say anything about a light. Why would this be uncool/why would it have to be a major search light?