Job Discussion Forums

[nawlinsgurl]

hey everyone! we are moving into a new place and it's perfect minus the gas crank heater in the bathroom. it seems like most of the place has been remodelled but the bathroom---none of my japanese friends have bathrooms like this one. the shower is connected to a heater which you have to first turn on the gas, then crank the gas up to get hot water.

aside from it being dangerous, i was wondering if there is anyway to get this heating system changed (not by me but reasonable priced by a professional) or if anyone's experienced with this???? any help would be great! thanks!

[nawlinsgurl]

Ok SERIOUSLY....someone has to have one of the old style heating systems in their bathroom...or am I the only person in Japan with it?????

[Glenski]

When I came to Japan 8 years ago, my first apartment was in a 35-year-old building. The bath had a heater fueled by a tank heater positioned next to it. To start it, you had to turn a plastic crank which sparked over the pilot light flame. WHenever water runs for the bath or shower, it becomes heated. You could also divert the flow to the washing machine which sat in the same room.

Is that the sort of heater you are talking about? If so, those sort of things are pretty much installed by the builders of the apartment. Changing that sort of thing is probably a major operation and should be discussed with the apartment manager.

[kowlooner]

Actually, I'm not sure that gas is all that dangerous. Plenty of places have gas water heaters, and not just in Japan. The big issue with gas water heaters used to be ventilation, but nowadays it's pretty standard (and required) that installed heaters have flues leading outside. In any case, if you like to take longer hot showers, a gas heater is nice since you don't run out of hot water!

[earthmonkey]

My ex-girlfriend had one just like that. It broke last year and her landlord had it replaced with a new one of the same type. I was shocked that they still make those things! Looks dangerous, but I got used to it. Just turn of the gas when you're not using it.

As for replacing it inexpensively. This is Japan.

[azarashi sushi]

Yes, I also had that kind of water heater in my bathroom in my old apartment. It eventually broke and the landlord replaced it with a new model of the same style. I actually liked it. Does yours have the feature whereby you can reheat the bath water? You turn a switch and it recirculates the bath water through the heater. That's very useful! You can take really long baths (if that's your thing of course)... just keep reheating the water!

[bshabu]

I too had one of those in my first apartment in Japan. My friend laughed when she saw it. She told that it was ancient. Now, I have a nice computerize heater system. Just one push of a button and the water fills up to the level and temp desired. Also, the nice lady that lives in the panel tells me when the bath is ready.

[macondo]

[nawlinsgurl]

Ok thanks everyone---I appreciate all that advice! I was a bit concerned, but now it seems ok...and there is a window in the bathroom...so everything will work out I hope!

[Apsara]

I used to live in an old (well, about 35 years old so ancient by Japanese standards) house which originally had that manual gas water heater set-up but the landlords replaced it with the new type with the control panel for setting temp etc.
When we were apartment hunting last year my Japanese husband rejected every apartment we looked at with the old kind of water heater- he really doesn't like them for some reason. We ended up with moving into a brand new (but tiny) apartment and we also have a lady living in the hot water control panel telling us when the bath is full and what the temp is- it would be hard to go back to the old type now!

[JimDunlop2]

[nawlinsgurl]

Thanks, I'd like to have the little lady inside the water heater and a solar panel or two but I doubt the landlord will replace it unless it's broken. If anyone finds out how much it would cost to update it, I'd like to be PMed. Thanks!