Water Stains

terpkristin · 01-13-2010, 12:58 PM

Any tips for removing water stains on walls?

Long story very short, my water heater decided to die and leaked water everywhere. It got under my carpet (so my carpet's soaked) and it looks like one of the walls soaked up a little bit of water, the stain goes a bit above the base molding. The wall is painted (a yellow color). Is there anything I can do to minimize the appearance of the water stains or make them go away entirely?

Timing on this couldn't be worse, trying to refinance my mortgage, have an appraiser coming on Friday, but right now, the water heater that Lowe's installed has a known flaw that's actually got a class action lawsuit. 2 hours after it was installed with the pilot light working fine, it's gone out and won't re-light. 40 Gallon Gas Hot Water Heater Reviews - Compare The Brands

/tk

Swaggs · 01-13-2010, 01:13 PM

you will probably need to get a primer (Kilz is the brand that I have used) to seal over it and then repaint. You can get the primer tinted, so that you may only have to put the finish coat on once more (if it covers).

RainMaker · 01-13-2010, 01:21 PM

What Swaggs said. Although I'd say Bullseye 1-2-3 is a much better primer.

terpkristin · 01-13-2010, 01:37 PM

Hmm thanks.
I guess that makes it tougher than I was expecting/hoping, I have no idea which paint (or color) was used (it's how I bought the house). Ugh.

/tk

Airhog · 01-13-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Hmm thanks.
I guess that makes it tougher than I was expecting/hoping, I have no idea which paint (or color) was used (it's how I bought the house). Ugh.

/tk

take a small sample of the paint from the wall to a paint store, they can match the color for you.

Butter · 01-13-2010, 03:35 PM

We have that same Whirlpool hot water heater with the jacked up thermocouple. The parts for it are all screwy, so you can't buy generic or off-the-shelf parts, you have to get them all from Whirlpool. We were able to have them send us one of the entire lighter assemblies for free, which I reinstalled and it died a year later. I saw on another website a way to basically "fool" the hot water heater into allowing the pilot light to stay lit after ours started going out again. It's probably not what one would call "safe"... but I don't have $400 lying around for a decent hot water heater either.

terpkristin · 01-13-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

We have that same Whirlpool hot water heater with the jacked up thermocouple. The parts for it are all screwy, so you can't buy generic or off-the-shelf parts, you have to get them all from Whirlpool. We were able to have them send us one of the entire lighter assemblies for free, which I reinstalled and it died a year later. I saw on another website a way to basically "fool" the hot water heater into allowing the pilot light to stay lit after ours started going out again. It's probably not what one would call "safe"... but I don't have $400 lying around for a decent hot water heater either.

Yeah, I've learned my lesson, next time I'll call a plumber who can install one that is generally considered better (Rhee, or B/W, or something). Word around the internet--now that I have time to look--is that Kenmore and Whirlpool leave a bit to be desired. But, when you've got a completely dead water heater that's leaking water EVERYWHERE, you don't have time to do one of those searches. If it goes bad (and hopefully it'll be good for at least a few years), I'll get a different one.

What a freaking day.

But the Lowe's guy game back and now my pilot light is back on, and my dad and I were also able to get rid of a dead tree/bush thing that was in my front yard so maybe things are looking up for today.

Oh, and as a bonus, I went to the house book the previous homeowner left me and found out that they told me which paint was used, including color, so maybe it won't be as hard as I thought to get the paint.

/tk

MizzouRah · 01-13-2010, 10:10 PM

We had our roof leak a few years back and some tinted primer and a coat of white fixed it up nicely.

bbor · 01-13-2010, 10:40 PM

Ask Monica Lewinski.

bbor · 01-13-2010, 10:40 PM

Dola....Oop's....you said water stains did'nt you?

Shepp · 01-14-2010, 09:15 AM

You want to make sure its completely dry before you paint. Else you'll run the risk of mildew bleeding through down the road.

01-13-2010, 01:13 PM	#2
Swaggs Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000	you will probably need to get a primer (Kilz is the brand that I have used) to seal over it and then repaint. You can get the primer tinted, so that you may only have to put the finish coat on once more (if it covers). __________________ DOWN WITH HATTRICK!!! The RWBL Are you reading In The Bleachers?

01-13-2010, 01:21 PM	#3
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	What Swaggs said. Although I'd say Bullseye 1-2-3 is a much better primer. Last edited by RainMaker : 01-13-2010 at 01:22 PM.

01-13-2010, 01:37 PM	#4
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	Hmm thanks. I guess that makes it tougher than I was expecting/hoping, I have no idea which paint (or color) was used (it's how I bought the house). Ugh. /tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

01-13-2010, 03:35 PM	#6
Butter Coordinator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dayton, OH	We have that same Whirlpool hot water heater with the jacked up thermocouple. The parts for it are all screwy, so you can't buy generic or off-the-shelf parts, you have to get them all from Whirlpool. We were able to have them send us one of the entire lighter assemblies for free, which I reinstalled and it died a year later. I saw on another website a way to basically "fool" the hot water heater into allowing the pilot light to stay lit after ours started going out again. It's probably not what one would call "safe"... but I don't have $400 lying around for a decent hot water heater either. __________________ My listening habits

01-13-2010, 10:40 PM	#9
bbor Pro Starter Join Date: May 2001 Location: toronto	Ask Monica Lewinski. __________________ Pumpy Tudors Now that I've cracked and made that admission, I wonder if I'm only a couple of steps away from wanting to tongue-kiss Jaromir Jagr and give Bobby Clarke a blowjob.

01-13-2010, 10:10 PM	#8
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Troy, Mo	We had our roof leak a few years back and some tinted primer and a coat of white fixed it up nicely.

01-14-2010, 09:15 AM	#11
Shepp High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA	You want to make sure its completely dry before you paint. Else you'll run the risk of mildew bleeding through down the road.

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