A friend asked me – why two sets of water heater? Well, I guess it’s because the hot water heater in the bathroom also is used to heat and re-heat the ofuro (bath tub), instead of just providing hot water. The tub is usually filled with cold water from a tap, then heated by the gas heater which also has a circulating pump to keep the water hot while one baths. The Japanese wash themselves with soap and rinse before they soak in the small tub, so normally the water in the ofuro is not changed daily, hence the ofuro heater. It was said that in the past, the old bath water was used to wash wooden floors since natural human body oils served as an excellent polish and sealant for the wood.
Instead of western-style hot water tap, Japanese kitchens are mostly equipped with a compact wall mounted unit of water heater known as kitchen shower, usually found above the sink. They are powered by natural gas, with indicator light resembling gas stove light blue spark, and are more energy efficient than traditional western style gas powered boiler or compact electric heater. To save water, user of kitchen shower could choose between using normal running water (suitable for washing dishes and pans) or showery flow (handy for washing fruits and vegetables as well as cleaning the sink since the handle is flexible).
Before:
The absolutely dangerous kitchen shower unit
The 'makeshift' temperature dial
After:
The new kitchen shower, its flexy-handle with running water in showery flow
Easy control of the temperature - from tepid to almost livid
The previous hot water heater in the bathroom was in a really critical condition – not only it was temperamental and did not allow much control of the temperature (too hot or too cold, nothing in between), it was so old that even the ignition lever as well as the hook for the shower head were already broken. And I don’t have to comment much on the rust – the pictures can speak for themselves…
Before:
close-up of the rusts
After :
and the shower head in its proper place too...
The water heater may look old-fashioned with the lever and everything, but it is more common than one-touch ‘modern’ water heater due to its far lower price. For the uninitiated, here’s how to operate it:
- Check the gas tap on the wall whether it is ‘on’ or not – usually off in Japanese houses and on in Malaysians. (Any respectable living guide book would advise one to keep it off when not in use to decrease chances of hazard during earthquake, but, well...) If the handle is parallel to the gas pipe, then it is an ‘open door’, if it is perpendicular, then it’s a 'closed gate' blocking the entrance of gas.
- Press down the ignition dial on top of the unit on the right to the ignition symbol, (口火). Hold it down and turn the ignition lever on the front of the unit to the right two or three times. Often you can hear the gas ignite, hold down the ignition dial for 5-10 seconds until in the indicator window on the front of the unit has shown a steady blue spark.
- Release dial and turn it down to tap/shower setting, the second last line on the dial. The last setting is for heating up the ofuro.
- Turn the water tap on - 90° to the left for the tap and 90° to the right for the shower. You can tell which is which by the simple pictures.
If you only want cold water then all you need to do is turn the water tap on - in this case 90° to the right for the shower or 90° to the left for the tap.
UPDATEWe have received donation from Malaysia (as collected by hubby's father) to help paying for and installation of the new hot water heaters with some balance for other stuff.
Jazakumullahu khairan kathira. May Allah bless and reward all those who contributed fi sabilillah...
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