Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Karen Youso Column: Fixit: Daught

Jun. 16--Q We have a 16-year-old who will soon get her driver's license. Do we have to add her to our insurance? The research I've done shows that auto insurance coverage is for a particular car, not for a specific driver. So my insurance on my car should cover any driver, including my daughter for occasional use of my car. But my insurance company and other insurance companies I've contacted say I need to buy additional coverage for my daughter. But it would essentially double my annual premium. I hesitate to accept their word on the matter. Can you help?

A Car insurance is not for a particular car, said Mark Kulda with the Insurance Federation of Minnesota. Your insurance coverage follows you, and that includes into a rental car.

In an accident, a person's own personal insurance policy takes precedence over the car owner's policy. If you are in an accident while borrowing a neighbor's car, your own policy is tapped first.

If there's a claim while your uninsured daughter is driving your car, it would be on the policy of you, the car owner.

She will have to be listed as a driver on your insurance policy. If that means your premium merely doubles, that's a good deal. Triple is more common, Kulda said. The risks are higher for new drivers because they get into many more accidents, so the rates are higher, too.

Stinky hot water

Q Why does the new water heater make the water smell of sulfur? We had it installed and then left for vacation only to return to stinky hot water.

A The rotten-egg smell comes from hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the water. Concentrations of as little as one part per million can result in this odor.

For odor to develop in the water heater, there must be:

--A high concentration of sulfate in the water source.

--Little or no dissolved oxygen in the water.

--Sulfate-reducing bacteria within the water heater. (This bacteria is nontoxic to humans.)

--An excess of active hydrogen in the tank. This is provided by the cathodic action of the anode, a metal rod inside the tank that protects against corrosion.

With these factors present, the hydrogen and sulfur combine to form the hydrogen sulfide gas that gives the rotten-egg odor to the water. Active use of the water heater will reduce the problem, but idle water heaters (during vacations) will allow the accumulation of this hydrogen sulfide gas and aggravate the odor problem.

Smelly water can most easily be eliminated or reduced by replacing the anode with one of less active material (magnesium to aluminum) and then chlorinating the water heating system.

Do not remove the anode; that would leave the tank unprotected. Although it will not affect safer heater operations, it does shorten its life. This is because the anode acts as a sacrificial rod, thus slowing the corrosion process. By removing the anode you will void any warranty on the water heater.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-7032, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.

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