The Water Heater Isn't

[crokett]

at least not like it used to. It used to get water hot enough that you almost couldn't put your hand in it, now it is hot, but definitely cooler than that and there is a lot less of it - it won't make it through a shower. The plumber did the new bath rough-in this week and Wednesday drained all the lines to tie in the new work. I went out of town Wednesday afternoon and got back late Friday night. My shower Saturday didn't seem to have hot water but we'd just run the dishwasher and done some laundry. This morning it didn't again. The water heater is of undetermined age. We've been here 4 years, it was put in at least 2 years before that. I don't think there is a temp adjustment setting on it, if there was the plumber had no reason to tweak it. Assuming he drained the lines and didn't cut the breaker off, would that damage the element? The two times I did plumbing work I cut the breaker off before draining them. Is there anything else to check? It is pretty simple, water line in, water line out and electrical in. No tubes or anything else on the sides. There are two holes in the top. One has what looks like a large hex bolt in it. The other has a large square-drive recess, I think it is a cap of some sort. Both of these are hot to the touch as is the copper line coming from the so it is heating at least some water.

[Daryl]

Sounds like one of the elements is burned out. If the plumber let the level of the water in the tank fall below the element it will go. Check them for continuity, and replace if necessary. There is also a thermostat in there with the elements that can go too. Also drain and flush the tank, scale build up can cause lack of hot water. The hex bolt on top is likely the anode, supplies sacrificial metal so the tank won't rust. There is also a dip tube on the cold water intake, they can fail and the incoming water mixes with the hot water on top and you end up with luke warm water. If the tank is ten years or older, you may be better off to just replace it now.

[Ed62]

I was going to ask how long it's been since you drained the tank. If it has a lot of buildup on the bottom of the tank, it takes longer for the water to warm, and it might not get as hot as before. I drain mine about every 6 months to a year. Everything Daryl said is good to check.

Ed

[Mr__Bill]

If you do have a bad element you should replace both of them, it's only a short time for the next one in my experience. When you drain the tank flush it too, the drain valve will get some sediment in it and will not seat well if your unlucky. Flushing it should help with that. If there is an annoid rod in it you may as well replace that too. Now with all those parts new next week the tank will spring a leak.

If you decide to replace it look at the smart ones that keep track of when you use hot water and adjust themselves for the demand. If your house use of hot water is on any kind of schedule it will save you some money in electricity.

Last time I replaced the parts they all came from HD. I don't remember the cost but it was not that much of a shock. The new tank on the other hand..... If you do replace the tank they make squiggly bendable copper connectors that make up the difference between the inlet and outlet being in different places. If not already there you may want to add a shutoff valve too.

best of luck on a Sunday morn, Bill

[crokett]

Fixed, I think. The heater is fine. After testing the resistance across both elements, then testing the voltage being delivered by the t-stats (and that the pipe from the heater is very hot) I decided the heater was ok and it must be something the plumber did. I called him and we started talking and after he asked if I tested at a sink that did not have a mixing valve like my shower does, we both realized that the mixing valve is not installed in the new shower and the hot/cold water are mixing.... He is coming out today anyway to get his check and will install the valve. I'd asked him not to because I didn't want to drop a tool on it, or get thinset all over it, etc. I did not realize this would happen . He thought I did and was going to take steps to avoid it.

[cgallery]

David, are you talking about that valve that adjusts to pressure drops?

[crokett]

No, I am talking about the mixing valve that turns the water on and off. The handle attaches to it. When you rough in a shower there is a brass rough-in assembly. It has 1 hole on each side for hot/cold water and for the supply to shower head and tub spout. Then there is a hole in the front that is capped from the factory. This hole is for the mixing valve. The assembly itself is hollow. I found this out on my first rough-in a while back when I was doing a pressure test on the cold water side and water came spurting out of the hot side that hadn't had the final hookup yet. Last week I'd forgotten about the mixing problem and asked him not to. He'd intended to ask if I was sure but in the rush of me going out of town forgot to follow up on it. He installed the valve this evening and I had beautifully hot water from one of the bathroom sinks.

It's not all bad, I learned how to troubleshoot a water heater, at least an electric one.

[cgallery]

OHHHH! Thanks for clearing that up.