What could be wrong with our hot water tank?

Question

Our hot water used to be available as soon as we turned on the faucets - suddenly we have to run the water for quite a long time and its tepid at best. The pilot light is on and its running and noone altered the temperature setting.

Answer 1

Easy there! Before you spend a lot on a plumber--who will be more than happy to sell you parts--do the following:
1) kill the flame.
2) find the drain fitting and screw a garden hose onto it.
3) after running the hose outside, open the valve, allowing the sediment in the bottom of your tank to run out. Sedimentation is the primary cause of "burnout" where the bottom of the tank....burns out, flooding the house.
4) repeat this process every year.

Answer 2

Sounds like the dip tube may be bad. This brings the cold water that enters the tank down to the bottom, and allows you to draw hot water from the top. If this is absent then the cold water will mix a little with the hot, but mostly just goes right accross the top of the tank and comes up to your faucet. Try drawing some water from the bottom drain. If it is hot then it's the dip tube. If it is not hot then your gas valve/ thermostat is bad- replace the tank.
If it's older than 10 years replace the tank. If you heat with a hot water boiler ask your plumber about installing an indirect fired water heater (such as Superstor). These last many years more, (some have a lifetime warranty), provide good hot water recovery, and prevent condensation from eroding your boiler during its normal off season.

Answer 3

One of the heating elements inside the tank needs to be replaced.
Be sure to use the same element flange, gasket type, wattage, and voltage as on the element being replaced.
1. Before servicing the water heater, DISCONNECT or TURN OFF the main electric power breaker feeding the water heater. This is normally located in the electric service panel.
2. Remove the cover panel and insulation to expose the heating element. Remove the plastic protective cover over the thermostat and heating element.
3. Before servicing the heating element, verify with a voltmeter, that voltage/power has been disconnected to the water heater. Measure for voltage at the top two screws of the thermostat. There should not be any power.
4. Shut off cold water supply to the heater. Lift and open temperature and pressure relief valve to vent pressure. Open a nearby hot water faucet. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the heater and open the drain valve. Drain water to a point below the element that you are replacing.
5. Disconnect the two wire leads to the heating element. You do not need to tag the leads before removal from the screw terminals.
6. Remove element using 1-1/2" socket for screw-in type, or 3/8" socket for four-bolt type.
7. Ensure surfaces of new coupling flange and new element flanges are clean. With a new heating element gasket in place, install the heating element. Snug it down tight.
8. Reconnect the two wire leads. It does not matter which color wire goes on which screw terminal.
9. Close the temperature and pressure relief valve. Open the shut off valve at the cold water inlet line. You will hear the heater start to fill. Shut off the faucet (that you opened in step 4) only after getting a constant flow of water, without air, from the faucet. Failure to properly fill tank can result in element damage.
10. Double check to be sure your wire connections are correct and they are firm and tight. Check for leaks around the heating element. Tighten more if needed.
11. Replace the plastic protective cover to the thermostat and heating element.
12. Re-establish the electric power to the water heater. Cycle test the water heater to be certain of proper operation.
13. Replace the insulation and cover panel.

Answer 4

They lime up on the bottom of the tank. You can shut the unit off, the gas, and take out the drain plug, don't just open the faucet, take it out and with a curved wire rake it along the bottom of the tank as the water runs out. You will want to shut the water off to it too. You will get a lot of lime out this way. Actually the electric ones are easier to clean as the opening is bigger once you take the element out. If you can not drain it because of location you may have to replace it.

Answer 5

Hi!! I would advise you to flush it out first. You can attach a water hose to the cannection that is provided on most water
heaters for that purpose. Run the hose outside or into a convinent drain. Cut off the water supply until the heater has completely drained, then refill it. You might want to do this a couple of times to see if the water coming out is clear. If that is not the problem, then I would suggest having someone check the burner to see if it's operating correctly. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Don't know where you live, but as fall/winter approaches the temps are cooler. It's the water in your pipes that has cooled down, so you have to run that off first. Also, some tanks have a top and bottom heater. If the top has conked out the water at the top of the tank has cooled down, but not at the bottom. The water exits the tank from the top so you get cool water first.

Answer 7

You have one of three things;
1-a bad element
2-a bad thermostat
3-bad breaker or fuse. if one fuse is bad you could be grounded to the element and getting half the voltage need to heat water.
but over all it sounds like you need an element.
you have to turn off the power, drain off the water in the tank(attach water hose to the faucet on the bottom of the heater and turn it on with the other end of the hose outside . open all hot water side of your faucet ts in the kitchen and baths to allow the water to run our faster. after draining the heater, remove the element, and replace it with one just like it. turn the water back on and let fill. make sure water runs out all of the hot side facts before turning them back off. turn on power and wait about 30 minutes.

Answer 8

Time to get a new hot water heater..you are wasting fuel or electricity with the one you have...the heating elements are heavily covered with lime and have become insulated from the water. The heater will never work right again...unless you want to disconnect it, take it out side, pour lots of white vinegar into it and clean out the lime....but usually, the heater is on its last legs when this happenes, so get a new one. good luck

Answer 9

Sounds like your thermometer is broken. If it is an electric unit, not gas, you can replace it yourself. Just go to the Home Depot, or other such store, hardware store, and they will give you the proper tools and a new thermometer to install. I did actually do this myself, so I know you can.

Answer 10

It could be a number of things, like the heater is getting old. You will have to call a plummer to be sure.