Not enough hot water?

Question

About a week ago the heating element needed to be changed in my water tank. Since this there just dos not seem to enough hot water to even have a shower and when you do use the hot water you have to keep turning it up every couple of seconds.Also the bottom of my water tank is freezing cold but the top is hotish.Could i have an air lock in the tank?? Please Help me!!!!!

Answer 1

The best answer so far is above this from Telmar. The plumber may have fitted a heater shorter than the old one , he may have set the thermostat at a lower trmperature, or he may not have re-fitted the circulator tube which you MAY have had previously, this tube keeps the water heating until much more of the tanks capacity is heated, without it hot water can rise over the thermostat pocket and cause early shut off.

You probably don't have a dual element, or two heaters, unless you are on economy 7 tariff??

If you increase the stat setting you will get more hot water, but only because the water at the top of the cylinder will be a lot hotter, which will extend the warm water volume to the lower section of the cylinder.

Keep it switched on from before it's required untill after use, this will ensure that you have some hot left in the cylinder, otherwise you will have to heat from cold next time.

Answer 2

No, It has nothing to do with air pressures or locks. In an electric water heater there is a heating element on the top and a heating element on the bottom. You know the old saying "Hot air rises". That is what is going on with your hot water heater. The cold water is staying at the bottom while the hot is floating to the top that is why the hot is on the top while cold on the bottom. It is even worst if the bottom heating element is bad but the top is good. In that case the water at the bottom will be extreamly cold and the water heater has to work double time to keep the temp up since it's only working on one element. Unfortunatley the bottom element is usually the first to go because sedements settle at the bottom of the tank and can damage the element. \

Removing and replacing the element is quite easy. Shut off the power to the water heater. Compeletly drain the water heater. Use a element removeal wrench to remove the element and replace it. It unscrews from the water heater. Also there are two wires on the element that your just put back the way they came off.

On another note this is why hot water heaters are difficult to maintain and expensive to operate. In a gas hot water heater you don't have to worry about this because gas burns hotter and is more efficient. The gas flame is located outside of the water heater and dosen't come in contact with sedements....

Answer 3

Another cause would be a bad lower thermostat. Sometimes they stick open. This is much easier to repair because no draining of the tank is necessary. Once again, another inexpensive repair.
or
Chances are the bottom element is the problem. Having said that there is
one other suggestion. There is a plastic dip tube on the cold water inlet
connection. It forces the cold water to the bottom forcing the hot water to
the top. (stratifying the water). If this tube is cracked then all of the
incoming water can go to the top reducing the hot water.

This repair takes time and normal hand tools. FIND the dip tube first. I
have never seen them at the Despot. Other wise your going to have to call a
plumber to fix it.
When my dip tube crapped out that is what I did cause I did not have the
time and was tired of cold water in the middle of my shower.

Answer 4

Without seeing it, I would not know for sure what is wrong.. BUT.. If the hot water heater has NEVER been drained, you should drain it and drain it at least once a year.. SO .. do that first.. attach a garden hose to the front faucet on the bottom/front of the hot water heater... Leave the water running to othe heater... leave the electricity or gas going to the hot water heater.. extend the garden hose to the outside someplace and then turn on the faucet in the front of the hot water heater.. Turn it on FULLY and let the water run out.. When you think the total amount of water has drained out(15 or so minutes), turn the faucet off in the front of the hot water heater.. disconnect the garden hose.. Turn the water heat up to at least 125.. You do that with a small screw driver on the adjustable screw on the f ront of the hot water heater under one of those panels that is screwed on to the front of the heater ... THEN.. assuming that the heating element that you just bought is good, the water solution should be solved.

Answer 5

It is correct for the top of the tank to be cooler than the top, because as you draw the hot water off the tank is refilled with cold watewr at the bottom. I think that the wrong sized element was fitted and it is not big enough to heat you tank.

Answer 6

Does the water heater have two elements? One up high and one down lower? The cold water on the bottom is a good sign. You fill tube is working properly. How many thermostats are on the water heater? Maybe the the reset button needs pushed on the thermostat. The red button sticking out. Make sure you have voltage going to the bottom element , compare it to the top on to make sure they are the same , if there are two elements.

Answer 7

It may be that the repair man only fitted a short element they come in two sizes 27" and 11" also have a look at the thermostat in the top of the heater set it at 160 'f ( 71 ' c )

Answer 8

You Need To Check Thermostat And Bottom Element.

Answer 9

You usually have two heating elements on an electric hotwater heater, one at the top and one at the bottom of your heater. Sounds like the bottom one is not working. Most heating elements burn out on the bottom and I believe if the top one burns out you would not have any hot water at all.

Answer 10

Sounds like the bottom element is not working either because of the element or the t-stat. I would check that first