The water in my waterheater gets very hot sometimes?

Question

The water in my waterheater gets very hot sometimes for no reason at all that I know of my waterheater will get scolding hot and it will blow it's breaker and how it's sitting you really can't get to the heating ellements to look at them or to replace them should I drain the thing to get the sedaments out is that the prob or what should I do.

Answer 1

Water heaters have three common failure modes and it apears that you have one.

1. The tank corrodes and springs a leak.
2. A heating element burns out.
3. A thermostat fails, or become unreliable.

As the wise old owl on the tootsie pop tootsie roll commercial says when asked, How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Toosie Pop?

"Onnnnnneeee, TaaaaaHooooooo, Thrrrrrrrrrrrree! It takes Thrrrrrrreee licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Toosie Pop"

The common theme here is Thrrrrrrrreeee, your problem is #3. Buy a replacement thermostat. (~$5.)
Figure out which heater is causing the water to over heat. Replace that thermostat. Be sure to cut off power when you are working on the heater. Easy fix.

Answer 2

It sounds like the high shut off on the thermostat is not doing its job.

The first thing to do is inspect it to see if the setting is really high - if so lower it some.

Move the setting back and forth a bit to see if cleaning the contacts a bit cures the problem. Do this with the power OFF.

When the tank is empty it is time to consider moving (or just rotating it?) it so you CAN service the heating elements when the time comes for that. It will be light enough when empty.

It might be failing to sense temperature properly due to sludge build up in the tank, so drain and clean up the tank while you are looking at the thermostat problem.

If no joy from the cleaning and setting ceremonies, replace the thermostat.

Answer 3

All modern water heaters are required by law to have a limiter. Many of them won't go over a set temperature -usually 120 degrees. Anything hotter could scald and burn someone, resulting in serious injury or death. Your water heater should have a temperature control dial, even if it's just high, medium, low. Try turning it down a bit til the water's not so scalding hot. You can also hold an oven thermometer under the faucet, run the hot water, and see how high it goes. If it does go over 120, turn the control down a bit more and check again after a few hours.

Answer 4

Draining the sediment may help, and is a good idea in any event, especially if you have hard water. If it doesn't, you will need to replace the thermostat.

Answer 5

Turn the heat down from the knob on the water heater! You have it all the way cranked up!!!!

Answer 6

I think what you are look for is a water cooler. Your water "heater" seems to be working perfectly fine, at keeping your water heated.

Answer 7

your water heater is suppose to get hot...it makes the water in your house hot and warm without it your water will alwayas be cold.So basically your HOTwater heater is fine.(just dont touch it at times)

Answer 8

It's your element