My hot water tank is 2 years old. The run off pipe leaks(and yes I just changed my pressure valve)and that didnt help. Also its a 40 gallon tank and it only allows you to take one short shower. What is the problem? Thanks.
2007-01-19 10:56:05 · 7 answers · asked by lance 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The valve is a temperature & pressure sensitive one. Leakage would indicate that one of those two is not right.
With the short hot water capacity, I'm wondering if your plumbing might be set up backwards, meaning the hot/cold connections on the tank are reversed. That would start feeding colder water shortly after hot water use began. On the top of the tank shell, the words hot and cold are usually stamped in the sheet metal next to the connections. If you can't identify the cold water pipe to be sure it's in the right place, turn on some hot water flow at a faucet, then feel the pipes just above the heater. The coldest one is the input and should be on the marked cold side. If it's not, your connections are reversed.
2007-01-19 11:45:45 · answer #1 · answered by pegasusaig 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Several others have given good advice regarding you short hot water duration and that its probably an electric one.
Now for the leaky over temp/pressure valve: Just saw this on "This Old House" a couple weeks ago... The home had a check valve installed by the city. As the water heats it expands. Most of the time this bit of pressure just pushes back against the city supply line. But if there is a check valve, it has no where to go. So your valve will dribble. They fixed this with a small expansion tank attached to the cold water inlet.
2007-01-19 13:55:24 · answer #2 · answered by KirksWorld 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have first thought you need to tell us if its gas or elect. but if the shower thing is real then I am pretty sure it is electric. Most electric water heaters have two heating elements. lower and upper. I would guess its the lower element is out. I say this because hot water rises in the tank and when it reaches its set operating temp the element shuts off. If it were the lower element then more water would be hot.
To check this you will have to shut off the breaker to the heater, this is your opportunity to see if it is thrown. sometimes a breaker will get weak, and kick even with not much of a load. If it is OK, then you can shut it off, remove the cover on the side of the tank, exposing the element, You will need a meter to check this out, there is a setting on most meters to check continuity, this means if the element is a complete circuit and you disconnect one of the wires from the element touch the two screws with your meter it will show a good circuit, element is ok if not a complete circuit then it is bad and will have to be replaced. Before I could go into this I would have to know how handy you are, I have already given you enough information that if your not comfortable doing this YOU COULD GET HURT. The heating element is like a light bulb, sometimes the filament in the bulb is broken, no light, if the filament inside the element is broken no heat. Best thing to do is Hire a Plumber,
2007-01-19 11:53:32 · answer #3 · answered by goodforwho 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think one of your elements are bad. I have a 40 gallon, and it has an upper & a lower element. That's what happens when one goes out..you get about enough hot water for 1 short shower. If you live in an area with real hard water, it's a pain~I try to clean mine out twice a year, and you wouldn't believe all the crud that comes out of it. There is also a small reset button for each element~you'll see it after you remove the covers. Try that first, and if that doesn't help, change your elements. Don't forget to turn off your power:) I always just go ahead & change both of mine once a year after going to all of the trouble of draining it. And if you put a little grease around the threads before putting the new ones in, it sure makes it alot easier the next time. Can't help you with the leak~sorry~but hope this helps a little;)
2007-01-19 11:47:30 · answer #4 · answered by kandl722 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand the envisioned life time of a water heater is 10 years. You reported "some years." it ought to purely be accomplishing the top of it incredibly is functional life. Having had issues like this, i'm going to enable you already know which you do no longer desire that ingredient to rupture and empty the water the place ever it incredibly is sitting. Get it checked via a professional or purely decide for replace.
2016-12-14 06:28:33 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hit the breaker box in the fuse area of your house and this reset the water heater, Turn the main switch off for 10 min, and then back on.
Sometimes the element goes bad in them
http://www.hotwaterheater.com
2007-01-19 11:04:03 · answer #6 · answered by sunflare63 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like there is a problem with the coil. Hopefully you have some kind of warranty for it.
2007-01-19 11:05:31 · answer #7 · answered by Miloree 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋