My Gas water heater looks and acts like it's working just fine although when it comes to taking a shower the water is only hot or even warm for only about 3 min. then the water get's colder but never as cold as water from the cold tap. The owner has had someone over twice to look at it and they say it's working just fine. I've seen the tank and it's a full size. Even a smaller tank should provide more then 5 min. of hot water out of the facete or the shower head.
Has anyone ever had anything like this happen and what should I tell the landloard to get them to take care of this problem?
Still taking cold showers,
Thanks.
2007-02-05 14:44:06 · 5 answers · asked by Allen Elow 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Cannot say for sure what might be happening since there's more than one thing that could be going on here.
Possibly the cold water dip tube has broken? This tube makes sure the the cold water enters the bottom of the tank. So when there is a draw on the tank cold water doesn't directly exit out of the hot supply line. This is simply checked and replaced but would require the water but shut off and possibly the copper lines cut and reconnected.
Is your hot water tank or bathroom water works equipped with a thermostatic mixing valve? Is it in proper working order?
How old is the tank? has it been properly drained every year to prevent the buildup of scale deposits in the bottom?
2007-02-05 14:56:51 · answer #1 · answered by levowen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a tube inside the water heater that runs the cold water into the BOTTOM of the water heater tank. The hot water tap is from the very TOP. What has happened this tube has rusted off and fallen away so that the cold water entering simply makes a quick bend and heads for your shower head.
I wouldnt even attempt to retrieve the fallen tube. A mechanic can remove the Cold connection and insert a piece of 1/2 inch pipe about 4 feet long with a flared end to replace the fallen tube. That will drive the cold water to the bottom of the water heater tank and correct the problem..
2007-02-05 15:01:13 · answer #2 · answered by James M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like it's got a thick layer of lime inside, from years of hard water usage. That'll cut way down on the capacity, so the water's hot but you don't have as much as you think you should. It won't get totally cold, because with that smaller capacity, it warms up right away. It just doesn't get HOT right away, and what you do have that's hot, doesn't last. If that's the case, there's really not too much you can do about the buildup. If it's rental property, then the owner really should replace it.
2007-02-05 14:55:58 · answer #3 · answered by BuddyL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is an older tank or you live in an area where there is an abnormally high content of minerals in the water, then there might be a sediment buidup at the bottom of the tank which would result in the problem you are describing even though the gas burner comes on an sounds like it is heating.
2007-02-05 14:57:45 · answer #4 · answered by T.O. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your going to run out a forty gallon tank every day you could be a night mare to the land lord
2007-02-05 14:54:34 · answer #5 · answered by bev 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋