I can only get one really good shower out of my hot water heater before it starts to cool off. I have the temperature turned all the way up. Is the hot water heater going bad or could the extreme cold have anything to do with it? The water heater is in the basement.
2007-02-09 08:12:03 · 12 answers · asked by J.V. 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It is a gas powered water heater. It is probably 12 years old. Most likely it just needs to be replaced then?
2007-02-09 08:21:08 · update #1
has it been really cold in your area the last couple weeks? Did this problem just start happening in this time frame? The water coming into the tank is colder than it normally is, it's going to take longer for the heater to recover from this, meaning less hot water. If you have well water you could have a sediment problem, draining some water out may or may not help. Can't hurt. The thermostat may also be bad, it can be replaced but for what it costs a new water heater is a more viable option. Especially if the water heater is more than 5 years old.
2007-02-09 18:50:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your water heater should be drained once a year. The deposits take the place of hot water. You should not have to to have it turned up all of the way! Try draining it by turning off the power source, then opening up the valve at the base of the heater. let the water run out into a pail, or better yet, hook up a garden hose to the valve. let it drain until the water is clear. Then reverse the process. If you don't have sufficient hot water during your next shower, your heating element is bad. It is easy enough to change yourself, and is cheaper than replacing the whole unit! You didn't say if the unit was gas or electric. We will need to know this to tell you how to replace element if that is the problem. But try draining it first. Good Luck!
2007-02-09 08:30:35 · answer #2 · answered by michael m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok here's what happens in a hot water hearer. At 135 degrees minerals start cooking out of the water and settle to the bottom of the tank. This settlement acts as and insulator so it takes longer for the water to heat. Flush out the heater, by closing off the water and gas. open the valve at the bottom after attaching a hose to the valve. Open the pop off valve on the side this will let air in and alow the tank to drain. After draining remove the valve and use a stiff wire with a hook bent on the end , scrap out the bottom of the tank. After you have gotten it cleaned out, replace the valve, hook up the hose and with valve closed turn on the water , fill tank and turn water off. Open the valve and dran the tank. Do this severial times untill you see nothing coming out with the water, this is a flushing of the tank .Turn off valve and turn on water untill it comes out of the pop off valve, close pop off and turn on the gas and light the burner. You can also get a thermal blanket to rap your heater, it saves enerigy. When you buy a new heater get a turbo glass lined. Mean while flush your heater one a year.
2007-02-09 08:58:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The water heater needs replacement. First try to turn it up there is a adjustment on the Hot water heater.
2007-02-09 08:18:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Michael M has good answer. Annual draining good idea.
However with a gas tank of your vintage the dip tube may have dropped off. This tube is attached to the cold water inlet at top of tank and causes incoming water to mix with the BOTTOM of the tank, leaving the hot water in the top undisturbed ( unmixed with cold). If that tube rusted or dropped off you get short hot showers. Also you could shut off gas & thoroughly inspect combustion chanber from the bottom. It might be trashy.
2007-02-09 08:39:50 · answer #5 · answered by ibeboatin 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi GAS or ELECTRIC? If Gas It could be the build up of rust around your burner Assembly on the bottom,check and clean out.If cold in basement ,put insulation blanket on water heater.If pipes exposed ,cover with insulation.Check temperature regulator.Electric, check upper & lower themostates if working properly.Insulate like other heater.If heater over 10 years old get new one ,larger capacity.Good Luck
2007-02-09 08:32:36 · answer #6 · answered by rosco 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it's an electric heater one of two elements may be bad. If it's gas I'm not too sure. Maybe problem with gas burner. If it was fine before then it's probably not a temp. setting issue unless somebody messed with the setting.
2007-02-09 08:19:19 · answer #7 · answered by patlamb41 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it that old and a gas heater, it probably just need to be drained and cleaned out. Try that first because it is most likely the problem. Make sure you flush it out thoroghly.
2007-02-09 09:06:05 · answer #8 · answered by rayallen47567 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeup I agree you need a new heater. I guess zappa did'nt read your question correctly you clearly stated that you've got your boiler cranked up all the way right. Good luck
2007-02-09 08:28:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should try changing the elements in the water heater. That usually is what happens when mine goes out.
Dean
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MioGarden/
2007-02-09 08:25:31 · answer #10 · answered by gjmite 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋