It still makes hot water , but not much at all I really dont have the money to buy a new one and I was wondering what could be causing this.
2007-03-22 16:33:37 · 9 answers · asked by vaye 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You have either a thermostat out or an element inside the tank is burned out. On most hot water tanks the top element comes on first then the lower element kicks in. You can repair this yourself but you should talk to someone in a hardware store or Home Depot or Lowes for advice. And remember you do need to shut off the breaker to your hot water tank before doing any repair work.
2007-03-22 16:44:05 · answer #1 · answered by cheyene 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Electric water heaters normally have two heating units, one at the bottom of your heater and one at the top. If the bottom one burns out you will probably get a little hot water but if the top one burns out you won't get any hot water at all so you will probably have to replace the bottom one which is easy to install and you usually pay roughly about 20 dollars for a new unit.
2007-03-22 23:44:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your waterheater has a tube in it called a "dip tube" that puts the cold water coming into the tank at the bottom of the tank allowing the hotwater to exit the top of the tank.If your dip tube breaks then the cold water comes in to the top of the tank and goes right out again.You will get some hot water off the top of the tank until the cold water starts through the lines ,leaving the hot water in the tank. The dip tube can be replaced by removing the the cold water { on the right side } pipe, called a nipple, from the top of the tank and the dip tube would normally be connected to this nipple,then go to a plumbing supply store and buy a new dip tube and then using thread sealent re-enstall the nipple dip tube in the top of the tank and reconnect the water supply line. note; turn water off to the house before you begin.
2007-03-23 00:26:53 · answer #3 · answered by jim_ferreyra 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's electric, as everyone has mentioned, one element may be burned out. You can check this out with an Ohm meter to see which one. An element is about fifteen bucks at most hardware stores, that's a universal one.
If it's gas, the thermocouple may be working intermittently or you could have a bad gas control unit in which case the thermo can be changed. The control unit, I'm afraid is going to cost you. Might as well get a new unit.
2007-03-22 23:56:55 · answer #4 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your bottom element is definitely burnt out. If it was the top it would take a very long time to recuperate but would still produce hot water. If you usually have hot water but very little of it that indicates the bottom element isn't working and the top element is working.
2007-03-23 02:35:20 · answer #5 · answered by gkgjr 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most hot water heater have two heating elements. So I would say that one of them needs to be replaced.
2007-03-22 23:38:06 · answer #6 · answered by B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's an electric heater, you may have an element burn out in it.
2007-03-22 23:47:42 · answer #7 · answered by rangedog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be the heating element or you may have mineral deposits that have settled- try draining it- see if it works
2007-03-22 23:40:06 · answer #8 · answered by sylviavnpttn 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can try turning the heat up on it. I would have it checked, you don't want your house to blow up or catch fire. L
2007-03-22 23:42:18 · answer #9 · answered by LUCY 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋