I have replace the heating element in my daughters water heater for the third time in the last 4 months. It is obviously corroded and shorted out but this last time the water was black and the element had a black tar looking substance all over it. Any ideas on what is causing this. I know that the heating element should last more than a month at at a time. Any suggetions would be appreciated !!
2007-06-04 09:40:25 · 6 answers · asked by tooldaddy2003 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
First, check the anode rod. Make sure it hasn't rotted away. Look for a plug in the top of the water heater. unscrew it and the rod should come out. It should be approx. 5 foot long and about the size of a nickle around. I am supposing that it is the bottom element that is going out all the time. Make sure that before you change out the element this time, clan out all the sediment and lime in the bottom of the heater. Pull out the old element, then use something small enough to fit into the hole and rake out the lime and sediment. I usually use a stick of 1/2" copper pipe and flatten ome end of it and make a hook out of the flattened end. If possible, use water pressure to help you force out the gunk. Turn the water on slowly to the heater and rake out the gunk while the water is flowing out of the bottom element hole. After the heater is cleaned out, install the new element and refill the water heater. Make sure that there is water coming out of the hot water faucets in the house before you turn on the power to the heater. This should help with element life!! I hope this helps!! Good luck!!
2007-06-04 12:50:32 · answer #1 · answered by djjay_2000_00 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jeez, how much hot water do you guys use to have a bill that high? Who installed this water heater for you? It sounds like a problem that the installer should address, because if you paid for a new HOT water heater (hello sam), then it needs to live up to expectations. Generally, when the water gets cold very quickly, it's because of a defective dip tube, which is a plastic tube on the inside of the water heater on the cold inlet side, so that when you use hot water, cold water enters the tank and is delivered to the bottom of the tank (pushing the hot water out the top). If the tube is damaged or non-existant, the cold water enters the tank at or near the top and mixes with the hot water, making it luke warm. But a new heater shouldn't have a bad 'dip tube'. Unless, maybe the installer screwed something up. Another issue could be that one of the elements has gone out, or a thermostat is bad. You'll need a plumber who knows how to test these, or an electrician could test the circuits as well. 150 degrees is way too hot for you to have your water- that high temp will shorten the life of the water heater. Call the installer. I liked what NMexican had to say, that is a possibility too.
2016-05-21 03:55:25 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It almost seems that the tank is somehow filled with sludge or something that's causing this? These municipal water systems are full of chemicals.
I am sure you are draining the tank in order to replace the element. Is there, possibly, some way of determining exactly how much water you are getting out when you drain the tank? If it's a 40 gallon tank, you should get 40 gallons of water. If it's less (likely much less) then the tank may be full of sediment and sludge which is trashing these elements.
By the way, some heaters now have a lifetime warranty. It might be worth your while just to change the entire tank.
2007-06-04 09:51:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you drain the tank before changing the element and starting over? I know that Iron bacteria, a type of Iron chemical will turn water black and inky after being in the sun for some time, usually the length of time suggests the amount of bacteria in the water. If you boil potatoes in this water they'll turn black from the starch, or the same with white shirts in the laundry.
I don't know if this is the same of what your getting or not. It's not sludgy though.
I've been In and around this business all my 68 years and have not heard of your problem, sorry.
2007-06-04 10:02:55 · answer #4 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is she on well water? Almost sounds like lots of iron clogging everything up?
You might take a sample to a lab and have it checked.
Be sure after you install the new element you don't turn on the power until all the air is out of the tank. Dry firing those elements will kill them quick.
2007-06-04 10:03:53 · answer #5 · answered by mike b 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The element will usually only go out that quickly if there is no water in the tank......
2007-06-04 11:40:58 · answer #6 · answered by troyd879 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋