I have hot water for about 3 minutes and then it goes warm to cold within a minute. I have tried resetting it. But hasnt helped.I am not sure how old the tank is. At least 8 years old. I looked at the breakers and there are none that are flipped off.Could anyone tell me what to do?
2007-12-20 11:21:36 · 8 answers · asked by Yorkie Lover 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
I work for a water heater manufacturer.
Running out quickly usually indicates the bottom heating element is bad. It could be a bad thermostat.
If you're going to have somebody work on the heater for you, a family member or a fried, try the bottom heating element first. You can usually get them for less than $10.00.
You will have to turn the power off to the heater first, then drain the heater. After you put the element in, and before you turn the power back on, make sure you run your sinks until no more air comes out. If you don't, you'll dry fire the element, and you'll have to replace it again.
2007-12-20 11:27:48 · answer #1 · answered by BPTDVG 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like one or both of the heating elements are no longer functioning, or only sporadically. I assume you may not have checked the internals, but perhaps the thermostat is not longer functioning properly, no matter what it's set at?
I'm not an electrician and 8 years is not strictly OLD for a water heater, but you should probably have it serviced in any case, drained, flushed, connections and elements checked for function, etc.
Steven Wolf
My ex lives in a house built in 92 with a 60 gallon RHEEM that has never needed more than flushing.
2007-12-20 11:29:01 · answer #2 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Besides the heating element going bad, sediment also builds up in the bottom of the tank, once this stuff get hot it shuts off the tank and stays off, thinking the water is just fine. Try cleaning it out. Open up the value at the bottom of tank, and let it run awhile. First turn it off, so it doesn't run up your bill, then stick a garden hose on it and open it up, watch how much sand a dirt comes out. Sometimes small rock like stuff get stuck in it, you'll have to use a piece of wire to ram up in it and brake things up in the value. then try again.
2007-12-20 11:46:02 · answer #3 · answered by Alice C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a service call. An element is burned out and maybe you have significant buildup of mineral deposits in your tank. This would probably necessitate the replacement of your tank considering the current age of your unit.
2007-12-20 11:45:30 · answer #4 · answered by lenzix5 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely it is a bad element. I have also seen one leg of the 220 volt wiring short out, only giving you 110 volts to work the elements. A multi-meter (or an electrician) would be needed to check this.
2007-12-20 11:43:05 · answer #5 · answered by AL in Bama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can take the advise of the others, and just buy and replace parts until you accidentally get the right one. Or you can call a professional who will only replace what you need, and get you up and running in a very short time, without making a mess of things. It's your choice.
2007-12-21 04:33:58 · answer #6 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of your elements has gone bad. You can replace it yourself. You'll need to go to the store and buy the element and the wrench to take it out. Sounds like the bottom element but could be the top. Have fun.
2007-12-20 11:29:11 · answer #7 · answered by jamzm2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds to me like one of the elements is burned out, so your getting the hot water off the top, and then bam, cold water, the lower element is probably burned out, you need to do a voltage check on that element to see if it's working, if not, you need to replace it.
2007-12-20 13:50:57 · answer #8 · answered by jpflkeys 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋