We went ahead and replaced the hot water heater unit and now the elements are lasting about 4 days. The most likely cause is a bad thermostat. Running the Dryer and How Water Heater at the same time was tripping the breaker but was caught on the front panel so it wasn't able to trip. I used to replace quite a few water heaters, elements, etc. ozark01, do you lose water pressure on occasion? A plumber can look inside the tank to determine whether air pockets are causing an issue and make sure the element is properly submerged … ), Electric water heater wire size question-solar water application, Cold water coming from next to water heater, Experts opinion on possible water heater longevity. Location: NE Wis / Paris France{ In France for now }. I have a 4 year old electric 40 gal Kenmore hot water heater. I am having unusually high electric bills (about $300 for 2 people when my last place was close to $100). We make sure to fill it up before turning the electricity to the element back on. Good thing I did. More ». If it’s broken, cold water fills the top of the heater and begins to flow right out the hot side. Water heater elements burn out for one main reason. I replaced an old furnace last year. Last week, I came home from work and there was a leak in pipe leading from the main water line to the water heater. The term "Mechanical Failure" covers everything from shipping damage to dog bite, but the most common mechanical failures in electric heaters are caused by improper handling - destroying the Epoxy End Seal, and breaking or twisting the Cold Pin until it breaks are the two leaders in this failure mode. In the case of a malfunction, a safety feature is triggered if the thermostat fails to shut off … Do you enjoy my video content and want to help support me? That 277 volt element is heavier duty and should solve your problem. But take a look and see if it looks like it is advancing too fast. I decided to get a replacement RV water heater thermostat switch, in addition to a new electric heater element. Every dollar helps! HOT TUB HEATER ELEMENT. Most electric hot water heaters have an uppper and a lower element; the upper runs until the top of the tank is hot, which provides quick recovery time, then when the top thermostat is satisfied, it transfers power to the lower thermostat, which heats until the entire tank is hot. Do you really mean fuses? Sometimes, your water will slowly start to cool down and this could be because the element has burned out. If it is capable of running on 120v and ends up wired for 240v, I would expect the melting as shown. Sometimes, the … Hot Tub Spa - Heater Troubleshooting Guide MECHANICAL FAILURES. The Clothes Dryer and Hot Water Heater was both hooked up to that duplex box. Before there was a duplex of a 20 amp and a 30 amp together. Sometimes your power company will have a web site that explains how to read your meter. Copyright© A thermostat controls the on and off cycle of water heater elements. Air inlet is clogged and shuts off the gas water heater. The house was also filled with a lot of steam from the water heater. If you can get readings, even better. How a bad thermostat causes your water heater reset button to trip. Not that you need to see the actual amount, but a dial turning or numbers advancing such that when you flip a breaker off and stop something you might see the change. Has the pilot light gone out? While the element is working we have a good amount of hot water, we aren't running out quickly or anything. But how do … If there is a leak, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. View our Privacy Policy here. Electric water heaters have a lower and upper thermostat—one for each heating element. We all know that the gas needs sufficient air to keep it burning. It can be clogged due to dust or dirt and thus, prevent the air circulation. Are you getting these high bills with turning things off as stated above? If you have an electric hot water heater, it may mean that one of your two elements has burned out. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". The water never gets the chance to heat. Only ever saw one 120VAC model in a really old mobile home. I turned the dial up to HOT on the water heater, still no hot water, only luke warm. We've checked it with an amp meter and it seems fine in that way. Twice in the last year, the lower element has burned out. If the second element fails, you’ll be … 6. flicker is having an issue apparently...can't even get to the main page. OK, but then what’s causing the water in your water heater to get so hot? You need to turn power off to the heater. Welcome to Terry Love Plumbing & Remodel DIY & Professional Forum. After about 30 seconds, heat from the ignited pilot light flame activates a simple electrical switch called a thermocouple which ensures that the gas supply to the pilot stays open and your water heater keeps functioning. What could it be? No, I see $100 a month where you are, so there is clearly an issue somewhere. Then one or both elements could be out of the water. Sometimes this can lead to a reaction between the rod and sulfate from the water and the hot water stinks as a result. The fuse running to the hot water heater is twice as thick as most of the other fuses and is 20 amp. The thermostats are responsible … And as the air decreases, the burning will stop . The electrician I had over it was pretty well qualified. This forces the burner to run longer to heat water, increasing the heat inside the tank. As you said, it isn't a complicated device. A malfunctioning thermostat is most likely the culprit of why your water heater is suddenly hot. The three most common culprits are sediment build up, a faulty heating element and a broken dip tube. Part that concerned me looking at the melt down was the rating listed there of 120v/240v. Are you getting less hot water? If your gas water heater keeps shutting off, the thermocouple could be dirty, bent or damaged. Eventually, all heating elements (like light bulbs) will burn out. Thank you Chris. Over time, sediment from water builds up at the bottom of the heating tank, insulating water from the burner. My first thought is that the thermostat in the water heater is bad leaving the element on too long and overheating the water, maybe even boiling which would allow the element to melt. 4. As time passes, the anode corrodes, leaving the heater largely corrosion free in the process. I have an electric water heater. I'm not getting any hot water. Any ideas on what is wrong? Discussion in 'Water Heater Forum, Tanks' started by ozark01, Jun 21, 2017. The top thermostat has a safety stat (red button) that trips or "pops out" when the temperature of the water in the tank rises over 180 degrees. You would expect to see some hot water and steam leaking from the T&P safety valve in this case. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Usually, when the heating elements fail, they simply burn out and the only way you’ll notice is that the water isn’t as hot as it once was. If you find that your home's hot water runs out quickly or that it's only lukewarm, a defective heating element may be the culprit. All rights reserved. What to do about it Call a professional to replace the dip tube. I had an electrician work on it and he said all the voltage is right. I have a Rheem standard 40 gallon hot water heater. When this happens, it's … After getting the pipe replaced, the water heater only is providing luke warm water. The two biggest ways I see this happening is by turning on the power with an empty tank (devoid of water). I have seen this happen to other heaters when the local water purveyors turn off the main for a repair. At this point, there are few options other than replacing the water heater. Usually the cause of overheated water is a lower heating element that has a leak to ground. You may freely link You might try a low watt density element that almost doubles the actual length of the element. The element thus overheats and burns out. Reply: The correct leaky water heater repair depends: first ee what part of, on, or near the water heater is actually leaking. Signs you have sediment buildup: After the tank has been on a while and is up to temperature you should check with your multimeter to make sure the thermostat has opened the circuit. When the elements get coated, or when the lower element is buried under mineral sediment, it has to work harder to heat the water. The elements burn out in a very short time. The fact that the upper element is going out, points to the fact that somehow you are back siphoning the water and burning out the element. The most basic (and safe) thing you could do would be to make sure the breaker is turned off at the panel and check that all connections are tight. As a result, the heating element could be failing faster and more frequently than it should. Do you have an electric power meter where you can see what the whole house is using? If your heater keeps making a popping or knocking noise, similar to that made by a popcorn machine, it could fail. Water Heater Runs Out Of Hot Water Quickly: Possible Reasons Why As mentioned above, several things can cause a home’s hot water supply to run out faster than it should. If air pockets develop in the tank, often due to a failure to bleed out the tank completely before filling it up, the element may be burning itself out without enough water. [B][/B]I have a gas water heater been having it for many of years i notice today their is water leaking from the bottom on to the floor had to turn the water off from the outside is it time for another one and if so if i try to replace it would i have to call the gas company to come out to turn the gas off before i replace the water heater:wall: Plumbing, Piping, Water Heating, Wells, Air & Water Filtration and Conditioning, "We went ahead and replaced the hot water heater unit", Water Heater Element - Water Heater Elements - Water Heaters - Plumbing : Grainger Industrial Supply, Hot water heater works then doesn't, then works again, SER cable vs Conduit - Indoor subpanel ampacity/temperature questions, Looking to buy a new Home Theater amplifier, Furnace cycling on and off because of APS, New shed, high threshold, need a transition. Post #11 has pictures. Think about it: If you have a 40-gallon water heater with 10 gallons of sediment buildup in the tank, you now have a 30-gallon water heater. Good news! When we moved in there was no hot water. If there is a loose electrical connection within your water heater’s system, your reset button’s thermometer can trip (regardless of the water’s temperature) if it picks up the heat from that loose wire. Disconnect both wires to both elements. The last one I pulled out had some lime buildup but it almost looked like it melted. The thermostat is at the default 125 degrees F. It seems to be maintaining that temperature when it's working. If you have a gas version, it could be related to the burner – see #12 below for further information. Is your water heater full of LIME?? Possible reasons for water taking a long time to heat include faulty heating elements, sediment build-up on the elements and a faulty thermostat. I'm having the electric company come out and take a look. Is there a single breaker or double? Website operating We moved about 10 miles away from our last residence. Hot tub elements can also be tested to determine if there is a short in the coating surrounding the heating element. If it's the hot water heater, it's likely there is a leak, and not dealing with it quickly can result in even more damage and more money leaving your wallet. So, most of this is foreign to me. Yeah we replaced the whole Hot Water Heater and still having the same problems. The inlet has to be cleaned for proper air circulation … How do I deal with overheated/burnt wiring. The water might evaporate quickly so look for signs of deposits and leak traces. Water Heater Smells Like: Electrical Burning If your water heater emits an electrical burning smell, this indicates that something electrical is starting to overload. His main trade is working on electrical systems for hospital equipment. Good to know that Ohm's law still helps people out of a jamb! Heat pump, do I need to turn on aux heat when it's 10 degrees outside? 5. Thanks Greg, I thought I had seen a 120V water heater. 3. This tripping protects you from getting scalded or burned when using hot water in your home. 5. What can i do ... Gas Water heater only has luke warm water, Let me start by saying I am not a mechanical person. They reduce the surface temperature of the element at any one point, but provide almost twice the surface area to heat the water. However, if you don’t keep your water heater maintained, that layer of sediment builds and displaces hot water, decreasing the amount of hot water available for use. Does the hot water have a strange smell or metallic taste? The water pressure is fine, I don't have any other electrical problems. It got bad so we purged the hot water heater and have to physically scrape limestone out of it. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Hot tub heater elements are similar to an electric hot water heater element, and as such, spa heater elements burn out very quickly if operated without cooling water surrounding it. Are you throwing the element into a bed of, indianapolis indiana - land of the free, home of, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. All information is provided "AS IS." Rene was leaving me for her Tucson show, so I wanted to ensure I had all the parts necessary to do the job. There is the possibility that if you do, and you don't have a vacuum breaker, the water could siphon out of your WH via the dip tube. This is a very simple device with I am sure a simple solution. Does this happen often? Is water leaking out of the system? We welcome your comments and By my calculations the 250 volts has changed the rated 4500 watts to 4882 watts and I think this is what is burning out the elements. suggestions. The elements in your pictures are all high watt density elements. The high resistance caused by a loose wire produces a substantial amount of heat that can eventually cause fires. Among the conditions that can cause elevated temperatures are insufficient airflow in the element compartment, failure of safety devices and a power surge. Step 1 Check around the hot water heater for water on the floor. There are only two things that cause elements to burn out quickly, too high a voltage or energizing them without being immersed in water. It only has 1 element (on the bottom of the tank). water is streaming out of my hot water heater and the water is raging hot for about 4 day. i don't know hat to do, and what is the problem - Misty 1/5/2013 . 7. Therefore, tank-type water heaters are divided into atmospheric, power, direct and power direct models. Why does the lower element in my electric hot water heater keep going out? I think that is a likely cause given the high electric bills and melted elements as he described. There are 2 common components in electric water heaters that can fail and cause an electrical burning smell. I was having to replace the water heater element every couple of weeks. home improvement and repair website. Older elements may burn out due to age or, more often, sediment build up from water conditions encrust the element blades acting as insulation and preventing the heat from being transferred to the water. This particular element is listed as for moderately hard water. So if you’re getting cold water really fast, a bad lower heating element could be to blame. I have a gas water heater that is 2 years old. If the coil gets too hot, it burns out. But sometimes, the heating element casing can split and expose the electrical components directly to the water or tank. When they crack into the line it creates a vaccuum and can easily start to syphon out your heater (and your whole house) unless you have a vaccuum breaker in line. We replaced that fuse in the last couple of months. Lack of cooling fluid (water) around the element. I'll let the Pros try and figure it out...but like I said...it's obvious its the wiring where the issue is...at least to me. My Water Heater Is Running Out of Hot Water Faster Than Normal September 14, 2017 ... elements (upper and lower) to heat water in your tank. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. ), that's some hard water. By burning through propane, we would at least have hot water while I got the parts needed to repair the electric RV water heater. Can you post a pic of the breaker wiring for the WH and whatever else was on the old breaker? Since the coldest water is on the bottom of your tank, the lower heating element does most of the work. Check each of these in turn and replace as necessary. The air for this, is provided through an air inlet which is at the bottom of the camper gas water heater. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent I tend to agree with Greg. Yeah it is an Electric Water Heater. There are only two things that cause elements to burn out quickly, too high a voltage or energizing them without being immersed in water. The reason I ask this is because I have a water heater that has 250 volts going to it and it is burning out the 4500 watt, 240 volt elements at the rate of about one a week. I live in an older manufactured home with some limestone problems from the well. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Cause #1: Broken heating element If you have an electric water heater, the heating elements inside the tank can break and lead to a loss of hot water. One of the Mods might move this to "Water Heaters" if that is what we are discussing. The anode rod is a component of your water heater that attracts corrosive agents in the water. You are exceeding the design rating on the 240V element. Drooplug, I can understand hard water having a long term effect on a WH, but a new heater going right into a cycle of burning out elements (? The other thing I may suggest if not too late is stainless steel heating elements they are not cheap but they work pretty well with hard water useage. Heating elements may also burn out: The most obvious symptom of this problem is if you suddenly notice that the normally hot water coming out of taps has become only warm. We were able to get it working for awhile but recently we're having to replace the heating element every couple of days. During the burning process, exhaust gases are vented out, either naturally (convection) or forced (electric blower). You can see where the dip tube is located in this diagram. The only hw tank I have ever seen that was equipped with a single element was a 120 volt one.
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