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Water heater problems...

T

TechHead87

Senior member
Howdy ATOT.

Does anyone have experience fixing water heaters? Mine is having problems sustaining hot water. The water gradually turns cold after 5 minutes of use. It doesn't even get as hot as it used to.

From what I've found on the internet, the problem looks to be a heating element, but I don't know how to nail it down to the exact problem.

I'm going to attempt to troubleshoot & fix this problem myself. Any tips/help is greatly appreciated.
 
TURN POWER TO HOT WATER HEATER OFF!!!! Use an ohmeter across the terminals of the heating element. Infinite resistance means a burned element needing replacement. If both show some resistance, approx. equal, could be the relay controlling which element
gets power. Normally it is the lower element fried due to sediment build up.
 
Wow, last night my water heater blew out the bottom. Why is it when ever something happens to me I see a similar post on this forum the next day.
 
Originally posted by: NL5
It's probably your dip tube if the water is hot at first.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the dip tube prevents cold water from mixing with the hot water. If it's broken, as soon as you start using the hot water, cold water comes in and gets pushed out the hot output.

You should be able to find a parts list for your heater online somewhere.

I'd check the element too - it's easy to do.

It could be full of sediment/calcium too.
 
on my electric WH, I replaced both heating elements and thermostats...

i drained my tank fully - some peeps say you don't have to if you're quick enough to switch out the elements. But i didn't want water gushing out onto my garage floor.

simple enough to do and doesn't cost that much for parts - may $30 or so for all of it.
 
So the water is hot, you run it for about five minutes and then it turns cold?

That sounds like the dip tube.

If the water was never hot or not hot enough, I would think element or thermostat.
 
Originally posted by: Drako
How old is the water heater?

Do you have hard or soft water?
Click to expand...

this

if its real old it could be so full of rust and deposits that it cant make any hot water anymore.

 
best thing to do is drain out a coupel gallons. If there are peices of dip tube then theres your answer. Also good to do this once a year as well to make sure it stays clean.
 
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