Help! What is wrong with my hot water heater?
Question:Our hot water heater is set on a comfortable temperature, but lately the water has been getting unbelievably hot. After it gets hot like this, the water gets cold after a few days and we have to push the reset button to get it to work again. This has been going on for several weeks now. What could be happening?
Answers:
You may need to replace the elements. It's relatively simple and your local Home Depot or whatever can help you. There are usually two, replace them both now, it cheap and easy.
The thermostat is defective. It is not the element.
I agree with Andy. To test the lower thermostat, shut off power; then let water in the tank cool. Disconnect leads from heating element terminals, and use screwdriver to turn temperature control dial to highest setting. Using a volt/ohm meter, set VOM on RX1; then probe terminals 1 and 2. Look for zero ohms reading; if higher, replace thermostat.
To test the upper thermostat, disconnect leads, turn dial to the highest setting, and probe terminals 1 and 2 like before. ZLook for zero ohms reading. With VOM still on RX1, probe terminals 1 and 4. Meter should read infinity. If reading is lower, replace thermostat.
good luck
Check the thermostat. When the whole heater is ready to be replaced, check out water-on-demand systems. If you can have natural gas or propane, they could save water and money. They also take up a lot less room. We've had one for 2 yrs.
If you have a well you might have rust inside the heater i would recommend you draining it from the bottom useing a water hose attached and drianing it to an outside source on the ground if possible lower than the tank and, open the valve at the top on the side of the tank(set a bucket or pan under it) with the pipe running down it.This will allow it to draw air in as it drains creating a syphon affect. (IMPORTANT!) Make sure you shut off the gas or electric on the unit before you do this and the inlet from your water source this should be a blue valve on top of the tank or close by. Turn open the lower valve with the hose attached and drain it. After you drain it close the lower valve where the water hose was attached ,remove the hose,turn the inlet on(when you do this you should hear water running into the tank), make sure the valve at the top of it with a little hasp that you raised up to drain it stays open,while the tank is filling back up to bleed off the air until water comes out ,then close it. Make sure the tank finishes filling by opening the furthest hot water faucet from the water heater on. You will get some air out of it, when water comes out it should be full or close. Shut the faucet off and check to make sure that it has stopped taking in water to the tank by listening to the tank. Now turn on the gas or electric,light the pilot and wait for about an hour for it to warm up. Somtimes over time heated water will evaporate causing an air pocket in the tank,this could cause your symptoms or, if you have a well and with a low pressure return you can use more hot water faster then it has time to fill back up causing an air void. or a power failure. Always be sure that the tank is full of water before heating it especially if it is electric, if it isnt and it heats air it could cause an explosion. hopefully this help,s.
It sounds like the thermostat is not shutting off when it should and when the temp gets too high, it blows the reset on the thermostat. Go to http://appliancequickfix.com/ to see exactly
how your heater works.
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