Water Heaters - Water heater troubleshooting
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Water heater troubleshooting
basketcase
05-01-05, 11:06 AM
I have a Bradford White Hydrojet 40 gallon gas water heater that is about 9 years old. It appears to be working OK but will supply only about 10 gallons of hot water and the thermostat must remain at its highest setting to do that. Is this a sign of "replacement time"? I tried flushing the tank a few months ago and only about 10 gallons of water came out with surprisingly little sediment.
Also, there is an "relief valve drain?" emptying outside that is dripping hot water most of the time. Another sign of age???
Help!!
Dan
Also, there is an "relief valve drain?" emptying outside that is dripping hot water most of the time. Another sign of age???
Help!!
Dan
Ed Imeduc
05-01-05, 12:19 PM
I tried flushing the tank a few months ago and only about 10 gallons of water came out with surprisingly little sediment.
Do you mean you shut the cold water off to the tank and open the bottom drain and all you got out of the tank was 10 gal of water out of a 40 gal tank? You did open a hot water valve in the home didnt you?
How hard is the water there could have a build up inside the tank. The TP valve could dip if you have the tstat turned all the way up.
ED ;)
Do you mean you shut the cold water off to the tank and open the bottom drain and all you got out of the tank was 10 gal of water out of a 40 gal tank? You did open a hot water valve in the home didnt you?
How hard is the water there could have a build up inside the tank. The TP valve could dip if you have the tstat turned all the way up.
ED ;)
majakdragon
05-01-05, 03:27 PM
basketcase,. Welcome to the DIY Forums.
Sounds more like a dip-tube that is damaged. The dip-tube "sits" in the opening of the tank below the pipe nipple that supplies cold water to the heater. It goes to the bottom of the tank and thus the cold, incoming water, pushes the hot water out of the tank. If the dip-tube is damaged or missing (some fall into the tank) the cold water basically "short circuits" and goes directly out the hot water outlet. This is why there is minimal hot water. You can take the nipple for the cold water inlet out and check if the tube is bad. It can be pulled out with your finger. I agree with Ed that you probably forgot to open a hot water faucet when you flushed the tank and this caused the water to air-lock and not leave the tank. T/P relief valve is to prevent explosions if the heater gets TOO hot. The higher you keep the temp set, the more likely you are to have this valve drip or leak.
Sounds more like a dip-tube that is damaged. The dip-tube "sits" in the opening of the tank below the pipe nipple that supplies cold water to the heater. It goes to the bottom of the tank and thus the cold, incoming water, pushes the hot water out of the tank. If the dip-tube is damaged or missing (some fall into the tank) the cold water basically "short circuits" and goes directly out the hot water outlet. This is why there is minimal hot water. You can take the nipple for the cold water inlet out and check if the tube is bad. It can be pulled out with your finger. I agree with Ed that you probably forgot to open a hot water faucet when you flushed the tank and this caused the water to air-lock and not leave the tank. T/P relief valve is to prevent explosions if the heater gets TOO hot. The higher you keep the temp set, the more likely you are to have this valve drip or leak.