Water Heaters - Warm today, hot tomorrow
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LoriR
11-07-05, 05:02 PM
New homeowner - please take pity on me!
Here's the scoop: One day, the water is warm in the shower. The next day, it's nice and hot. Then, 2 days later, it's warm again. (By warm, I mean tolerable, waiting for the cold water to start shooting out, but it hasn't happened yet.) The sticker says "A.O. Smith ProMax, and it's a gas water heater. High quality or not, I have absolutely no clue, but I think it was new in '99. I am sooo tired of being nickeled and dimed to death...seems like a simple thermostat problem to me (someone who has ZERO experience with these things!)...can I fix it myself????
Here's the scoop: One day, the water is warm in the shower. The next day, it's nice and hot. Then, 2 days later, it's warm again. (By warm, I mean tolerable, waiting for the cold water to start shooting out, but it hasn't happened yet.) The sticker says "A.O. Smith ProMax, and it's a gas water heater. High quality or not, I have absolutely no clue, but I think it was new in '99. I am sooo tired of being nickeled and dimed to death...seems like a simple thermostat problem to me (someone who has ZERO experience with these things!)...can I fix it myself????
Sharp Advice
11-07-05, 09:35 PM
Hello: Lori
If the condition is isolated to only the shower, suspect the faucet(s) in that shower, before suspecting the water heater or the thermostat, etc. Could be a defective cartridge in the shower faucet, if it is the single lever type.
If the condition is throughout the entire house, all facuets, tank may need to be "Flushed."
Instructions how to "Flush":
WATER HEATER DRAINING AND FLUSHING INFO HERE:
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=159797
Another possible cause is a broken and/or defective dip tube inside the tank. Pictures here:
http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/DUNBAR/DIP_TUBES.jpg
Replacing a defective and or damaged dip tube is not often an easy task. Usually requires two diy persons or one highly experienced person. Either requires being very handy with pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches, etc.
If you need further assistance, use the reply button to add any additional information or questions, etc. Using this method also moves the topic back up to the top of the list automatically.
Check back on your question several more times. Other members and the forum moderator plumbing professionals posting replies in this forum topic may offer you additional advice, ideas and or repair methods.
Web Site Host, Gas Appliances Topic Moderator & Multiple Forums Moderator. Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Personal Reminder:
Buckle Up & Drive Safely.
"The Life You Save, May Be Your Own."
If the condition is isolated to only the shower, suspect the faucet(s) in that shower, before suspecting the water heater or the thermostat, etc. Could be a defective cartridge in the shower faucet, if it is the single lever type.
If the condition is throughout the entire house, all facuets, tank may need to be "Flushed."
Instructions how to "Flush":
WATER HEATER DRAINING AND FLUSHING INFO HERE:
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=159797
Another possible cause is a broken and/or defective dip tube inside the tank. Pictures here:
http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/DUNBAR/DIP_TUBES.jpg
Replacing a defective and or damaged dip tube is not often an easy task. Usually requires two diy persons or one highly experienced person. Either requires being very handy with pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches, etc.
If you need further assistance, use the reply button to add any additional information or questions, etc. Using this method also moves the topic back up to the top of the list automatically.
Check back on your question several more times. Other members and the forum moderator plumbing professionals posting replies in this forum topic may offer you additional advice, ideas and or repair methods.
Web Site Host, Gas Appliances Topic Moderator & Multiple Forums Moderator. Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Personal Reminder:
Buckle Up & Drive Safely.
"The Life You Save, May Be Your Own."
Ejbogusch
11-08-05, 08:39 PM
Lori simply do a draw off test at the hot water heater's spiget when you are experiancing luke warm water. If your water coming out of the heater's spiget is the same temp that you have set the heaters thermostat set for, then your problem lies else where.