Water Heaters - Burner not kicking on
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 : Burner not kicking on
joetex69
03-28-06, 01:35 PM
I have a heater that is 10 years old. Lately, there have been times that I have to turn the hot water valve all the way on in the sink or tub in order to get any hot water. I have to go downstairs to turn the temp. up on the thermosthat in order to get the heater to kick on. After that, all is ok for a while before I have to go do that again. What is causing this problem? How long does the typical water heater last?
DUNBAR PLUMBER
03-28-06, 09:14 PM
Is it a gas or electric water heater?
It sounds like a gas so I would venture to say that it may be a defective dip tube or the thermostat is failing/covered with buildup.
When you are in this ten year window there was a class action lawsuit with defective dip tubes. The dip tube disintegrates slowly and allows the mix cold water with the ready to use hot. You will have to do a diagnostic test on the water heater.
First try the bucket trick; get a 5 gallon bucket and start filling up the buckets until the temperature goes from hot to warm. On a 50 gallon gas water heater you should get at least 38 gallons of ready to use hot water before the incoming cold begins to temper the hot water.
It sounds like a gas so I would venture to say that it may be a defective dip tube or the thermostat is failing/covered with buildup.
When you are in this ten year window there was a class action lawsuit with defective dip tubes. The dip tube disintegrates slowly and allows the mix cold water with the ready to use hot. You will have to do a diagnostic test on the water heater.
First try the bucket trick; get a 5 gallon bucket and start filling up the buckets until the temperature goes from hot to warm. On a 50 gallon gas water heater you should get at least 38 gallons of ready to use hot water before the incoming cold begins to temper the hot water.
joetex69
03-29-06, 07:21 AM
Thanks, Dunbar.
To answer your question, it is a gas heater. I'm assuming that if it was a dip tube problem, that it would be a consistent problem. Right now, everything is OK since I turned up the temperature a little bit. Can a dip tube problem be an intermittent problem like mine has been?
To answer your question, it is a gas heater. I'm assuming that if it was a dip tube problem, that it would be a consistent problem. Right now, everything is OK since I turned up the temperature a little bit. Can a dip tube problem be an intermittent problem like mine has been?
majakdragon
03-29-06, 07:42 AM
joetex69, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
Dip tube failures are not an intermittant problem. The diptube takes incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank and thus pushes the hot water out the outlet piping. If it were the dip tube, it would be the same all the time. Try checking the thermostat as Dunbar mentioned. It appears that the burner is not getting a signal that the water temperature is below the setting. Good luck.
NOTE: Ten years is also getting towards the end of (actually past) most water heater life cycles.
Dip tube failures are not an intermittant problem. The diptube takes incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank and thus pushes the hot water out the outlet piping. If it were the dip tube, it would be the same all the time. Try checking the thermostat as Dunbar mentioned. It appears that the burner is not getting a signal that the water temperature is below the setting. Good luck.
NOTE: Ten years is also getting towards the end of (actually past) most water heater life cycles.