Water Heaters - Electric Water Heater No Hot Water
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PeachMaru
12-11-07, 09:23 PM
Hi there!
I've got a problem with my electric hot water heater. It would always tend to run out of hot water fairly soon (I'm talking if I took a shower and then did the dishes afterward there would be no hot water toward the middle of doing the dishes). But recently it just started giving lukewarm water. Now it barely heats up the water at all. I think it started with the lukewarm water probably 2 weeks ago, and tonight there's barley any hot water, even after waiting hours after using hot water. I wouldn't say it's completely failed, cause then the water would be real cold cause it's real cold outside, but it's still quite cool.
The thing about the water heater is that I live in a mobile home and the water heater is in a cabinet in my house that is accessed from the outside. I live in New Hampshire where it's snowy and cold outside. Fortunately tomorrow it should be 40 degrees, and right now that's pretty much a heat wave. I know that the water heater is electric and likely only around 40 gallons. The water heater is probably only about 10 years old, but I haven't been too good at keeping up with regular maintenance. My fiancee will likely check the water heater tomorrow and give more detailed information on it so he can look into some simple solutions.
We aren't extremely handy people. I know some things, but I'm not an electrician or plumber in any way. My father works general construction and I've learned everything I know from him, but if I need to I can call a friend who knows more or even a service person if that's the route I need to take. I do love this forum though, I received some help with fixing my heater here 2 months ago and it's still working wonderfully! When the water heater started to go I knew right where I should go for help (:
I've got a problem with my electric hot water heater. It would always tend to run out of hot water fairly soon (I'm talking if I took a shower and then did the dishes afterward there would be no hot water toward the middle of doing the dishes). But recently it just started giving lukewarm water. Now it barely heats up the water at all. I think it started with the lukewarm water probably 2 weeks ago, and tonight there's barley any hot water, even after waiting hours after using hot water. I wouldn't say it's completely failed, cause then the water would be real cold cause it's real cold outside, but it's still quite cool.
The thing about the water heater is that I live in a mobile home and the water heater is in a cabinet in my house that is accessed from the outside. I live in New Hampshire where it's snowy and cold outside. Fortunately tomorrow it should be 40 degrees, and right now that's pretty much a heat wave. I know that the water heater is electric and likely only around 40 gallons. The water heater is probably only about 10 years old, but I haven't been too good at keeping up with regular maintenance. My fiancee will likely check the water heater tomorrow and give more detailed information on it so he can look into some simple solutions.
We aren't extremely handy people. I know some things, but I'm not an electrician or plumber in any way. My father works general construction and I've learned everything I know from him, but if I need to I can call a friend who knows more or even a service person if that's the route I need to take. I do love this forum though, I received some help with fixing my heater here 2 months ago and it's still working wonderfully! When the water heater started to go I knew right where I should go for help (:
Civicminded
12-12-07, 07:33 AM
Ill give this a shot.
An electric water heater usually has 2 elements a top and a bottom one, if one of the elements has burnt out you will still have hot water, though not as much capacity. It sounds like you were running one one element for a while and then the other one decided to burn out and now you have no hot water.
What I would do is Turn OFF the power to the water heater. Verify that the power is off by using a voltage detector on the really big wire that goes into the top of the Water heater. Then take of the two access doors at the front of the heater, one at the top one at the bottom (be carefull not to touch any wires yet, the power should be off at this point but you want to absoulutely make sure)
Now use your voltage detector again near the thermostat and element, make sure there is no voltage (there shouldn't be if you turned off the breaker and checked the supply wire, but you need to be absoultely sure there is no power to the heater). Now pull off the wires going to the element and check the element for an open. ( the element is the hex headed item that screws into the water tank)
If one element is open check the other one, if the other one is open you need to replace the elements by draining the tank and buying new elements and an element socket. Its fairly easy to do. If your elements are good then you have a thermostat issue. I would guess its likely the elements though.
Goodluck.
An electric water heater usually has 2 elements a top and a bottom one, if one of the elements has burnt out you will still have hot water, though not as much capacity. It sounds like you were running one one element for a while and then the other one decided to burn out and now you have no hot water.
What I would do is Turn OFF the power to the water heater. Verify that the power is off by using a voltage detector on the really big wire that goes into the top of the Water heater. Then take of the two access doors at the front of the heater, one at the top one at the bottom (be carefull not to touch any wires yet, the power should be off at this point but you want to absoulutely make sure)
Now use your voltage detector again near the thermostat and element, make sure there is no voltage (there shouldn't be if you turned off the breaker and checked the supply wire, but you need to be absoultely sure there is no power to the heater). Now pull off the wires going to the element and check the element for an open. ( the element is the hex headed item that screws into the water tank)
If one element is open check the other one, if the other one is open you need to replace the elements by draining the tank and buying new elements and an element socket. Its fairly easy to do. If your elements are good then you have a thermostat issue. I would guess its likely the elements though.
Goodluck.
steven15516
12-12-07, 12:20 PM
I agree with Civicminded. You could also have a huge build-up of lime and sediment in the bottom of your water heater. Given the fact your water heater is over 10 years old you might consider replacing it with a new, more efficient unit. Ten years is about all you can expect from a water heater.