Water Heaters - Richmond water heater sporadically heats - HELP!
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GyrPer1
01-23-09, 05:52 PM
A few days ago a water line in our neighborhood broke. After the break, the water heater started to sporadically heat, meaning at times the sink / shower would have hot water and sometimes it does not. The hot water line coming out of the heater is sometimes hot and sometimes cold. I was taking a shower at the time the water line in the neighborhood broke. When the line broke, there was no water in the house. Is it possible that the upper element fried, or could it be something else causing the heater to sometimes work and sometimes not? This morning there was no hot water. When I came home from work, there was hot water. Dunno......
Need help! Fiance and son are not happy taking cold showers. Ug!!
:(
Help, guys!!
Need help! Fiance and son are not happy taking cold showers. Ug!!
:(
Help, guys!!
GyrPer1
01-24-09, 08:55 AM
Come on you guys, help a brother out (please)!
Beer 4U2
Beer 4U2
furd
01-24-09, 06:06 PM
When I first saw this question I thought about suggesting that it could be a good thing because it would cause your son and his wife-to-be to find a home of their own but I decided such an answer would be nasty. :rolleyes:
Honestly, I think that no one has responded because you give us almost nothing to work with. How about the age of the water heater and what, if anything, you have done to try and diagnose the problem? It could be a burnt out element or it could be a broken dip tube or a combination of things. If the heater is more than ten years old it is probably better to simply replace it because the odds are that you would have something else happen in a relatively short time.
Honestly, I think that no one has responded because you give us almost nothing to work with. How about the age of the water heater and what, if anything, you have done to try and diagnose the problem? It could be a burnt out element or it could be a broken dip tube or a combination of things. If the heater is more than ten years old it is probably better to simply replace it because the odds are that you would have something else happen in a relatively short time.
malakai1911
01-27-09, 10:47 PM
If the upper element was dry fired, you'd have no hot water at all. If you have a multimeter you can check the thermostats (http://waterheating.rheem.com/content/resources/documents/tech%20bulletins/1300%20Series/1313.pdf) and heating elements (http://waterheating.rheem.com/content/resources/documents/tech%20bulletins/1300%20Series/1314.pdf).
Usually not likely you have a dip tube problem, and it doesn't sound like it how you describe it.
I'd hang onto that heater as long as you can, if it's lasted 10 years, replace the anode rod and flush the tank periodically, and hope for another decade.
Usually not likely you have a dip tube problem, and it doesn't sound like it how you describe it.
I'd hang onto that heater as long as you can, if it's lasted 10 years, replace the anode rod and flush the tank periodically, and hope for another decade.