Water Heaters - Old water heater, Pressure Valve keeps releasing in huge amounts HELP!

Hey guys, I have a old GE Hotpoint Water Heater. I dont know exactly how old it is but its old. I have lived in my house for 8 years and no problems, until yesterday.


When I moved in 8 yrs ago I put a TPR valve on, yesterday after I got out of the shower it released a ton of hot water. I turned down both elements but the water is still just as hot (SCALDING). Worked fine until I took a shower just now and boom it released again. Is my water heater bad? Or is the TPR valve faulty? THanks guys!!

It sounds like the elements aren't sensing when the water reached it's temp. Shut the power to it the next time you take a shower.

The elements are working fine. The problem is that the thermostats aren't. If changing the temp. settings on them had no effect on the water temp, replace both thermostats.

I wonder if it would be better to replace the unit, I did some looking on the heater it looks as if it was made in the 50's. Do they even sell replacement thermostats for them? I noticed that the elements are a 1500w and a 1000w. I noticed that the new heaters are 2 x 4500w.

That's pretty amazing that it's that old!! Who knows how long it's actually been is service. (50 years for a WH is almost uhheard of.)

Repair or replace?? Tough call. New thermostat's will run about $40 to $50. A new WH and supply lines is pushing about $400. The tank's not leaking right now. It could last a few months, or it may last several more years.

Of course, a new WH is better insulated, so it would save some on operating costs.

If it were mine, I'd probably replace it.

I really REALLY doubt that it is that old. Plain GE branded WHs were first sold around '99 through the Home Depot and were made by Rheem (not sure if that still applies).

Hotpoint was purchased by GE a long ways back, so they may have been making them I guess, can't really find that info. If you look at the serial number it can normally be decoded by the first 4 digits. First 2 are the month...second 2 are the year.

Even if it was '95 or '85...I'd vote replacement as well.

The first four dights are YE652, so that would be 06 of 1952?

I think it may just be a hotpoint, I have been trying to figure out how to upload a pic of it, but the badge says this, Hotpoint Automatic Electric Water Heater.

If that heater is from 1952, it belongs in a museum. Send it there as soon as possible.

Upload the pics to photobucket.com

heres one pic of the badge has some paint on it but you can see how old it is


http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab272/zeroeffect4/IMG_6388.jpg

Gunguy -- that's OBVIOUSLY not an '85 or '95 WH!!

And zero26, I don't know how you got so lucky with it, but yes, that thing IS 50 years old or more!!

Now that I've seen th picture, that's not a "tough call" -- THAT'S a no-brainer!! Replace it.

And zero26, don't be thinking that you'll be getting 50+ years out of the new one. You would have better chances playing the lottery than that ever happening again!!

Yep..Lefty..I retract everything I said. After seeing that cover and the logo...wow! How can that puppy still even hold water??

I'd seriously think about calling and seeing if they wanted it for their engineering dept. I did something similar with a knife and recieved a brand new one with a gift certificate for other items.

GG -- I KNOW!!!

When zero26 originally said it was from the '50's, I was thinking "yeah, right!!" -- just like you were. Water heaters just don't last 20 years, let alone close to 60!! That is definitely an early to mid-'50's with a Hotpoint logo like that!

And Pulpo says says send it to a museum. I bet he could find a taker for it!!

And it STILL WORKS -- just needs a couple of thermostats!!

I know man!!! It has been working like a champ. As long as I take a 5 min or less shower no problem! I might shoot GE Hotpoint a email.

The shower only lasts 5 minutes?? The dip tube's gone too!!

Crazy Crazy Crazy....Ok.. Zero I'll buy it if you deliver and guarantee it for another 50 yrs...lol

I hate to say it..but yer still looking at replacement.

I dont think I explained it right, I have rarely run out of hot water, if I take a long shower after I shut it off the TPR goes. I have had a feeling that the thermostats were out, ever since I moved in 8 yrs ago the water is scalding hot. I turned the thermostats down all the way yesterday, but no change. I really dont have the money to replace it right now, so I am just gonna live with it. Like I said before it works great just dont take a 20 min shower!

OK -- it's been doing pretty good for 50+ years -- let's see if we can't squeeze 60 out of it!!Beer 4U2

If you aren't going to replace it now, then I would buy a high water alarm.
Put it on the floor next to it.

Both my grandparents were still using their 1950 vintage electric water heaters they first put in when their farm houses were wired for electricity shortly after WWII, up until 1990, when the grandparents died off/went to rest homes and the houses were sold. Yes, I know they replaced several elements, but the tanks lasted at least 40 years. Neither set of grandparents used an automatic washing machine or dishwasher, so it was just the "weekly bath" and hand washing the dishes. Electrics last longer than gas, and its obviously things built back then were designed to last almost forever, unlike modern appliances.