There are only two things that cause elements to burn out quickly, too high a voltage or energizing them without being immersed in water. We make sure to fill it up before turning the electricity to the element back on. The reason I ask this is because I have a water heater that has 250 volts going to it and it is burning out the 4500 watt, 240 volt elements at the rate of about one a week. No, I see $100 a month where you are, so there is clearly an issue somewhere. I'm not getting any hot water. We welcome your comments and We all know that the gas needs sufficient air to keep it burning. The most basic (and safe) thing you could do would be to make sure the breaker is turned off at the panel and check that all connections are tight. flicker is having an issue apparently...can't even get to the main page. The house was also filled with a lot of steam from the water heater. The inlet has to be cleaned for proper air circulation … Check each of these in turn and replace as necessary. All information is provided "AS IS." Air inlet is clogged and shuts off the gas water heater. Possible reasons for water taking a long time to heat include faulty heating elements, sediment build-up on the elements and a faulty thermostat. Hot Tub Spa - Heater Troubleshooting Guide MECHANICAL FAILURES. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. A malfunctioning thermostat is most likely the culprit of why your water heater is suddenly hot. I used to replace quite a few water heaters, elements, etc. ), Electric water heater wire size question-solar water application, Cold water coming from next to water heater, Experts opinion on possible water heater longevity. 6. The water pressure is fine, I don't have any other electrical problems. If your heater keeps making a popping or knocking noise, similar to that made by a popcorn machine, it could fail. I tend to agree with Greg. Usually the cause of overheated water is a lower heating element that has a leak to ground. Think about it: If you have a 40-gallon water heater with 10 gallons of sediment buildup in the tank, you now have a 30-gallon water heater. Then one or both elements could be out of the water. This tripping protects you from getting scalded or burned when using hot water in your home. The element thus overheats and burns out. It can be clogged due to dust or dirt and thus, prevent the air circulation. Has the pilot light gone out? I have a gas water heater that is 2 years old. I was having to replace the water heater element every couple of weeks. Over time, sediment from water builds up at the bottom of the heating tank, insulating water from the burner. Water Heater Runs Out Of Hot Water Quickly: Possible Reasons Why As mentioned above, several things can cause a home’s hot water supply to run out faster than it should. 4. After the tank has been on a while and is up to temperature you should check with your multimeter to make sure the thermostat has opened the circuit. Before there was a duplex of a 20 amp and a 30 amp together. There are only two things that cause elements to burn out quickly, too high a voltage or energizing them without being immersed in water. The most likely cause is a bad thermostat. We moved about 10 miles away from our last residence. Is your water heater full of LIME?? I decided to get a replacement RV water heater thermostat switch, in addition to a new electric heater element. How a bad thermostat causes your water heater reset button to trip. 3. Disconnect both wires to both elements. That 277 volt element is heavier duty and should solve your problem. Water Heater Smells Like: Electrical Burning If your water heater emits an electrical burning smell, this indicates that something electrical is starting to overload. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent The fact that the upper element is going out, points to the fact that somehow you are back siphoning the water and burning out the element. Drooplug, I can understand hard water having a long term effect on a WH, but a new heater going right into a cycle of burning out elements (? Sometimes, your water will slowly start to cool down and this could be because the element has burned out. Among the conditions that can cause elevated temperatures are insufficient airflow in the element compartment, failure of safety devices and a power surge. You may freely link The only hw tank I have ever seen that was equipped with a single element was a 120 volt one. Older elements may burn out due to age or, more often, sediment build up from water conditions encrust the element blades acting as insulation and preventing the heat from being transferred to the water. The elements burn out in a very short time. Sometimes this can lead to a reaction between the rod and sulfate from the water and the hot water stinks as a result. The air for this, is provided through an air inlet which is at the bottom of the camper gas water heater. Are you getting these high bills with turning things off as stated above? This is a very simple device with I am sure a simple solution. The thermostats are responsible … Every dollar helps! The three most common culprits are sediment build up, a faulty heating element and a broken dip tube. Can you post a pic of the breaker wiring for the WH and whatever else was on the old breaker? I replaced an old furnace last year. More ». Therefore, tank-type water heaters are divided into atmospheric, power, direct and power direct models. Last week, I came home from work and there was a leak in pipe leading from the main water line to the water heater. After about 30 seconds, heat from the ignited pilot light flame activates a simple electrical switch called a thermocouple which ensures that the gas supply to the pilot stays open and your water heater keeps functioning. By burning through propane, we would at least have hot water while I got the parts needed to repair the electric RV water heater. When we moved in there was no hot water. It only has 1 element (on the bottom of the tank). Usually, when the heating elements fail, they simply burn out and the only way you’ll notice is that the water isn’t as hot as it once was. The high resistance caused by a loose wire produces a substantial amount of heat that can eventually cause fires. You would expect to see some hot water and steam leaking from the T&P safety valve in this case. If there is a loose electrical connection within your water heater’s system, your reset button’s thermometer can trip (regardless of the water’s temperature) if it picks up the heat from that loose wire. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Do you enjoy my video content and want to help support me? If it’s broken, cold water fills the top of the heater and begins to flow right out the hot side. If there is a leak, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. 7. There is the possibility that if you do, and you don't have a vacuum breaker, the water could siphon out of your WH via the dip tube. Are you getting less hot water? Yeah we replaced the whole Hot Water Heater and still having the same problems. I think that is a likely cause given the high electric bills and melted elements as he described. I had an electrician work on it and he said all the voltage is right. home improvement and repair website. The top thermostat has a safety stat (red button) that trips or "pops out" when the temperature of the water in the tank rises over 180 degrees. When this happens, it's … This forces the burner to run longer to heat water, increasing the heat inside the tank. Heating elements may also burn out: The most obvious symptom of this problem is if you suddenly notice that the normally hot water coming out of taps has become only warm. Location: NE Wis / Paris France{ In France for now }. But how do … The water never gets the chance to heat. If it's the hot water heater, it's likely there is a leak, and not dealing with it quickly can result in even more damage and more money leaving your wallet. Do you have an electric power meter where you can see what the whole house is using? 5. After getting the pipe replaced, the water heater only is providing luke warm water. ozark01, do you lose water pressure on occasion? The thermostat is at the default 125 degrees F. It seems to be maintaining that temperature when it's working. The two biggest ways I see this happening is by turning on the power with an empty tank (devoid of water). I am having unusually high electric bills (about $300 for 2 people when my last place was close to $100). Why does the lower element in my electric hot water heater keep going out? Good thing I did. You are exceeding the design rating on the 240V element. If the coil gets too hot, it burns out. When they crack into the line it creates a vaccuum and can easily start to syphon out your heater (and your whole house) unless you have a vaccuum breaker in line. If you can get readings, even better. You might try a low watt density element that almost doubles the actual length of the element. You can see where the dip tube is located in this diagram. If you have an electric hot water heater, it may mean that one of your two elements has burned out. When the elements get coated, or when the lower element is buried under mineral sediment, it has to work harder to heat the water. Step 1 Check around the hot water heater for water on the floor. Copyright© Since the coldest water is on the bottom of your tank, the lower heating element does most of the work. I have a 4 year old electric 40 gal Kenmore hot water heater. Hot tub elements can also be tested to determine if there is a short in the coating surrounding the heating element. So if you’re getting cold water really fast, a bad lower heating element could be to blame. Hot tub heater elements are similar to an electric hot water heater element, and as such, spa heater elements burn out very quickly if operated without cooling water surrounding it. Lack of cooling fluid (water) around the element. We replaced that fuse in the last couple of months. The last one I pulled out had some lime buildup but it almost looked like it melted. So, most of this is foreign to me. Does the hot water have a strange smell or metallic taste? The term "Mechanical Failure" covers everything from shipping damage to dog bite, but the most common mechanical failures in electric heaters are caused by improper handling - destroying the Epoxy End Seal, and breaking or twisting the Cold Pin until it breaks are the two leaders in this failure mode. Yeah it is an Electric Water Heater. The elements in your pictures are all high watt density elements. They reduce the surface temperature of the element at any one point, but provide almost twice the surface area to heat the water. His main trade is working on electrical systems for hospital equipment. suggestions. It got bad so we purged the hot water heater and have to physically scrape limestone out of it. Reply: The correct leaky water heater repair depends: first ee what part of, on, or near the water heater is actually leaking. If your gas water heater keeps shutting off, the thermocouple could be dirty, bent or damaged. Rene was leaving me for her Tucson show, so I wanted to ensure I had all the parts necessary to do the job. While the element is working we have a good amount of hot water, we aren't running out quickly or anything. Water heater elements burn out for one main reason. What could it be? One of the Mods might move this to "Water Heaters" if that is what we are discussing. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". What can i do ... Gas Water heater only has luke warm water, Let me start by saying I am not a mechanical person. The anode rod is a component of your water heater that attracts corrosive agents in the water. Any ideas on what is wrong? Not that you need to see the actual amount, but a dial turning or numbers advancing such that when you flip a breaker off and stop something you might see the change. If you have a gas version, it could be related to the burner – see #12 below for further information. As you said, it isn't a complicated device. 5. As a result, the heating element could be failing faster and more frequently than it should. Are you throwing the element into a bed of, indianapolis indiana - land of the free, home of, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Discussion in 'Water Heater Forum, Tanks' started by ozark01, Jun 21, 2017. i don't know hat to do, and what is the problem - Misty 1/5/2013 . The other thing I may suggest if not too late is stainless steel heating elements they are not cheap but they work pretty well with hard water useage. We were able to get it working for awhile but recently we're having to replace the heating element every couple of days. I turned the dial up to HOT on the water heater, still no hot water, only luke warm. Website operating We've checked it with an amp meter and it seems fine in that way. Is there a single breaker or double? Most electric hot water heaters have an uppper and a lower element; the upper runs until the top of the tank is hot, which provides quick recovery time, then when the top thermostat is satisfied, it transfers power to the lower thermostat, which heats until the entire tank is hot. Thank you Chris. Eventually, all heating elements (like light bulbs) will burn out. If you find that your home's hot water runs out quickly or that it's only lukewarm, a defective heating element may be the culprit. I have a Rheem standard 40 gallon hot water heater. Cause #1: Broken heating element If you have an electric water heater, the heating elements inside the tank can break and lead to a loss of hot water. The fuse running to the hot water heater is twice as thick as most of the other fuses and is 20 amp. I live in an older manufactured home with some limestone problems from the well. But sometimes, the heating element casing can split and expose the electrical components directly to the water or tank. However, if you don’t keep your water heater maintained, that layer of sediment builds and displaces hot water, decreasing the amount of hot water available for use. During the burning process, exhaust gases are vented out, either naturally (convection) or forced (electric blower). ), that's some hard water. Heat pump, do I need to turn on aux heat when it's 10 degrees outside? Running the Dryer and How Water Heater at the same time was tripping the breaker but was caught on the front panel so it wasn't able to trip. [B][/B]I have a gas water heater been having it for many of years i notice today their is water leaking from the bottom on to the floor had to turn the water off from the outside is it time for another one and if so if i try to replace it would i have to call the gas company to come out to turn the gas off before i replace the water heater:wall: Plumbing, Piping, Water Heating, Wells, Air & Water Filtration and Conditioning, "We went ahead and replaced the hot water heater unit", Water Heater Element - Water Heater Elements - Water Heaters - Plumbing : Grainger Industrial Supply, Hot water heater works then doesn't, then works again, SER cable vs Conduit - Indoor subpanel ampacity/temperature questions, Looking to buy a new Home Theater amplifier, Furnace cycling on and off because of APS, New shed, high threshold, need a transition. By my calculations the 250 volts has changed the rated 4500 watts to 4882 watts and I think this is what is burning out the elements. If the second element fails, you’ll be … But take a look and see if it looks like it is advancing too fast. Do you really mean fuses? water is streaming out of my hot water heater and the water is raging hot for about 4 day. HOT TUB HEATER ELEMENT. What to do about it Call a professional to replace the dip tube. We went ahead and replaced the hot water heater unit and now the elements are lasting about 4 days. Good news! This particular element is listed as for moderately hard water. The Clothes Dryer and Hot Water Heater was both hooked up to that duplex box. Electric water heaters have a lower and upper thermostat—one for each heating element. How do I deal with overheated/burnt wiring. I have an electric water heater. Good to know that Ohm's law still helps people out of a jamb! If it is capable of running on 120v and ends up wired for 240v, I would expect the melting as shown. Sometimes, the … Only ever saw one 120VAC model in a really old mobile home. Welcome to Terry Love Plumbing & Remodel DIY & Professional Forum. You need to turn power off to the heater. All rights reserved. Twice in the last year, the lower element has burned out. If air pockets develop in the tank, often due to a failure to bleed out the tank completely before filling it up, the element may be burning itself out without enough water. Is water leaking out of the system? Part that concerned me looking at the melt down was the rating listed there of 120v/240v. problems contact [email protected]. At this point, there are few options other than replacing the water heater. Signs you have sediment buildup: My Water Heater Is Running Out of Hot Water Faster Than Normal September 14, 2017 ... elements (upper and lower) to heat water in your tank. I'm having the electric company come out and take a look. And as the air decreases, the burning will stop . Does this happen often? A plumber can look inside the tank to determine whether air pockets are causing an issue and make sure the element is properly submerged … A thermostat controls the on and off cycle of water heater elements. OK, but then what’s causing the water in your water heater to get so hot? Thanks Greg, I thought I had seen a 120V water heater. View our Privacy Policy here. Post #11 has pictures. In the case of a malfunction, a safety feature is triggered if the thermostat fails to shut off … I have seen this happen to other heaters when the local water purveyors turn off the main for a repair. Sometimes your power company will have a web site that explains how to read your meter. As time passes, the anode corrodes, leaving the heater largely corrosion free in the process. The water might evaporate quickly so look for signs of deposits and leak traces. There are 2 common components in electric water heaters that can fail and cause an electrical burning smell. I'll let the Pros try and figure it out...but like I said...it's obvious its the wiring where the issue is...at least to me.

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