wtnhunt Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Our hot water is running out way too quick. The tank is a 80 gallon whirlpool and has been in use less than 2 years. We get water that is hot enough, about 115 degrees, but it is just not lasting as long as it should be and it quickly gets to just warm water rather than supplying hot. Thinking the problem is probably our upper thermostat, but not sure. Have checked the elements with my meter and they measure about the same resistance between 16.6 and 16.8 ohms and both get voltage to them when I turn the thermostats until they click. The upper thermostat however I am having to turn to half way between 125 and 150 to get it to click, bad? With the water temp 10 degrees lower at the sinks, the thermostat should already have the element on shouldn't it? Tried a dip tube test by draining water at the bottom of the tank and it ran cold, so that should not be the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Is it on a seperate meter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Is it on a seperate meter? Not sure what you mean here bug? One meter for the entire house. When I tested the resistance I tested the elements with my multimeter individually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 so, it's an electric heater not gas. i'm thinking 2 things. 1) the lower element is burned out. yet, it's giving proper ohms signal. not sure about that. or 2) the real suspect here. you have "stuff" settled on the bottom of the tank. each year you are supposed to shut off the electric power and drain the tank. depending on how much junk is in your water from the well, you have grit settling on the bottom of the tank covering your heat element in gravel or sand. stuff. so, shut off the heater and drain the tank all the way dry. flush again,. then fill the tank and, last thing, turn the electricity back on. so far, arty, i've had to guess that you have an electric water heater and the well is producing lots of sand/stuff that settles on the bottom of your tank. if this method helps, i'll next suggest a water filter before the heater tank and that you flush the tank every 4-6 months after this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 We have a whole house 3 stage filtration system before the tank Steve, one just like this one Shop Whirlpool Whole House Water Filtration System at Lowes.com. The filter was installed when I ran the plumbing supply lines before we ever went through our final inspections, so no water has entered the house that has not been through the filter. And yes it is electric. I kept the valve cut off to the heater when I first turned the water on as well to try to allow the carbon from the filter to run out the sink faucets rather than have it get in the tank. You could be right Steve, but I am still kind of stumped about the upper thermostat having to be turned up so high to kick on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Not sure what you mean here bug? One meter for the entire house. When I tested the resistance I tested the elements with my multimeter individually. Believe it or not, on my house there are two meters, one solely for the water heater. It's on a timer as to not run continously during peak times. I'm on town water, but even then it comes in pretty cold most of the year. Before we went to Smartmeters, the older timers would malfuntion time to time. Just wondering.. We have well water at the camp and the lower element seems to burn out every few years, even though I drain it each Fall. Never had a multimeter with me to test, but with visual inspection I could tell it was shot. The symptoms were the same however, not enough hot water. I think Steve makes a good point, but you have only been in that house a relatively short time....no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 ..........You could be right Steve, but I am still kind of stumped about the upper thermostat having to be turned up so high to kick on. Just re-read, I bet that thermostat needs replacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 i've got a boiler but my tank is set to 130 or 135. one problem i had with a unit heater i have down stairs in the unfinished basement is my high low set points for my thermostat were too far apart. i'd have hot water going to the unit at first but then during operation to water temp would drop too low before things called for heat (hot water) again. the system as a whole was lagging the whole time and couldn't keep up as well or as hot as long as the unit was running. i have that whole house filteration system and not much of anything gets by it. especially with your new plumbing too you shouldn't have any particulate or sediment in the water heater i'd think. only residual build up would be possible but not likely. i'd say your thermostat needs replacing or adjustments need to be made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 With the resistance being that close to being equal, it's a pretty good bet the elements are not to blame. I think you are on the right track believing you have a bad thermostat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 With the price of the thermostat and elements I would just pick up a new thermostat and element and replace them. Being that you have to drain the tank to replace the lower element it would rule out any build up and you can see just how well the filter is working. I had an element go out early this year. It too was the lower and was giving me false readings. It cost something like $20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 so, it's an electric heater not gas. i'm thinking 2 things. 1) the lower element is burned out. yet, it's giving proper ohms signal. not sure about that. or 2) the real suspect here. you have "stuff" settled on the bottom of the tank. each year you are supposed to shut off the electric power and drain the tank. depending on how much junk is in your water from the well, you have grit settling on the bottom of the tank covering your heat element in gravel or sand. stuff. so, shut off the heater and drain the tank all the way dry. flush again,. then fill the tank and, last thing, turn the electricity back on. so far, arty, i've had to guess that you have an electric water heater and the well is producing lots of sand/stuff that settles on the bottom of your tank. if this method helps, i'll next suggest a water filter before the heater tank and that you flush the tank every 4-6 months after this. Bingo-Bingo-Bingo! Replace the elements. You can still have lime build up even with a filter. I know. I have hard water here and fought this for years. I was lucky to get a year out of a bottom element. I always replaced both elements though. I switched to propane. 5 years, no problems. The bottom element is the main heater element, the upper is the quick recovery element. Forget the ohm meter. For whatever reason they are not accurate in this application. When you pull the lower element out it will be bent and twisted. Draining the tank will not clean all the lime buildup out. I used a wet dry vacuum for this. I made up a wand adapted to 3/4" heater hose to go through the element opening and sucked the nasty chuncks etc. out. Be patient. It takes a while wiggling the hose around to get it all out. Good luck! Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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