A hot water heater is a specialized device used for regulating hot or cold water within your home. It is either a tank-type, a tankless or a solar device.
Different problems may be associated with different types of heaters. However, there are some common issues that you may experience, regardless of the type of tank you have.
No Hot Water
So you’ve finally installed a brand new hot water heater system and you are excited to use it. You turn on the device, turn on the water in your faucet…. and, to your dismay, the water is still cold!
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Lets take a closer look at these problems:
Before you grab your phone for a refund, you should know that this is actually a common problem and yes, it can be fixed.
If you have an electric device, and its not producing hot water after being turned on for some time, then maybe the electric heating element is not working. Try to check it out first. If it does have problems, you can replace it by buying a new one from your nearest hardware store.
Also See: Water Heater Replacement Price Calculator
Using this tool you can estimate the cost of installing new Tankless or Tank Water Heater. Gas or Electric, 40, 50, 75 gallon, Power Venting options, and even locally adjusted pricing. It takes 15 seconds to get an instant price quote!
If you have a gas heater, take a look at the pilot light, to see if its turned out. This is a safety feature on gas water heaters: When the pilot light is turned off, it does not allow any gas to be delivered, preventing the water from getting heated. If the pilot light is off, simply turn it on.
Another potential source of the problem in any type of a hot water heater could be the thermostat. Its purpose is to act as a monitoring device, but when it fails to perform its job, it becomes a real pain in the neck. A malfunctioning thermostat can cause water to be either too hot or too cold. Replacing the thermostat might solve the problem.
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Not Enough Hot Water
During the weekdays, you are always in a hurry, especially when you oversleep and are about to be late for work. You get in the shower, hoping wake up and get an energy boost for the day. While enjoying your warm shower, you feel the water suddenly becoming cold!
Annoying, isn’t it? A water heater that is not supplying enough hot water can change your mood and, worse, make you worst that something may be wrong with your heater.
This type of problem is usually linked to the device’s thermostat. A defective thermostat can change the temperature of the water dramatically. Thermostats are attached to the valve. Check if it’s working and compare the actual temperature of the water to what is shown on the gauge.
A clogged flue or vent could also be the problem. It may alter the normal flow of water from the tubing. A clog could minimize the pressure and can even cause an imbalance in the heating mechanism.
Pressure relief valve leaking
Pressure relief valve is an important part of any hot water heater, and if it’s not functioning properly, the tank can explode (no joke)!
Make sure you test your valve every 6-9 months. If it does not work properly, you will need to replace it.
To test the valve, you will need a small container, gloves and safety goggles.
Unscrew drain tube from the valve. Place water container directly under the valve and open it 1/3 way up (not fully). Water should start coming out under pressure, and you will hear a hissing noise. Release the valve handle.
If water stops coming out after you wipe the valve down, your valve is working properly. If there is a drip – you need to replace your pressure relief valve.
Black or Rusty-Colored Water
Safe water is a top priority in every household. Especially if you have children at home, you have to make sure that your water supply is clean. What if one day while washing dishes or taking a shower, you see black or rusty color water come out? Don’t panic! This issue can be fixed.
Usually rusty colored water is caused by a dissolved anode. This is a metal element in your water heater, and when it’s exposed to heat on a long term basis, it may rust and degrade. If this happens, it’s time to change the anode.
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Water is Too Hot
Taking a shower before you sleep can promote comfort and relaxation. Now what if your shower produces water that is too hot? If your water is hotter than what you normally expect, then your thermostat may not be working properly. It is a specialized part of the gas valve that is responsible for controlling and monitoring the temperature inside the tank. Be careful when checking it, because it may be really hot!
Water is Leaking
Water leaks are also a common problem for most water heater users. Leaking can either start from the top or from the bottom of the device. Leaks can be caused by a number of different problems including corrosion. When the water stays in the tubes for a long time, sediments and rust start to form. Eventually, they create cracks inside the tubing or the tank itself, causing leaks.
Smelly Water
While preparing dinner, you notice that something smells awful. You suspect some of the vegetables and eggs are rotten, but as you inspect them one by one, you discover that it has nothing to do with your food. Every time you open the faucet, that rotten smell diffuses in the air. It’s a sign of a probable bacterial or fungal infection.
Bacteria feed on the hydrogen gas that is emitted by the anode rod. Another bacterium is Legionella, which thrives in mildly warm water. These bacteria can cause health problems if your water supply is contaminated. To get rid of them, perform a yearly maintenance and flushing of your hot water heater.
First, drain all the water inside the tank. Next, fill it with 2 pints of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it stay in the tank for 2 hours before draining and refilling it with clean water. If the problem still persists, try replacing your anode rod with a zinc alloy anode rod.
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Popping Noises
Is your water heater making a strange-sounding popping noise? This may be related to excessive build-up of sediments in the tank, which cause the water to actually boil instead of being just heated. To get rid of these sediments, flush them out of the tank and refill it with new and clean water. An annual flushing and scrubbing of the tank, its tubing and other parts can prevent the recurrence of this issue.
What to do if your water heater is dead?
At some point all water heaters go bad, beyond restoration. The truth is, they are made to last only 10 years (15 if you are lucky). And sooner or later you will need to replace it. But, fear not! Water heaters are actually not that expensive, compared to many other big ticket items around the house. I had mine replaced for $950 total, including labor, materials and hauling away old tank! So the question becomes – what do you get if you need to replace the whole unit – gas or electric, storage tank or tankless, what brand, etc. We’ve created a detailed guide on water heater installation prices which answers ALL those questions and list material and labor costs for most types of units.
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So for the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a small runoff coming from my water heater. There hasn’t been a drop in the performance of it, but I think it should be looked at regardless. As you said, it could be caused by corrosion which is what I’m leaning towards. Regardless of what the problem is, I’m going to for sure have a professional come out and fix it for me.
Thanks for explaining how a clogged flue or vent could cause your water heater to work inefficiently. That definitely sounds like a job for professional technicians. My dad can’t seem to find out why he has been showering with tepid water for the last few weeks, so I’ll be sure to advise him to go reach out to reputable water heater repair services to have a look at his system.
Hi, I just installed brand new indirect hot water heater and now (only hot water) hot water has slightly yellow color?
Adam,
I sometimes get yellow / brown water … it’s most likely iron in water from your town. If it doesn’t go away after few hours, could be something with your water heater… but most likely its the city water …
It’s not the town water as I have my own well water, and it has been now couple of weeks since I put in the brand new indirect hot water heater. It’s defiantly the hot water heater as the cold water is perfectly fine. Any idea what it could be with a brand new unit? No one seams to have any clue as to what it could be.
Ok I have a small hot water tank it only has 1 element it went out so I replaced it turned everything back on then we heard the pressure valve leaking and steaming so I replaced the thermostat it did it again so I turned it down to the lowest setting and waited and did it again it’s getting really hot but it is not throwing any breakers or the reset button on the thermostat I’m at a loss I’m confused on what the problem is if anyone can help me please
Tim,
Maybe you should also try replacing the pressure valve. Maybe the heating element is a “wrong model” … or the control board is broken. I know with all these replacements, you could have completely replaced the whole unit.
Hello, I hired a plumbing company to install a new hot water tank on Monday, 12/12/18. The next morning, I went to shower and the water in the shower was cold. After letting it run for about 10 minutes it was maybe “luke warm.” I went downstairs and checked the valves to make sure they had all been turned back on after the install and they were.
Monday morning before the new tank was installed I had a hot shower, now with a new tank I can’t seem to get the temperature up. I went downstairs and tried our other shower, and it was the same thing. The water went from freezing to luke warm after having it run for awhile. All other faucets/sinks in my house get hot just like they used to.
What could cause this to happen when we got a new tank? Nothing else was changed. The plumbing company will not come back out to look at it and is stating it’s not their fault since there is hot water flowing to the bathroom sinks.
I just had a new AO Smith 50 gallon gas water heater installed about 3 months ago and the hex head of the anode rod on top of the tank is rusted. Is there any possibility that the anode rod is good or is the skeptic in me that thinks the head of the anode rod should not be rusted on a new unit correct? Also, even though the tank is bigger than the previous 40 gallon one, it takes far longer for the hot water to arrive at any of the faucets. Once the hot water arrives, it is very hot. I’m pretty sure there were no changes in the pipes under the house, and the only “change” I know of is the addition of an expansion tank. Any ideas why there is a significant increase in wait time for the hot water to make it to the tap?
We definitely don’t have enough hot water right now. I like how you said that the thermostat is probably the problem. Can I just check and fix that myself, or should I hire a pro? I would probably trust a pro more.
Hello. We just got a brand new 50 gallon gas water heater with a mixer at the top. We already had an existing pump for immediate hot water, which seemed to be working well, so we kept that. Since that installation, our plumber has been back five times! Prior to replacing the hot water heater, we had perfect immediate hot water at every faucet in the house. A variety of mistakes were made (the plumber admitted that) on the installation. As a result, we had uneven temperature in our bathrooms, requiring several adjustments to get it to the right temperature. We immediately noticed that our master bath shower and our kitchen faucet were definitely NOT getting immediate hot water. We had to sit and wait for it, something we had never had to do before. Our bathroom sink faucets and other miscellaneous indoor faucets worked fine for immediate hot water. Several visits later, our plumber thought he found a solution to a couple of our problems but has absolutely no explanation as to why we can’t get immediate hot water to our kitchen sink, which seems to be the lone holdout. We also ended up getting a new pump for the immediate hot water (the other one was from 2002), but it doesn’t seem to have solved the problem. Everyone is quite mystified by this one sink not getting immediate hot water. They have checked every avenue they can think of.. What are they missing? We are just stumped and really want to get it fixed. Thanks!
I live in a manufactured home, if someone is taking a hot shower, then the 2nd person takes one the water is like warm. They only take 10 min showers. The hot water heater will kick on 30 minutes later. Is it a timing issue? What causes that
Our Gas Hot water heater is about 10-11 years old. a Couple of years ago we paid a tech to come out and fix it, not sure exactly what he did but the bill was about $400. Had a part installed and cleaned. He came again last year and cleaned/adjusted and it was around $90. The symptoms are it will run around 4 p.m. in the afternoon, but once we’ve had two showers, it stops running and it shuts itself off. The pilot won’t stay lit and it attempts to start and light about 3 times, then it shuts itself down. We’ve left it shut off or unplugged it and tried to plug back in. It never seems to work until after 4 p.m. We know we probably need a new one, but what would cause it to keep shutting off except for around 4 p.m. in the afternoon?
Hi,
During our vacation in August our landlord replaced our furnace and water heating system.
The two months following we noticed a huge increase in water usage on our bill (trippled). No change in our water usage activities, so we were quite shocked.
We asked our landlord if it could have anything to do with the new water heating system, it looked too coincidentally to us that we never had any fluctuations in water usage before and now it has been trippled. She thought it wouldn’t be possible, but I am not convinced.
We had a leaking toilet upstairs, already for months, and she keeps saying that that must have been the problem. Sounds reasonable, only we had already closed the water supply to that toilet months ago to prevent leaking. So in my opinion the trippled water usage is still unsolved and I am still wondering if the new water heater can cause such a sudden increase.
Hope you can help me!
Marlies
Have you checked the meter reading? Take a picture of current reading so you can compare later.
It’s very possible that your landlord hooked up other apartments to your new furnace/water heater system. You should check the pipes – make sure they don’t run to your neighbors apartment.
Basically, for HEATING, there should be ZERO water usage (assuming you have forced hot water / baseboard radiators). Once loops are filled, there is now water in or out – it just circulates.
I also assume your “furnace and water heating system” has a built in tankless water heater. Did you notice a spice in gas/oil usage?
You are absolutely correct – if your shower/water usage habits remain the same, water consumption should remain relatively the same.
Are there sprinklers or do you/your landlord water the grass? That can increase water usage a lot. Also check that outside water spigots/sprinklers are not hooked up to your pipes.
PS – my theory will go out the window, if you are renting the whole house (ie – no other tenants in the building).
Let me know what you find out.
Leo
Just got a brand new electricity water heater put in and the water doesn’t get as hot or stay warm long enough to fill a tub. Dk what to do.
Kimberly, maybe your tank is too small (i assume it’s 40 gallons), and electric tanks don’t heat up water as fast as gas. Basically as you run hot water into your tub, tank refills with cold water, which is then sent down the pipes. If it’s not heated up fast enough, it will come out cold.
I have a 50 gallon tank, and when I fill up my (large) tub, water also becomes pretty cold toward the end.
Try to increase water temp on the tank thermostat, so your hot water is HOTTER when you begin to fill up the tub.
There aren’t many options (if raising tank temp doesn’t help) except for trying to return the tank and getting a bigger one (50-75 gallons).
Basically if you have more than 2 people in the household, 40 gallons tank is too small.
Good luck
Leo,
My hot water heater burners only turn on when the dial is at the hottest setting. Any other setting the pilot only remains lit and minimally heats the water. Any idea what the problem is? I know its dangerous for kids and also expensive. Thanks!
Justin,
There may be a problem with your gas valve on the water tank. Is it still under warranty? I’m not sure it’s “dangerous”. Sometimes these valves have a stuck membrane, and kinda stop working. You really can’t fix that*, so if the valve is a problem, it needs to be replaced.
* In most cases (99%) attempting to fix a stuck membrane fails.
Good luck
HELP! Our gas is out and I need to know if i can somehow plug in our gas tank water heater to electric? Is there a plug to make it electric or does it HAVE to have gas? We are cold showering it!! need to know what to do! thanks so much!
Leslie,
You cannot connect GAS water heater to electricity. It does not have necessary parts.
The only thing I can recommend is to have an electric water tank installed (you would need appropriate 230V circuit) or to have gas re-connected. 2nd is simpler and probably cheaper in short and long run.
Good luck
We just built a new home,1700 sq feet split plan, We hooked up the hot water heater, tried it out but only get constant hot water in the master tub. The hall bath on the other end of the home only gets hot water for the tub for about 1 minute then turns cold. If we turn it off for 2-3 minutes and turn it back on, it heats up for about another minute and turns cold again. It is so frustrating. No hot water to the sinks and low pressure to the sinks. We have unscrewed the lines under the sink and we get lots of water pressure directly from the lines. Wr are tired of taking 1 minute showers and have asked 2 plumbers and they can’t figure it out. We have a 50 gal electric tank. Any suggestions??
Tonya,
Low pressure in sinks may indicate blockage in water lines from copper to faucet.
1 minute hot water in showers may be the result of cold water feed coming from somewhere, OR problem with the valve. Which brand valve do you have? You cna try testing by disconnecting shower mixer valve, and putting on a brass garden valve on HOT water line in the hall bath, just to make sure that hot water in pipes is actually hot.
If you have separate valves for hot/cold water in hall bath, then there may be cold water coming from somewhere else.
Best of luck.
I’m in a rental house and the hot water tank is in a closet in the bathroom. Whenever I run the hot water, I smell a little whiff of unburnt gas is that common or is there a problem?
I’m also wondering whether it’s safe to run a electric heater in that room if there is the occasional whiff of gas, any ideas out there?
Unfortunately, this house will be torn down to make condos in a couple of years so the landlord is not terribly keen on fixing things so I can’t just ask them to get it checked.
Spirit, if you smell gas, it definitely NOT safe! Call your Gas Company 1st, then landlord, but make sure Gas inspector looks at things BEFORE landlord “fixes” anything.
It’s not safe to run space heater nearby.
If there is in fact a gas leak, Gas company will FORCE the landlord to make necessary repairs – it’s a safety issue – not optional…
Sorry for not replying right away.
Good luck
I have very low hot water pressure coming out , nothing is leaking or popping nothing .. So what can I try to do>???
gas storage heater,hot water not reaching the upstairs tap (not as hot as downstairs)
I live in a modular home and lately when I use outside water I lose all water from hot water tank. No problems until about 6 months ago. Tank was replaced 3 years ago so wondering what it could be
Tom – what do you mean by “when I use outside water”?
I would test the pressure in the tank AND pressure relief valve – maybe there is not enough COLD water going into tank, which in turn prevent hot water from flowing out. I would start by examining cold water intake and how it is connected to “outside water”
Please describe the “outside water” so i can help you further.
Sincerely, Leo
Probably blockage in pipes / shower hose…
I just got a new hot water heater installed and when I turn on the hot water nothing comes out. At first water came out but it was cold. Now, there’s nothing coming out at all. ? H E L P!
You should call the installers (assuming it was recently done since you said new). This should be warranty work.
We have an electric hot water tank
My husband thinks one of the elements is burned out
How can I tell which one and how do I replace it
We have just tried to turn on the water at pour cabin after the system being drained and shut down for the winter. Water flows into the electric hot water tank but none comes out. we filled the tank until water came out of the overflow into the drip pan below. Is there any type of safety valve or anything that could be preventing water carving the tank? when we disconnected the exit pipe and put a screwdriver into the opening there is definitely something obstructing the exit connection. Any ideas what could be wrong?
My mobile home has (nylon tubes?) Instead of pipes and the hot water tube is leaking where it attaches to the shower. I’ve no idea how to fix it. I am on a fixed income and can’t afford a plumber. Can you please help?
Deborah, These tubes must be PEX … they are commonly used instead of copper, because they are flexible and don’t need soldering.
Fixing them is not difficult – i recommend watching a few videos on youtube how to work with PEX. you can buy a few parts and a crimper tool at home depot… you can later return the crimper… or rent it … it should cost no more than $30 – $50 to fix most leaks (in parts + tool rental)
Good luck
I have a gas tankless water heater however when I take a shower and I turn the valve on to hot water the water only comes out boiling hot it doesn’t come out warm there’s no in between temperature it’s either boiling hot or cold. How do I regulate the temperature when I’m taking a shower. The water comes out too hot.
Frank,
#1 – your water heater temperature is set too high – adjust it down and see how that works for you.
#2 – the problem is in your valve MIXING mechanism … is it a Symmons valve? if so, there is lots of info online how to fix that … I did this myself – about $30 in parts on amazon, and you will need to buy or rent a “bed removal” tool form Home Depot, etc … I will be posting a video of this soon, but you can find plenty of info on youtube…
Good luck
Turn your water off and disconnect the nylon hose use a brand new razor knif and make a clean straight cut on the nylon hose and reconnect. It’s easy to cut off kilter that causes it to not have a good connection
I just moved into a new house everything completely renovated and new at first one section of the house got hot water but the other two sections of the house had only cold water (house split into three sections for myself and my two sisters) the plumber came and set the water heater and we got clips to control the time. Only the sinks got hot water in all sections the shower only got hot water in the first section and Luke warm in the other sections the plumber moved around the knobs and changed a part on them because he said it was clogged now we get warm water in the middle of the day but cold in the morning and at night. What can I do at this point we really need at least warm water to shower in and I have tried everything from changing the times to turning it on without a timer even with it running all day the water is only hot once during midday. Landlord says it’s because of the solar but I thought that would help with the hot water please help
We have tankless water heater that is not getting hot water to any of the sink faucets in house and we had to take shower heads apart to get hot water in the showers. This is a recent problem. Does that mean tankless is going bad? Pipes are clogged? Help!
Jennifer, it could be many things.
Is your tankless heater GAS or ELECTRIC?
Does water heater get warm?
Does ANY water flow when you turn on HOT water in faucets / showers?
Try this – turn on HOT water in all faucets and showers, and if your heater is ELECTRIC, go outside and see if meter is spinning at an increased rate. If gas, turn off other gas appliances, and go listen to the gas meter – you will hear hissing sound of gas flowing, if your water heated is using much gas.
If you don’t see increase in electric use or don’t hear gas flowing, something is wrong with either heating element / burner, or control boards.
If water is not flowing, it could be either SUPPLY problem (water not getting to the heater) … perhaps someone shut off water supply … or pipes problem AFTER the heater. Honestly though, clogged water pipes is VERY RARE.
You most likely will need a specialist to check it out.
Good luck, Leo
Electric water heater tank is hot to the touch. Is this dangerous?
Jamie – it’s not good – water tanks are insulated, so it should not be hot to touch … I recommend contacting a specialist very soon.
Hi! I have an electric water heater. It has worked fine until recently. There is enough hot water in the morning for two showers. But by the time we get home from work & school it’s only luke warm. There is no other water being ran for the whole day. I checked the tank & there are no leaks. What could be causing this?
Holly,
It could be bad heating elements. These tend to go out often. I think they are “made to die” after a few years, so you’d have to buy new ones…. Try replacing these. They are not expensive… and you can most likely return it (if it’s from Lowe’s or Home Depot)…
Good luck
Gradually it has been taking longer (like minutes) for our water to get warm to all of our faucets (kitchen, skins, and showers). Before it would heat up within a minute or so. It also seems like the water is not hot enough. What could be the problem? We have a gas heater, the pilot is on and the thermostat is at the max.
I’ve noticed that the water tends to be either too hot or too cold when I am taking a shower. I didn’t realize that it could mean that the thermostat is not working properly. It’s been a problem for a few weeks now so I will have to talk to my husband about it to see if it is the thermostat or something else.
Hi, we have an electric water heater installed under our stairs, I only noticed today that the exterior surface of the tank is quite hot, is this normal?
My hot water heater is in the garage. The temperature has dropped to 25 degrees. We have already replaced the thermostats and element. Worked fine until the cold set in. The water is luke warm.
David,
Try CAREFULLY draining some water from tank (from pressure relief valve) and measure the temp of the water (USE GLOVES to not burn yourself).
This will tell you if water in the tank even gets hot… regardless of garage temp (25 degrees is not THAT cold) water in tank should be hot … not luke warm … so something is probably with thermostat / heating element … i Know you replaced them, but those new parts could be defective… try taking them back to store, and replace them.
ALSO
are your water lines INSULATED?
specifically hot water pipe, going from heater to the house? You can be loosing temperature in those pipes.
However, once water starts running, you shouldn’t loose that much heat…
After I’m away for a few days and return home my hot water is only Luke warm (at best) After i run the water for15-20 minutes it starts to warm up. It usually takes 2-3 day for it to return to normal. What’s my problem?
Hey got a question I have a 40 gallon gas hot water heater water gets hot but takes like 4 or 5 hours after 2 showers could this be the thermostat we just put it in not long ago ???? Please help!
My water heater isn’t even a year old yet, and I don’t have any of the above problems, but I have a slight concern. My water heater feels warm, and it’s indoors, my AC/Heat is not on, but I can feel heat hitting my face from the water heater itself. Is this normal? I’ve never encountered this with any other water heater before. Should I be concerned?
I have a 2 year old hot water heater. Off warranty.
Over the last 5 months, I have had to keep adjusting the temperature control valve hotter and hotter to get adequate hot water.
If I turn the dial back to pilot and then bring it back to the hot temp setting this seems to work- but only for a few days- Then I have to do this again. If I got up a bit on the heat level this holds for a few weeks or a so, but then again the water is not hot enough. I have to reset it as above, but then a couple days later I either do that again, or o up a notch which buys e a few weeks. .
I am now on the hottest setting- Nowhere else to go. I can keep resetting it, but the temp keeps dropping off.
I’m guessing a thermostat problem?
Replace the gas valve/thermostat piece?
Advise would be welcome.
Only Air is coming out of the water taps, sometimes i see black substance coming out. Please help
Question: We just bought our home, so no experience with water heaters. The water takes forever to get hot (a good 5 minutes or longer). Doesn’t seem right and also very wasteful. How can we fix this or diagnose the issue?
THANKS in advance for any help!
My hot water heater stopped working so I shut it down. Can I use the washing machine on cold water without destroying something else?
Frankie, yes you can use washing machine on cold, no problem. In fact many recommend using cold water in washing machine. Its not going to damage your water heater
I installed a new 40 gallon electric water heater. After plumbing it in I opened the water to completely fill the tank. Left the tank to heat up for an hour, trouble is tap water is not hot maybe room temperature. The hot water tank outlet copper pipe feels hot 140f so I lowered it to 120f . I left the hot water tap open for a good 10 mins but no hot water. Except on one tap only the water did come out hot for a minute but after that nothing but Luke warm water. Any suggestions?
It’s nice to know that rusty colored water is caused by a dissolved anode. My mother-in-law mentioned something about that the other and was panicking. I’ll have to let her know what the problem is.
Week ago the. Hot water world get extremely hot now there’s no hot water.
Seeking HELP!
A week ago the hot water would so hot it made it hard to adjust the water when showering. Now there is no hot and humid water.
Seeking HELP!
Installed new 50 gallon electric water heater two weeks ago. Used to be able to fill our garden style tub, but now get about half that. Or… a kid could bath in a smaller bath tub in a lukewarm bath, and there’s only minimal warm water left. It seems to heat up okay, but we have the thermostats set high – around 150! Just don’t have the AMOUNT of hot water we had from our old one. Also, I’ve had to hit the reset button twice during the past two weeks. Ideas?
N Brown,
Maybe you got a defective unit? If you bought it at Home Depot / Lowe’s i believe you can return / exchange it. Try doing that or get a different brand…
new heater should not work so crappy
Just installed an 80 gallon whirlpool electric water heater.
Sometimes I’ll try a faucet and get hot water then later in the day or the next day I’ll try the same faucet and the water is cold and will not heat up.
We had the plumber out and he can’t figure it out.
Any ideas
We recently had repairs completed at home and I notice our water heater tank has a hairline crack on the side. There is not a leak, and the water heater continues to work well. Is this something I should be concerned about?
My hot water heater isn’t working and I’m trying to get it fixed. Thanks for the advice about how too hot of water or too cold of water could be a sign of a broken thermostat. Another thing to consider is to get a plumber to inspect your hot water heater regularly to make sure it is running correctly.
Hi,
Would appreciate an advice a lot.
Just moved to the US couple of months ago and being around the world a lot I’m a bit surprised with the way a gas water heater behaves in my house here.
Why does it turn on for COLD water? Is this the way it’s supposed to be or is this a malfunction?
I actually like my cold water cold, not lukewarm. And I cannot think about any logical reason to make devices warm the cold water up, aside from getting more gas consumed 🙂 so what’s the point?
Or is this some kind of a local US standard?
If yes – how the hell can I turn this thing off and make my heater heat only HOT water and leave my COLD water cold?:)
Thanks a lot))
I tried to drain my heater but the sediment was so built up it was very slow. We finally just turned the drain valve off but then it continued to leak in small drips for several days. I discovered that the drain valve washer was cracked and replaced it. That stopped the leak but then when I turned the valve on and off again the leak started back up. Also, we noticed that the upstairs shower started leaking. This same thing happened when we first drained the tank a few days ago but the shower drip stopped after a few hours. Now it is happening again. Why does the shower leak as a result of our turning on the drain valve? Why does the drain valve still leak even after we changed the washer?
I agree with you that two of the most common problems with hot water heaters are that they produce water that is either not hot enough or too hot. Thanks for the great suggestion buddy!
What if you have hot water and pressure but not to a specific area?
Cameron,
Do you mean some of your faucets get good pressure and some don’t?
If so, something is wrong with your piping. Maybe there is a pressure reducer somewhere
We just installed a new water heater. I’ve noticed that, with the new heater, I have to turn the shower faucet farther to the left to get the water hot. With the old heater, which was about 10-12 years old, I only had to maybe turn the knob 10 degrees to the left, and the water would be really hot. But with the new heater, 10 degrees left is only mildly warm, and I have to turn it, like 45 degrees left to get it the same hotness level as before. Is this normal?
Check your connection of the hot water and the safety valve.. Blue cap is hot water outlet, red cap, safety valve… Or u need to adjust your temperature
Hello I have a gas water heater and makes a boom noise when we run hot water inside the house or when we wash close . I’m assuming it’s the heater turning on? Also the pilot shut off on it own.
Diego,
There is something wrong with the gas heater part. Usually when heater goes on, there is a sound, but definitely not “boom” … how old is your tank?
I would recommend contacting a local plumber – repair would cost somewhere between $200 and $300 … maybe a bit more …
If your tank is old, it’s probably better to replace it (costs $900-1300 depending on your location and type of tank u get)
I would not want to risk flooding basement or even worse – fire .
Good luck, Leo
My shower goes from hot hot hot to freezing in half the time it use to, why do u think it could be?
Amanda,
Does it take long time to heat up the water?
My guess is your tank has a lot of settlements on the bottom… I recommend connecting a water hose and draining the tank. If you cannot drain it outside, get a short hose and drain into 5 Gallon buckets. But be careful – water will be very hot.
Before you drain the tank, make sure you put it on pilot, and let hot water run in sinks / bath tub for some time, so you don’t scald yourself when draining.
Also SHUT OFF cold water intake before draining – otherwise your tank will be refilling.
Once you drain, turn on cold water intake and put setting back to warm (i don’t recommend hot).
Good luck and be careful.
I am having a problem with my water heater not producing cold water. When I turn my sinks or showers on the water is cold for a few seconds then heats up even though they are on the coldest setting . I have a electric heater in garage
Chris,
1) Hot water heater does not produce COLD water.
2) Even on coldest settings, water heater still heats up water – but to a lower temperature.
3) When you turn on HOT water, you get cold water for few seconds, because the water in the pipes between your sink/shower and the tank cools off, when not in use. Then harm/hot water starts coming in – this is normal.
Other than that – I’m not really sure what your question is. Do you want hot water or do you NOT want hot water? If not, just turn off the heater (either switch on the heater or turn of the circuit breaker for the heater, in you electric panel.
Hope this helps, Leo.
My mom reported the same thing. She also said the floor was warm. It was a slab leak and the leaking hot water was warming up the cold water pipes.
John,
Why does your mom have cold water pipes on the floor? They are usually attached to basement ceilings.
We’re in Texas. Not too many basements around here.
If it was a slab leak, how did they determine that? What was done to repair it? How expensive was it? Is it covered by insurance?
December, January and February my hot water tank pilot wouldn’t stay on, hence causing consistent cold water and no heat (because my forced air system uses hot water to heat my apartment); when I looked at me natural gas bills for the above 3 months, it shows that my natural gas usage increased by double. When the new tank was installed the gas usage went down again.
How is it possible for my natural gas usage to double if I was getting no hot water and heat for 3 months?
Thanks,
Randy
Randy
My first question is why did you wait 3 months to replace the tank, if you had no heat and no hot water?
As to increase in your gas usage – often gas companies ESTIMATE usage based on previous years data, and charge you for that. Now that you don’t use heat, the gas usage naturally goes down.
CHECK your meter, and compare to billing statements. Gas companies OFTEN do not do meter readings and just estimate usage. Make sure you are not getting overcharged.
Good luck
My water heater is leaking hot water from an exhaust like pipe that comes out the side of the house, leaving a pool of water in the grass. My water heater is in my gargage on a cement platform. Also, my water bill increased $40 since noticing it. It used to drip now its a faint streaming leak. What is going on and is this a concern?
Hope,
Is it a valve in the middle or on the bottom?
The bill went up, because hot water is leaking out, and tank needs to heat up more water than normally.
The valve at the bottom is a drain valve.
The valve in the middle (closer to top) with a hose or pipe attached to it is Pressure Relief valve. If middle one is leaking, the valve is broken (most likely) or your water is too hot (very rare occurrence).
You most likely NEED to replace the valve and it costs only $15 at home depot/lowes, etc.
Here is our guide on how to fix/replace broken pressure relief valve.
I’m a homeowner now and one of the things that I am wanting to figure out is how to work on my water heater. There are so many things that go into this and I have no idea where to start. This helped me a ton and I hope that I can figure this out before I have problem with it.
I have a Britony iIT water heater in the upstairs shower room, and just recently the cold water inlet has blown the incoming Pushfit pvc pipe 3 times! Each time in exactly the same place! Just below the Pushfit connection that is attached to the copper tail! I have spoken to people and they haven’t got a clue! It happens shortly after the shower has been used, but it’s random, and I check the pipe every day and there is no bulging, and then bang! Its weird!
My water heater is stored up above in my attic. Recently I had water dripping down from the ceiling. It turns out that it’s the water heater. I’ve turned it off, but I need to get it back on. I’m just a little worried about it leaking again, I need it fixed.
I have a gas hot water heater and all of a sudden I have no hot water pressure. The cold water pressure is fine. I have drained it twice to try and flush out any sediment, but that doesn’t seem to be working.
Any ideas?
Angela,
Is cold water pressure “fine” out of the faucet, or going into your heater tank? Cold water out of the faucet is not connected to hot water heater in any way, so it should be fine “always”. Maybe something is wrong with pipes or valves after hot water leaves the tank.
When did this issue start? Was it sudden or slow occurring?
This has happened to me it came on all at once
I have a gas tank, it’s leking around the shut off valve, when I turn the hot side off it don’t leak, what would be the best way to fix it
Hi Robert… off the top of my head – replace the shut-off valve (about $15), and use new silicon tape, to make sure that seal on the thread is good.
Hope this helps.
Oh, and don’t forget to turn the heater off, and draining the water prior to replacing the valve.
Robert – I’d say replace the valve… but it’s strange …
Just to clarify – which shut-off valve? Cold water in?
I have a leak around the pressure relief valve, on the hot side, it only leak when the hot water to the tank is on
my water heater is outside under my window normal outdoor temp is 70-90’s
a low hum engine noise starts about 3AM and lasts for 4 hrs do you know what this is and can I change the timer? to come on at 8AM?
FAYE
There should be no engine noise coming from water heater. In fact there isn’t even a water circulator on water heaters … those are on boilers, for baseboard heat. That is – unless you have power vent… but being outside, you don’t need power vent at all.
The only sound you should hear is the burner going on and off, and it should not be that loud.
Maybe noise is from your neighbours?
Or maybe that is infact sound of gas burner. But it should not go on for 4 hours. Water heaters have no timer. There is a temperature setting, and burner goes on/off automatically to keep temp more or less equal. Try lowering your temp setting a little.
I have a brand new power vent gas water heater. Ever since it was installed over a month ago the water temperature has been scalding hot. The installation guy said the thermostat setting is where he always sets it at and he’s done hundreds. I’ve had to turn it down several times and it’s better but still very hot. Now we’re having an issue with it running out of hot water. The old one had neither problem. The pilot kept going out which the new one does not.
Jim
Try calling the manufacturer to see what’s going on. Could be some kind of defect.
Also try adjusting temperature control dial. There is a WHITE mark on the dial, that indicates default temp. Put temp dial in default position and see what happens.
Don’t run your heater TOO hot – it will shorten tank life significantly.
The hot water coming from our new electric water heater smells like a petroleum product. We are on a well. The water from the well has no odor or taste. It is something in the tank. Does anyone have experience with this?
Burners won’t stay on. I pushed the reset button, lit pilot , moved button from pilot to on, moved temp gauge on required setting, 1 notch past warm between warm and hot. Burners start up and run for about 15/20 min. before shutting down again. What would cause this? Could it be the thermocouple? , dirty burners? Any suggestion?
Water heater keeps going out it will light and stay lite for a day some times 3 days and sometimes a week but sooner are later it goes back out.
It takes a long time to get hot water from our taps – several gallons. We live in a house on a slab with in floor heat, so I am surprised that the water takes so long to heat up.
I had a sooting problem and after I cleaned the burner orfice and burner the soot problem stopped. However, when the burner is not on the orifice is still weeping gas and there is a yellow flame from it. The pilot light is also lit. When I shut the gas off from the thermostate it takes about a minute for the gas to run out or t/c at the pilot light to react and shut the gas off. Is the orifice suppose to support a flame or is the control suppose to cut the gas off? Is this the source of the soot? This Sears water heater is about 18 years.
My hot water heater stop working how do I find out where is the switch to turn it on?
Electric Water Heater: 02-28-15
In my 3-adult household ( 2 showers taken an hour apart before 8:00 a.m. and 1 shower after 7:00 p.m.). Our 5yr. old 40-gallon electric water heater has went from 20 minutes (standard manufactures temperature settings) to barely producing 5 minutes hot water (with water temperature at maximum settings) within this past year. When making my morning coffee today; “sulfur odor” coming from faucet (all faucets are producing).
I live in the country, so I checked with my neighbors (6 homes) to see if their water was secreting the “sulfur odor” as well. No odor smell but could be camouflaged by water filter systems (we do not have this item). After extensive internet researching/reading, I found most highly recommend contacting both my PWS – Public Water Supply (PWSD #2) as well as my local counties Health department.
In hopes of a quick response and spend all day on the hold; with PWS and Health department; Monday; I wanted to ask the following.
Is it possible, that all my water issues; stemming from the lack of hot water production as well as causing the faucets to secret the “sulfur odor”; from the electric water heater (whole system) breaking or just corroded with “hard water calcium deposits”?
Our domestic water coming into our electric hot water is very cold well water.Does this cause the water heater to work harder?
I have very low hot water pressure coming out , nothing is leaking or popping nothing .. So what can I try to do>???
My hot water heater stopped working so I shut it down. Can I use the washing machine on cold water without destroying something else?
Mine is the same, did you fix yours?