Hope that works

rrlund · Dec 13, 2011

Doggone electric water heater hasn't been putting out as much hot water as it used to. Figured it must be the bottom element. Turned it off this morning,tried to drain it and short of getting the air compressor in the house to blow the lime back away from the drain valve,it got pretty apparent it wasn't gonna happen. While I was messing around,I pressed the reset above the top element and thought I heard a click down by the bottom one. I turned the power back on and I could hear the bottom element. I got the wifes stethoscope and put it against the plastic guard on the bottom one and I could hear the electricity buzzing in it. The top one didn't sound quite the same,but still,I could hear it.
Guess I'll find out if it's fixed when I take a shower tonight. I don't usually get that lucky,especially with issues of plumbing,but I sure hope that was all that was wrong.

rustyfarmall · Dec 13, 2011

(quoted from post at 12:46:29 12/13/11) Doggone electric water heater hasn't been putting out as much hot water as it used to. Figured it must be the bottom element. Turned it off this morning,tried to drain it and short of getting the air compressor in the house to blow the lime back away from the drain valve,it got pretty apparent it wasn't gonna happen. While I was messing around,I pressed the reset above the top element and thought I heard a click down by the bottom one. I turned the power back on and I could hear the bottom element. I got the wifes stethoscope and put it against the plastic guard on the bottom one and I could hear the electricity buzzing in it. The top one didn't sound quite the same,but still,I could hear it.
Guess I'll find out if it's fixed when I take a shower tonight. I don't usually get that lucky,especially with issues of plumbing,but I sure hope that was all that was wrong.

Several years ago our water heater was doing the same thing and I had also noticed the concrete floor under the heater was always damp. A quick inspection revealed the lower element was badly corroded and water was seeping from around it. I went straight to town and brought home a new water heater. Cured all the problems.

old · Dec 13, 2011

If it has that much lime built up it will trip that reset again soon. I would do my best to get it to drain so you can pull the bottom element out and at least clean out the lime because it sure is not going to get any better on its own and right now you might be able to save the element but later you may need to buy a new one

Frankmn · Dec 13, 2011

When they go bad we don;t drain em, pull the element and quickly replace it while the vacuum is helping you. You get a little wet but not too bad. Of course if you drain it you can spend time and get quite a bit of the lime out.

tomNE · Dec 13, 2011

start making plans quickly.....unless u get it drained an cleaned; ur going to be up the creek without a paddle. i've played the game ur in for 50yrs. the game plan is 'drain the tank once a year for sure' perferably twice and you'll have a long productive relationship with both your elements and your heater. If you don't you'll be playing fulltime maintance man!

Bob Bancroft · Dec 13, 2011

At our previous house where we had an electric water heater, I had a little scooper fashioned with a long handle so I could paw lime out of the element hole every time I replaced the element!

tomturkey · Dec 13, 2011

Drain the water heater take out bottom element and use a wet&dry shop vac to get that lime out. You may indeed need to blowback the lime thru the valve to get it drained.(like you said) Do it now or maybe when it is more convenient like Christmas Eve or New Years Eve Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy new year. gobble

James Williams · Dec 13, 2011

We have very hard water where I live,I finally bought one of thoes self cleaning heaters that I thought was a joke,but it must work,been about 7 years now with no problems.

jimmy

onefarmer · Dec 13, 2011

When first out on my own in a house family owned. I kept a water heater going for years by draining and scooping out the lime through the bottom element opening. Just got it below the element level, reinstalled the element, and go for another year. Finally replaced the heater when it started leaking. Kept it going for more than 10 years.

rrlund · Dec 14, 2011

Mine SAYS self cleaning on it. 8 year warranty. It's about 15 years old now.
We had an old White that was in the house when I was born. That thing was here yet when we remodeled and put this new one in. I don't EVER remember that old one needing a new element. I know I never put one in myself and if Dad would have,you'd have thought I'd remember the cussing.

Hope that works

rrlund

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rustyfarmall

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old

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Frankmn

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tomNE

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Bob Bancroft

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tomturkey

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James Williams

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onefarmer

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rrlund

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