OT water heater back to life

Heyseed · Dec 26, 2014

Thanks for all the suggestions on my failing water heater. I went ahead and replaced everything, the problem was the bottom element. It was sitting in scale and had split/shorted out. Made a big mess draining the 80 gallons, the scale had the valve pretty stopped up. I tried blowing compressed air back through it which would only help for a little bit. Ended up using a bucket and letting a little out of the element hole at a time. Made a paddle that fit through the hole and scooped out as much as I could. Wet sloppy mess, but now it is working fine. Hearing no sound as the new ones heat up made me realize how loud it had become. Happy Hot Water Days

wfw · Dec 26, 2014

I've read that you should remove the mickey mouse drain valve and replace it with a ball valve. it makes it easier to drain and you can get a piece of wire up inside to knock the junk loose inside so it will come out. my drain valve will drain some and then stop. I had a bad element in the bottom also. unfortunately I thought all the water was out but it wasn't. at least the water heater is in the garage so it wasn't to bad of a mess

rrlund · Dec 26, 2014

I duct taped a piece of one inch black plastic pipe in to the hose on my wet/dry shop vac to suck the lime scale out of mine. Got'er cleaned out pretty good.

Chris English · Dec 26, 2014

Now that you have that done. Heres a suggestion to change the anode rod also. I would suspect that it has been eaten away by your water conditions. Since it is gone the water reacts with the metal of the element ( plus it was sitting in all that scale) Was once told the only difference between a 5yr and 10yr warrenty on water heaters is that 10yr heaters have two rods. You will find the anodes are the extra plugged holes on the top. Glad you got it fixed

howdy1960 · Dec 26, 2014

Did the same thing as Randy
Norm

Geo-TH,In · Dec 26, 2014

Next time use a wet/dry shop vac and a plastic hose that fits inside the hole where lower heating element fits.

Then go on line and get a lifetime hi density element that will not burn out in lime. I usually get a size or two smaller heating element.

WGM · Dec 27, 2014

If the heater was full of scale wouldn't it have been better to replace it? Just curious.

Heyseed · Dec 27, 2014

WGM, why replace a $500 water heater that I can fix for less than fifty bucks? There was only a couple inches of scale in the bottom. It took ten years to build up that much so I think I will be OK for a while. Knock Wood!

OT water heater back to life

Heyseed

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wfw

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rrlund

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Chris English

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howdy1960

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Geo-TH,In

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WGM

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Heyseed

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