Water heater problem again again and still

old · Jul 26, 2010

Well got up to no hot water this morning. Yep lower element burned out again. Figured I would do as one guy said and took the top one out and put it in the lower hole. Well by doing so I either broke the top element by taking it out and putting it back in or it was bad in the first place because I have hot water but not for long. Oh well I'll pick up another new element to put in the lower hole tomorrow. Want to get one from another store but the other store only has the 4500W or the 3000W ones so can I use a 4500W one in place of the 3800W one or will that just cause me even more head aches??
Thanks

Cas · Jul 26, 2010

Hey Rich,
Do not worry some little chinese kid still loves you.

36F30 · Jul 26, 2010

Time for a new A.O. Smith high effiency. Should pay for itself quickly and outlast most of us.

old · Jul 26, 2010

Would be nice if I only had the $$ to do that. This one is still under warranty so that is #1 not an option and #2 there is no money to buy any thing either

Anonymous-0 · Jul 27, 2010

Hey Rich, Could it be the flux capacitor is putting out too many jigawatts thus causing the elements to fail?

On a serious note; do you have a water softener on your house and is the water in your area "hard" because that can mean a short life for any hot water heater and a lot of your plumbing fixtures. Check that relief valve to ensure that it's operating properly. It's not going to cause your elements to go bad if it is, but other things involved with your elements and the control valve I think can and will.

Are you sure that the breakers, relays, wiring etc. going to the water heater are not faulty? Is there a possibility that there is a surge in the power? If your fence charger is plugged in close or on the same circuits that your house on on, like in the garage, back porch etc that the surge in the current that it draws can wreak havoc with some appliances, tv's, computers and phones.

Just a few thoughts to some things you may want to check out.

Best of Luck with getting it figured out.
Jim

showcrop · Jul 27, 2010

Old, I suggest again that you get low watt density elements even if you have to travel a little to get them. You could be hours and dollars ahead by now!

joninmo · Jul 27, 2010

Check to see if there is scale in the bottom of the heater. May need to clean it out. Careful if you check the relief valve, may leak later. Good Luck.

CAROGATOR · Jul 27, 2010

Still under warranty= time to scream until they replace whole unit. Next thing you know, you may wake up to a fire.

old · Jul 27, 2010

Lime was cleaned out both the first time I replaced the element about 2 months ago and then each time since. This one is like the 3rd or 4th one in less then 2 months.

old · Jul 27, 2010

Wish I could find such a thing in my area but in this area of Misery your lucky to find toilet paper LOL

Fred Martin · Jul 27, 2010

If you look in the hole and have a bunch of sediment in the bottom, now would be a good time to unhitch it and take it outside and use a garden hose and a coat hanger with a loop bent on the end (so if it has a plastic liner you won't punch a hole in it) and clean and flush until you get most all that stuff out of the bottom. I've had it build up around the heater element and that will burn it out real quick. I'd put the same size element in cause the thermostat and breaker might have to be changed too. 4500 watts would be up toward the maximum for #12 wire...4500 watts divided by 240 volts equals 18.75 amps. #12 wire max. is 20 amps according to charts and experienced lips. ohfred

old · Jul 27, 2010

Yep we has hard water so hard that if you boil a gal. of water to long you have the throw the pan away because all that is left in it is a build up of lime 3 inches thick. Well it is not really that bad but yes we have hard water. That said when I got up this morning I checked ohms on the what was top element and found it to read 15 ohms which says it is good. Maybe last night when I went to take my bath I had not waited long enough for the 50 gal tank to heat all of it up so I ran out fast then what would have been normal

old · Jul 27, 2010

Replacement of the whole unit only happens if and or when the tank leaks in that warranty time. Things like thermostats and elements being replaceable parts are only covered as replacement type thing

Janicholson · Jul 27, 2010

Different source, get your money back. Have it shipped to you! Jim They are bad products (unless there is any possible chance that the tank is going dry!! Jim

old · Jul 27, 2010

Ya no way that the tank is going dry. Yes at times has some air in it but not enough that either one of the elements is out of water. That is also why I put the top element in the lower hole this time to see if it to burns out. Each time one goes it either has a hole in it or a missing area in it but most blow a hole in the side. Oh by the way if I do get another one can I get by with say a 4500 watt one when the heater calls for a 3800 watt one. Only one place in town has the 3800s.
Thanks

old · Jul 27, 2010

I have cleaned it out a couple times. I use a shop vac. with a piece of pipe taped to the end and have it pretty clean inside. My big problem is there is only one place in town that has the 3800 watt elements and that is also the place I keep getting them from and about every 2 weeks I am replacing them which is starting to get very very old

Anonymous-0 · Jul 27, 2010

Old, you might have a talk with the warranty department that keeps trying to patch up your water heater. Sounds like it needs replaced.

If you keep that dog and it goes out of warranty, on your way to the VA hospital in Columbia you could stop in Jefferson City and buy two new elements and two new thermostats. I have one rental house that requires a new water heater elements every six months or so but if I replace everything it will go a couple years.

My favorite place is Riback at 912 West McCarty.

Fred Martin · Jul 27, 2010

I believe I would be getting a new thermostat control...apparently yours isn't working. Nothing else I can think of that would cause this problem. If it ran for years with the 3800 watt element and this control and now it doesn't...the only other thing it could be is the control. A heating element can be tested with an ohm meter, preferably a digital one cause they don't have very much resistance but it will have some. They're just a big resistor like on your tractor, the control just controls the amount it heats the water. If it doesn't show continuity...it is burnt in two somewhere. Thats my two cents worth. ohfred

Janicholson · Jul 27, 2010

no, it wii not carry the load. Make sure the tank is attached to the ground wire, Or Neutral if it has no 4th wire If this is not done, they can erode easily. Jim

old · Jul 27, 2010

I'll go back there in just a moment and make sure the ground/neutral is hooked up good. This is a 3 wire system so no 4th wire to worry about or hook up to old a mobile home for the 4 wire system.
I did check the lower element which yesterday was the top element and on the ohm meter I got 15 ohms so it should be good I may have just jumped the gun as to having hot water last night

36 Coupe · Jul 27, 2010

You dont need those high wattage elements.

Water heater problem again again and still

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