Hot water heater doesnt seem to work well

[TheLastWord]

Install this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233188538729

The best among the brass ones.

Be sure to remove when your heater dies and reinstall on new one. No new WH valve can compare.

That plus a new anode rod will extend the life and performance.

The OP's may be too old for this however.

 

[wag123]

Check the thermostats. You may only be heating water in the top half of the tank. When the tank is full of cold water, the upper thermostat will take priority and heat up the top portion of the water to the setting of the thermostat. Once that temperature has been reached, the upper thermostat will then flip power down to the lower thermostat. The lower thermostat switch will close and heat up the bottom portion of the tank until the water is heated to the setting of that thermostat. At this point the tank will be full of hot water. The upper thermostat needs to send power to the lower thermostat and the lower thermostat needs to send power to the lower heating element. If the thermostats don't do their job, the lower element won't heat. And only the water in the top half will be hot.

I had the same problem. The bottom/lower thermostat was bad. It was under $10 at Home Depot. FYI it does NOT need to be an OEM part.

 

[joegreen]

So i flushed the unit today. A bit of rock like chunks came out but it only took less than a minute to run clean. I cant seem to find where the thermostats are located. My access covers to the heating elements are fairly small and everything ive seen online shows large access covers with the thermostat above the heating element.

 

[bobdoo]

Seriously, watch this:

 

[mk378]

The thermostat will be above the element, you need to move the insulation to see it. Be sure the power is off before reaching in there.

 

[hrv]

Question about the anode rod. I have a Reem 40 gallon gas hot water tank... It is about 3 years old. I know how to change the rod...have not done it yet on this...My question is my unit is in the laundry room and you dont have the clearance to remove the rod because of the ceiling. I have seen replacement ones that are flexible so you can install them without making a hole in the ceiling to install it...Has anyone used this type anode rod???

 

[wag123]

Question about the anode rod. I have a Reem 40 gallon gas hot water tank... It is about 3 years old. I know how to change the rod...have not done it yet on this...My question is my unit is in the laundry room and you dont have the clearance to remove the rod because of the ceiling. I have seen replacement ones that are flexible so you can install them without making a hole in the ceiling to install it...Has anyone used this type anode rod???

I have. They work fine.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

So i flushed the unit today. A bit of rock like chunks came out but it only took less than a minute to run clean. I cant seem to find where the thermostats are located. My access covers to the heating elements are fairly small and everything ive seen online shows large access covers with the thermostat above the heating element. View attachment 142632

Did you repeatedly turn the feed water on/off in order to dislodge grime?
Did the amount drained seem to match the capacity of the heater?

 

[TheLastWord]

Question about the anode rod. I have a Reem 40 gallon gas hot water tank... It is about 3 years old. I know how to change the rod...have not done it yet on this...My question is my unit is in the laundry room and you dont have the clearance to remove the rod because of the ceiling. I have seen replacement ones that are flexible so you can install them without making a hole in the ceiling to install it...Has anyone used this type anode rod???

The segmented types work fine, like four 10" sections. I replaced mine at 5 years and it was totally corroded, had the same height restriction. Be sure to get the right type for your water characteristics, aluminum, zinc , or magnesium. Call your water company for advice.

 

[Pablo]

No water company. Well.

I'm thinking of dropping in a segmented type.

I have a water softener and run KCl. What type and where?

TIA

 

[wag123]

No water company. Well.

I'm thinking of dropping in a segmented type.

I have a water softener and run KCl. What type and where?

TIA

On a well you are better-off using a zinc or aluminum-zinc alloy anode rod. This will reduce or eliminate the rotten egg smell, it did for me.
https://www.bonney.com/2022/02/a-guide-to-sacrificial-anode-rods-and-smelly-water/
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Eau-Smelling-Flexible-Including/dp/B082SFLKHV/

For those of you that are on a municipal water system, the best anode rod to use is magnesium.
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Eau-Smelling-Flexible-Including/dp/B07W7QDDB7/

 

[zzyzzx]

Hook up a hose to the drain, turn the power off, open the drain and you might be surprised how much crud comes out. Might take several rounds of that.

It might be too late for that. Or he might have to try to break up sediment inside the water heater just to get it out.

 

[Pablo]

On a well you are better-off using a zinc or aluminum-zinc alloy anode rod. This will reduce or eliminate the rotten egg smell, it did for me.
https://www.bonney.com/2022/02/a-guide-to-sacrificial-anode-rods-and-smelly-water/
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Eau-Smelling-Flexible-Including/dp/B082SFLKHV/

For those of you that are on a municipal water system, the best anode rod to use is magnesium.
https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Eau-Smelling-Flexible-Including/dp/B07W7QDDB7/

Oh boy.

Seems simple. Isn't.

I have a BradfordWhite 50 gal LPG unit. I love the unit. Really efficient with LP.





I don't see a multipiece one - do you?

THANKS!

 

[wag123]

Oh boy.

Seems simple. Isn't.

I have a BradfordWhite 50 gal LPG unit. I love the unit. Really efficient with LP.





I don't see a multipiece one - do you?

THANKS!

Aluminum/Zinc
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LTAUC3O/
Magnesium
https://www.amazon.com/EZ-FLO-60286-Eastman-Flexible-Magnesium/dp/B09G3L9S17/

 

[Pablo]

They don't make segmented anode rods for Hydrojet water heaters (water heaters where the inlet dip tube doubles as the anode).

This looks like it might work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LTAUC3O/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

 

[joegreen]

Did you repeatedly turn the feed water on/off in order to dislodge grime?
Did the amount drained seem to match the capacity of the heater?

Yes i turned the water on and off a few times but since my heater is in the basement and i have to run the hose outside which is higher than the heater in the basement it will only flush/drain under pressure.

 

[joegreen]

The thermostat will be above the element, you need to move the insulation to see it. Be sure the power is off before reaching in there.

Turns out it doesn’t have the traditional thermostat’s. It has temperature probes that go back to the main circuit board that control when and which heating element turns on.

 

[joegreen]

I ended up taking out both heater elements. They were surprisingly decent looking for being 19 years old. I looked in the tank with a flashlight and saw a bunch of sediment on the bottom. I ended up taking the train valve out and flushing all the sediment out. I then took my wire wheel to the heater elements and cleaned them up. I reinstalled everything and its quite a bit different. Before i ran out of hot water after a 20 minute shower. Now it runs out after a 45 minute shower. I assume cleaning the heater elements had the greatest effect. The dip tube looked fine and was intact when i looked inside.

 

[Pablo]

This looks like it might work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LTAUC3O/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

Changed the anode today and flushed ours. Despite getting in my head before the job, it was quite easy and straight forward.

I had to cut the old one and had to hang on to the lower piece with vise grips while I cut with my Dewalt 20V sawall

 

[Pablo]

The old anode