Hot water heater getting VERY hot all of a sudden today

bgbrown125 · 12-03-2011, 06:19 PM

Greetings
Today, my hot water has become extremely hot. This started today.
Any thoughts on what causes it to essentially heat unregulated? If so, what is the remedy?
My thoughts were around something sticking or maybe the thermostat failing....

Thanks
Barry

PoleCat · 12-03-2011, 06:31 PM

Gas or electric? You're probably right about the stat going south. You may have two seperate stats on a dual element electric WH

bgbrown125 · 12-03-2011, 07:39 PM

The H2O heater is an electric Intertherm 50 gal

sdsester · 12-03-2011, 10:34 PM

Have you bled the crud out of the bottom?

DannyT · 12-03-2011, 10:52 PM

could be a stuck thermostat (usually the bottom one in my experience), or a shorted element. usually after getting very hot water you will get no hot water because it tripped the high limit breaker in the upper thermostat. did you check to see what the thermostats were set at?

ben's plumbing · 12-03-2011, 10:53 PM

how old is heater..

DrHicks · 12-03-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgbrown125

The H2O heater is an electric Intertherm 50 gal

We could speculate exactly what it is, but it's pretty much a given that your thermostat and/or your heating element(s) have gone wonky.

Most electric water heaters have two thermostats and two heating elements. You can replace all of them for about $50. That's what I did with my AO Smith about a year ago. Drained it once, and replaced both thermostats and elements.

bgbrown125 · 12-03-2011, 11:20 PM

It is 11 years old and is fed well water in the NC mountains

bgbrown125 · 12-03-2011, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgbrown125

It is 11 years old and is fed well water in the NC mountains

I have not done anything to it yet. Would I be better off to replace entire heater?

ben's plumbing · 12-03-2011, 11:28 PM

don't know if you want to spend any money on a 11yr old heater..if you can't replace thermostats by your self contractor would cost you 150-250.00 to repair...was it ever drained off the bottom to remove sediment...all have a bearing on it... get cost of new heater verses repair ...

DrHicks · 12-03-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben's plumbing

don't know if you want to spend any money on a 11yr old heater..if you can't replace thermostats by your self contractor would cost you 150-250.00 to repair...was it ever drained off the bottom to remove sediment...all have a bearing on it... get cost of new heater verses repair ...

What kind of warranty would you give, if you were to replace the thermostats and elements? Could you really even give one? I'd think that would put you at an almost guaranteed loss.

sdsester · 12-04-2011, 08:53 AM

My California home was 4,000 sf or so ranch and with one huge water heater plunked in a corner of the garage. It was not far from washer, dryer, and dishwasher but it took hours for cooled down water to get out of the way down the 150 or so feet to the shower heads so you could take a warm or hot shower. And California has horrid hard water that even with flushing of tank water heaters does them in, in about 3 years max.

I finally shifted to Bosch, tankless, on demand, water heaters. Of course, back then, they cost me. There are probably better alternatives. Anyhow one unit went in place to serve the bathrooms. A smaller one provided hot water to the kitchen. They were properly maintained and installed by a real plumber so the 50 year warranties kicked in. Actually all major plumbing on my projects, personal and for others, was installed by Bubba plumbers.

I didn't notice major energy savings some claim with on demand. I had to shift from natural gas to electric just to start. I do know I stopped having to replace thermostats, heating elements or complete water heaters.

I sure saw an immediate dip in water use. And it was great to sleep 15 extra minutes, turn the hot water handle and have an immediate hot water shower. Even with the significant other steaming herself for like an hour or something in the jacuzzi.

Some giant, white monolith miles away in the corner of the garage was not acting up and holding me hostage because it did not feel like boiling water.

bgbrown125 · 12-04-2011, 10:35 AM

I can replace the items discussed. But, I can get a new one for approx $300 w/6 yr warranty and I can install it my self . What do you guys think of that solution.?

Big Stud · 12-04-2011, 10:44 AM

Go for it. I would replace one that old.

Ironlight · 12-04-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgbrown125

I can replace the items discussed. But, I can get a new one for approx $300 w/6 yr warranty and I can install it my self . What do you guys think of that solution.?

I think that is a no brainer given your heater is 11 years old. My philosophy with water heaters is that after 10 years you are living on borrowed time. Immediately replaced the 11 year old heater in our new-to-us house when me moved in 8 months ago as there is no floor drain in the basement where it is and we are using the surrounding area for storage.