[BigJim]

I have an 80 gallon electric water heater, and I just installed a new shower fixture. The single handle Delta shower will only put out 100° water. The tank is set on 150°. The shower head that came with the set is a 2 gpm head, it runs out of warm water in exactly 15 minutes. I bought a 1.5 gpm head and it will last 20 minutes. How do I check our water heater to see if an element is shot or a thermostat, could it be the filler tube ate up, any suggestions?

 

[Bob999]

I have an 80 gallon electric water heater, and I just installed a new shower fixture. The single handle Delta shower will only put out 100° water. The tank is set on 150°. The shower head that came with the set is a 2 gpm head, it runs out of warm water in exactly 15 minutes. I bought a 1.5 gpm head and it will last 20 minutes. How do I check our water heater to see if an element is shot or a thermostat, could it be the filler tube ate up, any suggestions?

The symptoms you describe are frequently caused by a burned out lower heater element. Heater elements are tested by electrically isolating them (disconnecting from electrical circuit completely) and checking resistance of the heater element. A failed unit will have very high resistance.

 

[joecaption]

http://www.water-heater-repair-guide.com/waterheaterelementtesting.html

 

[BigJim]

Thanks Bob, I will check the element.

 

[TheEplumber]

Did you set the hi temp/anti scald setting at the valve? Seems a little odd your heater will have issues when you replace a shower valve

 

[Alan]

Did you set the hi temp/anti scald setting at the valve? Seems a little odd your heater will have issues when you replace a shower valve

Yep, and those delta anti scald are a little funky if you aren't familiar with them.


I personally don't like them.

 

[jagans]

Check the temperature of your water at a simple dual handle fixture. I bet you have the anti-scald feature in the fixture set wrong. By the way 150 degrees is too high if you have kids.:devil2:

 

[BigJim]

The problem didn't start with the new valve we had to turn the water down to a very low trickle to get a shower before. But now with the one handle set up it is much worse because we can't turn the water down to a trickle. I did set the fixture to wide open hot a little while ago and the water hits 139° which we turned down so it would only hit 110°. Even with the temps turned down the warm water wouldn't last but 20 minutes before it started getting cold.

I was reading online where after a few years the heater will fill up with trash and not work well, have any of you ever heard of that?

 

[Alan]

Either way, they're both easy to check.


Turn off the power to the water heater. Disconnect both wires from the elements.

Measure resistance on both thermostats, report back with readings.

Usually somewhere between 12 ohms and 14 ohms is a good reading.

 

[BigJim]

Thanks Allan, I appreciate your help.

 

[jagans]

So what did you find out?

Yes they can fill with sediment, then the thermostat doesen't work right.

 

[BigJim]

So what did you find out?

Yes they can fill with sediment, then the thermostat doesen't work right.

I haven't had a chance to get out there yet, I will post what I find as soon as I can check it out. I got a feeling that is what it is, several years back I looked at a friends water heater near here and it had all kinds of clear gel looking stuff in theirs, I just replaced it for them. Thanks for helping.

 

[BigJim]

I still haven't had a chance to check the water heater, I have been too busy getting a shower to work for us. I think I have a solution to be able to adjust the water back down to make it last longer instead of it running wide open with the new shower. I took the old valve apart and luckily the valve is a Delta, I rebuilt the entire valve for about $20 so now we can adjust the water as we like it and still use the new valve also. Here is a picture of how I plumbed it in to work either way, the sweating isn't pretty but this is mine and not a client's.

 

[BigJim]

For crying out loud, I can't believe it, we looked outside to see what the weather was doing and Judy heard water rushing and water all over the yard. We went outside and the main water line to our house had busted in the middle of the yard, water was gushing up out of the ground. How in the world did the pipe bust? Surely the new plumbing didn't have anything to do with it, I hope.

It was too dark to dig the yard up tonight so tomorrow I guess we will see what the problem is. I know one of the elements in the water heater works because when I went to shut it off it was sizzling pretty good.

All the nice warm weather we had and no water leak, just let it turn off cold...

 

[Alan]

That sounds like fun


What kind of depth do your waterlines in your area have to go to? :huh:

 

[BigJim]

That sounds like fun


What kind of depth do your waterlines in your area have to go to? :huh:

Thank goodness only 18 inches to 2 feet, I hope. I just hope it isn't galvanized pipe.

 

[Alan]

Thank goodness only 18 inches to 2 feet, I hope. I just hope it isn't galvanized pipe.

In that case I highly recommend a new line. :thumbup:

 

[BigJim]

In that case I highly recommend a new line. :thumbup:

I totally agree.

 

[BigJim]

I found the leak in the water main, it is about 18 inches down. There is a hole about the size of a silver dollar or that wide in a 1 inch PVC line. Is there any new ways to fix this pipe or do I use sleeves and a new section of pipe?

This is the coldest night we have had so far and maybe snow tomorrow, so much fun.

 

[jagans]

This is getting ridiculouser and rediculouser. :huh::huh::huh: