water heater help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

EyeH8the24 · 12-02-2009, 07:57 PM

got home from work yesterday and had no hot water...heater is about 5 years old .i replaced both elements .now only the top half of the tank gets hot and the pressure relief blows of pressure after just a few minutes ...any ideas ? thanks in advance

vectorit · 12-02-2009, 08:32 PM

Sounds like it's full of sediment.

The new water heaters suck, due to the new energy laws.

If you can do it, I'd check into a tankless type.

EyeH8the24 · 12-02-2009, 08:35 PM

i drained the tank...nothing but water flowed out ..if it had setiment wouldnt some come out of the drain on bottom of the tank and yeah the tankless are awsome just not in my budget righ now thanks

**Stocker** · 12-02-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeH8the24

i replaced both elements .now only the top half of the tank gets hot and the pressure relief blows of pressure after just a few minutes ...

Either the (new) lower element is bad, or there's a problem with its thermostat -- or its wiring. Do you have a multimeter (so you can check voltage)? Can't say why the relief valve is blowing...

I recently replaced a perforated heater that was only about 7 years old. It was a cheap (5 year warranty) heater. I researched a bit and found that heaters with longer warranties use better materials throughout and should last longer.... I ended up getting one with a 12 year warranty.

Just mentioned that in case you have to buy a new heater....

79gmcc15 · 12-02-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stocker

Either the (new) lower element is bad, or there's a problem with its thermostat -- or its wiring. Do you have a multimeter (so you can check voltage)? Can't say why the relief valve is blowing...

I recently replaced a perforated heater that was only about 7 years old. It was a cheap (5 year warranty) heater. I researched a bit and found that heaters with longer warranties use better materials throughout and should last longer.... I ended up getting one with a 12 year warranty.

Just mentioned that in case you have to buy a new heater....

Not to completely say your wrong. But atleast with Bradford white heaters that is not right. The only difference between a 12 year and a 5 year is a sticker on the heater and some paper. .....as for the problem I agree with above, check your thermostats.

Bus Ted Knuckle · 12-02-2009, 11:20 PM

sounds like thermostats. If you can replace the elements, you can replace the thermostats. We used to loose them all the time in our old house from lightening.

**Stocker** · 12-03-2009, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79gmcc15

Not to completely say your wrong. But atleast with Bradford white heaters that is not right.

Not familiar with Bradford... all that's available locally is Reliance. They have three different lines. Don't recall about the middle-of-the-road 9-year model, but there are significant differences per their specs from their el cheapo 6-year heater to their top-rated 12-year model.

79gmcc15 · 12-03-2009, 02:25 AM

I worked at a plumbing supply company that sold mostly Bradford white, so that's how I know. I think we only sold a few of reliance tankless. Other then that I don't have much experence with them.

BarryB · 12-03-2009, 02:43 AM

Me too would say, check your thermostats. as for your relief valve. Is it poping off because of the hot water, or just poping off, and the water coming out being colder. I would replace it if its the latter one.
The way a water heater works when it has two elements, the top element will heat until the the top thermostat is satisfied. The bottom element will then kick on until it's satisfied. both of them should never be on at the same time.

EyeH8the24 · 12-03-2009, 07:47 AM

its blowing off very hot water ..even with the temp turned all the way down .im gonna get new thermostats today .thanks for all the help! will let you knw how it goes

79gmcc15 · 12-03-2009, 12:10 PM

You may know this or not but there is a difference between the upper and lower thermostats. So make sure you get one lower and one upper.

EyeH8the24 · 12-05-2009, 03:46 PM

ok new elements...replaced both thermostats and its doing the same thing ! !! cold on the bottom hot on top and still blowing off pressure ????!!!!!!!!

**leddzepp** · 12-05-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vectorit

Sounds like it's full of sediment.

The new water heaters suck, due to the new energy laws.

If you can do it, I'd check into a tankless type.

x 2. It is full of sediment. You need a new one.

EyeH8the24 · 12-05-2009, 05:09 PM

just got back from home depot ..changed out the relief valve and all seems well.....!!!!

**leddzepp** · 12-05-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeH8the24

just got back from home depot ..changed out the relief valve and all seems well.....!!!!

Sweet!!!

EyeH8the24 · 12-05-2009, 05:36 PM

thanks for all the help !!!!

big mike71 · 12-05-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeH8the24

just got back from home depot ..changed out the relief valve and all seems well.....!!!!

I had too much water pressure coming into the house that caused my relief valve to blow, so I had to get a pressure reducer,

12-02-2009, 07:57 PM	#1
EyeH8the24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: beulah,alabama Posts: 1,075	water heater help got home from work yesterday and had no hot water...heater is about 5 years old .i replaced both elements .now only the top half of the tank gets hot and the pressure relief blows of pressure after just a few minutes ...any ideas ? thanks in advance __________________ DOH !!!!!!!

12-02-2009, 08:32 PM	#2
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: water heater help Sounds like it's full of sediment. The new water heaters suck, due to the new energy laws. If you can do it, I'd check into a tankless type. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

12-02-2009, 08:35 PM	#3
EyeH8the24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: beulah,alabama Posts: 1,075	Re: water heater help i drained the tank...nothing but water flowed out ..if it had setiment wouldnt some come out of the drain on bottom of the tank and yeah the tankless are awsome just not in my budget righ now thanks __________________ DOH !!!!!!!

12-02-2009, 11:20 PM	#6
Bus Ted Knuckle Son of a gun Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas Posts: 1,636	Re: water heater help sounds like thermostats. If you can replace the elements, you can replace the thermostats. We used to loose them all the time in our old house from lightening. __________________ Bill BEATERS ARE NEATER

12-03-2009, 02:25 AM	#8
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	Re: water heater help I worked at a plumbing supply company that sold mostly Bradford white, so that's how I know. I think we only sold a few of reliance tankless. Other then that I don't have much experence with them. __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

12-03-2009, 02:43 AM	#9
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: water heater help Me too would say, check your thermostats. as for your relief valve. Is it poping off because of the hot water, or just poping off, and the water coming out being colder. I would replace it if its the latter one. The way a water heater works when it has two elements, the top element will heat until the the top thermostat is satisfied. The bottom element will then kick on until it's satisfied. both of them should never be on at the same time. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff!

12-03-2009, 07:47 AM	#10
EyeH8the24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: beulah,alabama Posts: 1,075	Re: water heater help its blowing off very hot water ..even with the temp turned all the way down .im gonna get new thermostats today .thanks for all the help! will let you knw how it goes __________________ DOH !!!!!!!

12-03-2009, 12:10 PM	#11
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	Re: water heater help You may know this or not but there is a difference between the upper and lower thermostats. So make sure you get one lower and one upper. __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

12-05-2009, 03:46 PM	#12
EyeH8the24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: beulah,alabama Posts: 1,075	Re: water heater help ok new elements...replaced both thermostats and its doing the same thing ! !! cold on the bottom hot on top and still blowing off pressure ????!!!!!!!! __________________ DOH !!!!!!!

12-05-2009, 05:09 PM	#14
EyeH8the24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: beulah,alabama Posts: 1,075	Re: water heater help just got back from home depot ..changed out the relief valve and all seems well.....!!!! __________________ DOH !!!!!!!

12-05-2009, 05:36 PM	#16
EyeH8the24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: beulah,alabama Posts: 1,075	Re: water heater help thanks for all the help !!!! __________________ DOH !!!!!!!



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