Posted: 4/17/2009 11:57:18 AM EDT
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I am getting hot water out of the heater it self but not at the faucets in the house.
What would be causing this More Info: The tank is a AO Smith and is about 10 years old. |
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Go to the closest faucet to the heater and turn on the hot. Wait. If the hot water doesn't come though in a minute or two, then leave the hot on, and go back to your heater and feel the hot water line. Is it still hot? Is it just warm? The pipe is just warm not hot |
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Is there any water at all comming from the hot water side of the tap? if not there may be a valve turned off at the water heater. If there is water comming from the tap when only hot water is turned on, there may be a piping issue. Yes water is coming out of the hot side of the tap but its only luke warm. All valves on the tank are turned on. Dont think its a piping issue as I had hot water yesterday after noon. Its not just 1 faucet that this happens too its the whole house. I tried that as I figured it could have been a bad valve. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Go to the closest faucet to the heater and turn on the hot. Wait. If the hot water doesn't come though in a minute or two, then leave the hot on, and go back to your heater and feel the hot water line. Is it still hot? Is it just warm? The pipe is just warm not hot Unless you just had 3 showers a load of laundry and did the dishes, then I suspect that your hot water heater is not making enough. I'm betting that it is electric, and that your bottom element is toast. They are easy to replace. If you have one, run a continuity test on the bottom element. If it fails, you found your problem. |
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Go to the closest faucet to the heater and turn on the hot. Wait. If the hot water doesn't come though in a minute or two, then leave the hot on, and go back to your heater and feel the hot water line. Is it still hot? Is it just warm? The pipe is just warm not hot Unless you just had 3 showers a load of laundry and did the dishes, then I suspect that your hot water heater is not making enough. I'm betting that it is electric, and that your bottom element is toast. They are easy to replace. If you have one, run a continuity test on the bottom element. If it fails, you found your problem. It is a natural gas heater and the pilot and burner are running. We have pretty hard water where I am at. Could it be a bad outlet pipe in the tank? |
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Go to the closest faucet to the heater and turn on the hot. Wait. If the hot water doesn't come though in a minute or two, then leave the hot on, and go back to your heater and feel the hot water line. Is it still hot? Is it just warm? The pipe is just warm not hot Unless you just had 3 showers a load of laundry and did the dishes, then I suspect that your hot water heater is not making enough. I'm betting that it is electric, and that your bottom element is toast. They are easy to replace. If you have one, run a continuity test on the bottom element. If it fails, you found your problem. +1, and in true ARFCOMM fasion, get both when you replace the elements. The other one wont be to far behind. |
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Did somebody turn the thermostat way down, bad thermocouple? Thermostat is cranked up as high as it will go. how would I test a thermocouple? If the burner is working, the T-coupling is fine. Sounds like a bad dip tube. They commonly break off allowing cold water to rush into the hot water line instead of being forced to the bottom of the tank (closest to flame) and heated properly. 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Go to the closest faucet to the heater and turn on the hot. Wait. If the hot water doesn't come though in a minute or two, then leave the hot on, and go back to your heater and feel the hot water line. Is it still hot? Is it just warm? The pipe is just warm not hot Unless you just had 3 showers a load of laundry and did the dishes, then I suspect that your hot water heater is not making enough. I'm betting that it is electric, and that your bottom element is toast. They are easy to replace. If you have one, run a continuity test on the bottom element. If it fails, you found your problem. It is a natural gas heater and the pilot and burner are running. We have pretty hard water where I am at. Could it be a bad outlet pipe in the tank? Doh! Well, I have much less experience with those. I guess beyond checking to make sure it fires up correctly, the thermostat is where I would start looking. ETA: Z-Dubs post ought to give you what you need. |
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Did somebody turn the thermostat way down, bad thermocouple? Thermostat is cranked up as high as it will go. how would I test a thermocouple? If the burner is working, the T-coupling is fine. Sounds like a bad dip tube. They commonly break off allowing cold water to rush into the hot water line instead of being forced to the bottom of the tank (closest to flame) and heated properly. http://www.inspect-ny.com/plumbing/1564s.jpg THIS! |