The most likely reason is a degraded/broken dip tube in the hot water heater. If this were the case, there would likely be little bits of plastic in your water, which perhaps could be seen if you removed a faucet aerator. To replace the dip tube, the cold water inlet must be removed, and the new tube installed.
Why does my hot water heater keep going out?
Thermocouple Issues
If it senses that your water heater pilot light keeps going out, the thermocouple will shift off the gas supply to the heater. Over time, thermocouples can malfunction, accumulate dust buildup, or the device can get bent away from the pilot light’s flame.
Do both heating elements run at the same time on a water heater?
Only one element will come on at any one time. This is known as a flip/flop system. On a 240 volt water heater, there will always be 120 volts to both elements. The thermostat will direct the second leg of the 120-volts to the element to complete the 240 volts required to energize the element.
How do I get my hot water running again?
If your home has no hot water, turn off the heater first. Then, reset the circuit breaker. If the breaker tripped, your home will receive hot water again after about an hour. A circuit breaker that continues to trip is a bad sign, so hit the reset button.
How long does it take for water to get hot after replacing elements?
“Replacing A Heating Element”
It may take several hours for a newly installed electric water heater to reach normal operating temperature. If you don’t have hot water after two hours (water not even warm), first check to make sure the water heater is getting electrical power.
Should both water heater elements be set the same?
The majority of electric water heaters have two thermostats: an upper and a lower, located under two control panels. To ensure your electric water heater works as efficiently as possible, you should set both of the thermostats at the same temperature.
What is a dual-element water heater?
A dual-element water heater uses two heating elements controlled by two separate thermostats. The upper element heats the upper portion of the water column. When it reaches a specified temperature, Rheem notes that it shuts off, and the lower heating element takes over, heating the rest of the water.
Can you run a hot water heater on one element?
So, can you run a water heater with only one element? Yes, a water heater can still run if the bottom element quits. However, the water heater won’t run efficiently and likely won’t produce enough hot water to satisfy your family’s needs running on just the top element.
