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I was running out of hot water about half way through a shower. I figured it was an element that was bad. So I replaced both top and bottom elements. However I noticed that I had a pretty good build up (calcium I think) on the bottom element. Anyway I tried to spoon as much of the build up out as possible and went ahead and replaced the lower element. However I am back in the same boat. Only a few minutes of hot water. My question is would the build up effect the lower element and cause it not to heat or maybe cause it to burn up? If so, what is the best way to get the build up out? For the record my hot water heater is set on 140 degrees and I do not think it is the t/p valve because there is no sign of it being bad. Any thoughts?

When was the last time you flushed the system? Reason I ask is your suppose to flush yearly, and after a while if you dont the build up is so much you have to replace the entire unit as its darn near impossible to cleen it all out. This info comes from my granddad a few yrs ago as he is a retired plumber/electrician/contractor. HAd to replace the unit here at my apt a few months ago b/c of this very same thing

Why would you heat hot water? I mean if it is already hot why would you need a hot water heater? Oh you mean a water heater......


Just aggrevateing you there Hayes. I got a buddy who is a plumber and that is one of his pet peeves. He says all that time how people call in and say that there hot water heater is not working. And he asks them those questions. I would flush it that usually helps.

How to flush it?

Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Make sure the outlet of the hose is in a safe area away from pets and children. It can be very hot and can scald quickly

Close the shut off valve on the cold inlet to the water heater.

Carefully open the temperature/pressure relief valve at the top of the tank by lifting the lever. Leave the valve open.

Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater allowing the water to flow out through the garden hose. If the sediment is clogging the drain valve then try closing the temperature/pressure relief valve and turn the cold inlet valve back on to "power flush" the sediment out.

In some cases the sediment hardens into large chunks that can block the drain valve. If so, then wait until everything cools down, remove the garden hose from the drain valve, remove the valve if necessary, and use a long screw driver to break up the clog. This is a very messy procedure.

When the garden hose runs clear you are finished.

Close the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and remove the garden hose.

Close the pressure relief valve at the top of the tank if it is still open, and turn the cold inlet valve back on.

Open a hot water faucet in your house, and let it run until no air bubbles come out.

Turn the heater back on, and with gas units re-light the pilot light if necessary.

do i cut the power off to the heater before i do this?

yes.

If you need a new one.....I've got two Myson Tankless water heaters that I'll sell you one for cheap.

Deltaquack wrote:If you need a new one.....I've got two Myson Tankless water heaters that I'll sell you one for cheap.

Are these electric or gas?

sounds like the dip tube is broken or corroded.

randall may very well be correct. I went through all the hassles Hayes had and it was my dip tube. New heater for me, I don't think it's repairable? or maybe I just got jipped?

Hayes wrote:

Deltaquack wrote:If you need a new one.....I've got two Myson Tankless water heaters that I'll sell you one for cheap.

Are these electric or gas?

natural gas

i hope he opens the drain before he pops the relief valve.. some are not vented out side all the time..

I wouldn't suggest opening the pop off valve unless you plan on replacing it too. Opening them up makes the springs weak, which can cause trouble later. Just remove one of the supply lines or open up the hot water on a faucet. Another tricks is to leave the water turned on to the water heater while you open the drain, let drain for about a minute before you shut the water off. This lets the pressure rinse any trash out from around the drain tube. As far as cleaning out the tank, take the bottom element out take a shop vac with a small scrap piece of water hose taped onto it and stick it in the hole and suck away. Just an ol plumbers .02