Any Plumbers Here?

[K-Dog]

we installed a 50-gal (electric) water heater about four years ago (+/-)
we have low-flow heads on both showers.
Three people living here. Taking showers with in 2 hours of each other the third shower taker is forced to run straight hot which comes out warm at best and luke warm to cold by the end. All showers are 15 minuets, twenty at the very most, and none are very hot.
Am I correct in thinking a 50-gal should have NO PROBLEM keeping up with this demand?

Obviously I have a problem, where should I start looking to solve this problem?

[Moderator 2]

Even an electric one should--I take mega showers and someone can follow me 20 mins later. Check the to see what the heater is set on, and use an insta read thermometer, the kind from the kitchen will do, to check what the temp coming out, Ours is kept at 120 because of kids. You may have a bad heating element and my uncle who is an electrician says appliances are disposable after 5 years, unless it is a Viking Stove lol

[1/28/01]

Electric will have two heating elements...top and bottom.

Odds are, one is bad. Grab an ohms tester (cheap at Home Depot) and check for continuity by touching both aligator clips to each eletrical connector on each element. Could also be bad thermostat(s), again you'll have two of those as well.

Water heater (oh yeah, thanks for NOT saying HOT water heater) should last 10 to 15 years.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1299560982' post='650258']
Electric will have two heating elements...top and bottom.

Odds are, one is bad. Grab an ohms tester (cheap at Home Depot) and check for continuity by touching both aligator clips to each eletrical connector on each element. Could also be bad thermostat(s), again you'll have two of those as well.

Water heater (oh yeah,[b] thanks for NOT saying HOT water heater[/b]) should last 10 to 15 years.
[/quote]



I think I've said that a few times actually. I know, I know. Along the same lines as "original copy."

[K-Dog]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1299560982' post='650258']
Electric will have two heating elements...top and bottom.

Odds are, one is bad. Grab an ohms tester (cheap at Home Depot) and check for continuity by touching both aligator clips to each eletrical connector on each element. Could also be bad thermostat(s), again you'll have two of those as well.[/quote]

Thanks. I will dive into that this evening. I have a Fluke meter DVOM so that should get a reading just fine.

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1299560982' post='650258']

Water heater (oh yeah, thanks for NOT saying HOT water heater)

[/quote]

Yeah thats a pet peeve of mine.

[K-Dog]

it seems the bottom heating element has a small short. Enough for sporadic continuity. Oddly enough I observed 0 volts at the top, but with solid continuity. 240 at the lower but with intermittent continuity. Perhaps I am just confused since I am so used to automotive (DC) as opposed to household (AC) but it seems to me the lower is the issue right?

[thewarden86]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1299638089' post='650769']
it seems the bottom heating element has a small short. Enough for sporadic continuity. Oddly enough I observed 0 volts at the top, but with solid continuity. 240 at the lower but with intermittent continuity. Perhaps I am just confused since I am so used to automotive (DC) as opposed to household (AC) but it seems to me the lower is the issue right?
[/quote]

You say it's intermittent? Sounds like you found it though. Happen to see a part number on the sucker?

[Moderator 2]

Those heating elements are hard to change from what I have been told.

[1/28/01]

I'd start with the first, unless you want to just replace both.

The heating elements are cheap (about $15 a pop) and are a snap to replace.

TURN OFF BREAKER, Drain water heater, disconnect the electrical connections (two screws) buy an open socket designed for the dimensions of the element and twist. Don't be shocked if when the element comes out its all corroded. That's normal, espcially if you're on a well.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1299676812' post='650889']
I'd start with the first, unless you want to just replace both.

The heating elements are cheap (about $15 a pop) and are a snap to replace.

[b]TURN OFF BREAKER,[/b] Drain water heater, [b]disconnect the electrical connections[/b] (two screws) buy an open socket designed for the dimensions of the element and twist. [b]Don't be shocked[/b] if when the element comes out its all corroded. That's normal, espcially if you're on a well.
[/quote]

Did you do that intentionally?

[K-Dog]

Okay. Might have to be a weekend project. Where does one go about getting these heating elements? Lowes?

[thewarden86]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1299714355' post='651128']
Okay. Might have to be a weekend project. Where does one go about getting these heating elements? Lowes?
[/quote]

A plumbing supply place. Do you have any GPS's (General Plumbing Supply) around?

[1/28/01]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1299714355' post='651128']
Okay. Might have to be a weekend project. Where does one go about getting these heating elements? Lowes?
[/quote]
Either there or HD...

I would recommend taking them with you when you replace them. There are about 5-6 different kinds (different watts).

[1/28/01]

[quote name='thewarden86' timestamp='1299700900' post='650994']
Did you do that intentionally?
[/quote]
ha. didnt catch that....

[K-Dog]

[quote name='thewarden86' timestamp='1299716851' post='651144']
A plumbing supply place. Do you have any GPS's (General Plumbing Supply) around?
[/quote]

yeah, we have a few pretty big plumbing places around. No GPS though. I think I would rather go to a plumbing place than Lowes or the Depo. I have a hunch I would get better advice and support from a plumbing place.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1299801514' post='651633']
yeah, we have a few pretty big plumbing places around. No GPS though. I think I would rather go to a plumbing place than Lowes or the Depo. [b]I have a hunch I would get better advice and support from a plumbing place.[/b]
[/quote]

Absolutely. I'm lucky to have a GPS around the corner. Those guys are the pros! Plus they know where to get the obscure stuff Lowes and HD have never heard of.

[Moderator 2]

I wish we had something like that--they are re-doing my utterly messed up kitchen sink/plumbing this weekend,

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Moderator 2' timestamp='1299813582' post='651752']
I wish we had something like that--they are re-doing my utterly messed up kitchen sink/plumbing this weekend,
[/quote]

[u][b]BT Plumbing Supply Inc.[/b][/u]

112 Business Center Drive
Reisterstown, MD 21136
(410) 526-7701

[Moderator 2]

[quote name='thewarden86' timestamp='1299813782' post='651753']
[u][b]BT Plumbing Supply Inc.[/b][/u]

112 Business Center Drive
Reisterstown, MD 21136
(410) 526-7701
[/quote]

Hmm never knew that was there lol Its in the warehouses. This [i]<deleted>[/i] sink has leaked on and off for 19 years and the trap is all wrong so the peelings from one apple or potato from the garbage disposal requires a tear down. I am getting new cabinets *crosses fingers* and I don't want them ruined from water.


Of course I want a[url="http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/products/product.jsp?id=prod8750162"]Viking Range too[/url], don't see that happening lol

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Moderator 2' timestamp='1299814077' post='651757']
Hmm never knew that was there lol Its in the warehouses. This [i]<deleted> [/i]sink has leaked on and off for 19 years and the trap is all wrong so the peelings from one apple or potato from the garbage disposal requires a tear down. I am getting new cabinets *crosses fingers* and I don't want them ruined from water.


Of course I want a[url="http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/products/product.jsp?id=prod8750162"]Viking Range too[/url], don't see that happening lol
[/quote]

I wish I knew enough to offer some advice, but I don't.

I would LOVE a Viking Range myself. who wouldn't? haha.

You can get the range top on Ebay for about $500.00 haha

[1/28/01]

Fisher Paykel baby!!

Also, my wife found a crazy deal on a fridge with a TV in the door when we renovated the house 2 years ago...her ideas are awesome!

[Moderator 2]

I live in a townhouse that I will live in until we move to FL in 10 years or so--hopefully the real estate market will pick up by then lol So I have been working on renovating/painting. This year its the kitchen and bathrooms turn lol both require plumbing knowledge. I don't mean this as an insult, but a male or someone that does not cook designed my kitchen and cabinet placement-- I have so much wasted space and no room for my big pots and mixing bowls. I have 3 sons--2 teenagers and one in his 20's-- and they eat --a lot! I did 8 lbs of potatoes hoping for leftovers--not for dinner tonite and I don't eat them.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1299819301' post='651792']
Fisher Paykel baby!!

Also, my wife found a crazy deal on a fridge with a TV in the door when we renovated the house 2 years ago...her ideas are awesome!
[/quote]

Dude, that IS awesome. She is definitely a keeper.

[Moderator 2]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1299819301' post='651792']
Fisher Paykel baby!!

Also, my wife found a crazy deal on a[b] fridge with a TV in the door[/b] when we renovated the house 2 years ago...her ideas are awesome!
[/quote]

I would love that fridge--I want the one with a computer terminal since that is how I do my shopping lists. Now I just call it out to whomever is in the family room to put it on note pad on my laptop. Since I now have half of my recipes on my computer it would save me from printing-- I am not taking my laptop into the kitchen too muchcostly disaster potential