Few
things are as disappointing as jumping into a hot shower only to have
the water run cold after a few minutes. Fortunately, reduced hot
water tank capacity issues can usually be quickly traced and
repaired, so you will be back in hot water in no time.
1.
Broken Element
Electric
hot waters have two heating elements, one in the bottom of the tank
and the other near the top. The lower element heats incoming cold
water, while the upper element is there to make sure the water in the
tank remains at the desired temperature.
Symptoms
You
can sometimes tell which element is failing by the symptoms. When the
lower element begins to fail, you will have some hot water but it
will go cold much more quickly than usual. If the issue is with the
upper element, then the water will be warm but never as hot as
desired.
Repair
A technician will first verify that the element is to blame by using a multimeter to measure the electrical output of the element. Elements are not generally repaired, but they are instead replaced due to their low cost. The process only takes a few minutes, so you will be back in hot water in no time.
In some cases, hot water heater elements are not burned out but unable to work properly because they are covered in hard water sedimentation. The element will still be replaced when this occurs, but you may also need to address the hard water issue.
2.
Sediment Buildup
Sediment
buildup is a result of the minerals in your water supply, such as
lime and calcium, separating from the water and coating the inside or
bottom of your hot water tank. Areas with hard water tend to have
higher sedimentation buildup.
Symptoms
Much
like a failing bottom element, your tank capacity will be reduced so
that you have hot water, but it runs out quickly. Sedimentation is
also accompanied by increased hot water heater noises. You will hear
bangs and pops coming from the heater, which are caused by the
sedimentation cracking and falling from the sides of the tank and
into the water.
Repair
The
repair for sedimentation should be considered general maintenance.
You will need to have the tank flushed to remove the sedimentation
that has built up. Your tech will turn off the heater and drain the
water. They will then run cold water through the tank to flush out
any remaining sedimentation before they close the drain valves again.
You
should plan to flush your hot water heater annually if you have
extremely hard water, or every two to three years if your water
contains less sediment.
3.
Malfunctioning Dip Tube
The
dip tube is responsible for circulating the water in your tank so
that the cold incoming water is moved down to the bottom where it can
be heated. If the dip tube malfunctions, the cold water isn't heated
and you end up with less hot and more lukewarm water.
Symptoms
When
a dip tube breaks, you may have hot water if no one else has run the
hot water in some time, but it will run out within a couple of
minutes since the incoming cold water won't be circulated down for
heating before it comes out of the tap. Water that cycles unevenly
through lukewarm and cold while the tap is running is another symptom
of a failed dip tube.
Repair
Dip
tubes are often made of plastic, so it's not uncommon for them to
crack or break. The technician will turn off and drain the hot water
heater so that they can safely remove the dip tube. If the tube broke
apart, the heater must also be flushed to remove any plastic pieces
that remain in the tank. Once you’ve done this, your technician
will replace the old tube with a durable polyethylene one.
Contact Lewis
Plumbing and schedule a visit to repair or replace your hot water
heater.
