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Removing debris that clogged a water heater outlet and plumbing faucets (C) D Friedman R ArlyckHot Water Heater Repair FAQs

Index to Cylinder Calorifier Water Heater Repair Q&A

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to identify & diagnose problems with building water heaters, cylinders, calorifiers, geysers, hot water tanks, heaters, piping, pressure, flow, quantity, temperature, safety, noises, or other hot water troubles.

Questions & answers about how to fix a water heater that is not working at all or is not working adequately.

Water heater or calorifier or geyser diagnostic FAQs.

Let's make sure you are taking the quickest and most economical approach to understanding, diagnosing, and fixing hot water system complaints like loss of all hot water, poor hot water flow or pressure, hot water that is not hot enough, running out of hot water, or hot water heater operating cost, noises, leaks, or maintenance.

This article series describes the starting point for fixing problems with a building hot water supply.

Page top photo: The author (DF) and his friend Ralph are in the process of removing scale and sediment from this gas fired water heater in Ralph's New York home.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Hot Water Troubleshooting Diagnostic Guide - Basic Questions

Leaks at a double water heater installation © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com These questions & answers about how to repair a water heater were posted originally

at WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS - topic home; be sure to check the repair procedures given in that article.

Photo: leaks at a double water heater installation in this New York home. If your water heater is leaking, see WATER HEATER LEAK REPAIR

Article Index

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Do I Need a New Water Heater (Calorifier, Geyser)?

If I have hardly any hot water does it mean i need a new water heater

If I hardly have any hot water does it mean i need a new water heater - On 2017-07-09 by Gloria

Reply by (mod)

Gloria,

Not necessarily. First let's diagnose the cause of the problem.

That will tell us if you need a new water heater or if we simply need a relatively inexpensive repair to the heater that you have.

In the article WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS you will see a discussion of hot water quantity and also a link to an article on improving the quantity of hot water. And both of those places you will see a description of the common causes of the problem of not enough hot water.

For example if your water heater is an electric model it could be that you simply need a heating element replaced.

If your water heater is working properly but you just don't have enough hot water,

see HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT 

If your water heater is leaking AND if the leak is in the water heater tank, you need a new unit. But other leaks can be repaired.

See WATER HEATER LEAK REPAIR 

[We're in process of editing & sorting the Q&A below - Ed.]

 


 



 

Hot water tank drained, now it won't fill back up

Pipes froze an busted pipes hot water tank drained an won't fill back up but have cold water coming out of faucets what is wrong please email me with any ideas wolfgirl4880@gmail.com On 2017-01-09 by Christina

by (mod)

Christina,

If you open a nearby hot water faucet and then be sure that the water supply into your water heater is turned on water will fill the heater while pushing air in the heater out through the piping and out through the faucet.

If you follow the instructions I just gave and water still never entered your water heater then either of valve is closed that needs to be opened or are there still a frozen pipe.

Take care if your water heater is electric. Never turn on an electric water heater until you are sure that all of the air has been removed. Otherwise you are very likely to burn up the heating element.

Old cistern boiler tank in a top floor flat - ballcock replaced, now no hot water

hi, i have a very old cistern boiler tank in a top floor flat. i had a tradesmen come to replace the ballcock in the cold water feed. rightly or wrong i drained the whole tank and now when we have filled the cistern tank up it appears that i have some air block.

i did a temp fix last night whereby i turned both hot and cold on the shower, put my finger over the shower pipe (with the head off) for 40 seconds and the water pressure returned. im conscious that any longer could have flooded the called water feed tank.

now when i have come in from work today, turned the hot water tap on, im back to poor pressure and non existent in the hand basin and kitchen sink.

please can anyone advise how i can fix the problem of the hot water flow and/or better way to free the air block from this old tank??? any help is much appreciated. thanks On 2016-09-23 by ollie

by (mod)

Ollie, I'd like to help but I don't have a clear understanding of your system, components, locations, operation.

Start by reviewing all control valves in the system as well as that ball float control valve;

When you have cold water flowing out of both cold and hot faucets, then you can look further at why the water isn't being heated by checking the heater or boiler itself.

by ollie - electric temperature booster runs at off-hours

just seen an error below call water tank is about 9ft in the air not 5ft.

thanks for replying.

i know nothing really about plumbing. ill try and best explain my system but like i say im not technical.

The system is very old. i

It is based on an electrically boosted element into an old boiler. It boosts during early hours of morning to give heat the whole day. the boiler itself it located in a cupboard at floor level in the lounge.

the cold water feed is the other side of the room again boxed in about 5 ft high (built into the roof). my bathroom then is split level to the lounge so height wise its heigher then the boiler tank but obviously lower then the cold water feed built into the roof.

up until the ballcock valve was replaced everything worked fine. on a morning if you wanted good pressure, i just ran the bath for 30 seconds and then the pressure was so that the hand basin and kitchen hot tap would run fine. so it seemed that the bath tap helped to get the pressure going the others not so much.

after the ballcock replaced. in the same scenario first thing in the morning i would run the hot tap and it just stays at a trickle. the contractor blames this problem on the tank being completely emptied (boiler tank i mean). its the first and prob last time i would do this but didnt realise emptying you boiler tank would create such problems with pressure.

i forgot to say the water still heats fine from the elctric element that boosts it. thats not the problem its just purely pressure and getting it up to a normal level when the tank hasnt been used say over night or been left the whole day and i come back at tea time to poor pressure.

i guess my real question is: if this is an airblock in my boiler tank, over time will this free itself or am i likely to have repeated pressure issues when i leave the hot water standing over a prolonged period of time.

sorry if im explaining this badly.

by (mod)

This is not a system familiar to me: I'd sure appreciate seeing some sharp photos via the page bottom CONTACT link.

Having to run the bath to get "water pressure going" sounds as if a float control was sticking - perhaps the ballcock.

Is that ballcock control filling up the water heater, or delivering water from it?


I have to keep pressing the reset button on my oil fired water heater

Had to press the reset button the past two days on my oil fired hot water heater. Why is this occurring? On 2016-09-19 by John

by (mod) STOP pressing the reset button

John:

Watch out: STOP pressing the reset button - you are risking a dangerous OIL BURNER PUFFBACK EXPLOSION - search InspectApedia for that phrase to see the details.

When an oil burner goes off on "reset" and pops that reset button that means that there was an improper or unsafe flame or combustion. When you keep pushing the button you're accumulating unburned oil in the combustion chamber - that can later be ignited all at once to cause an explosion.

So what's needed is an onsite service tech to fix the oil burner.

Aero CF 32 T hot water heater only runs for 1 minute

I have an old Aero CF 32 T hot water heater. At first it would not fire on its own, then we would be able to start it up manually, now it starts runs for less then a minute then shuts off. Please help. On 2016-03-02 by Tony

by (mod) Aero CF 32 T hot water heater won't run

Sounds unafe to me, perhaps an oil burner that needs service and repair.

Watch out: Do not keep pressing the reset button - you risk a dangerous puffback explosion. I'd ask for help from a trained service tech.


Which way is "ON" for the oil line feeding the burner on my water heater?

Hi - I have an oil fired electric hot water heater. At the bottom there is a narrow pipeline leading into the burner with a small faucet like shut off valve. It's right in front and often the valve ( or wheel) gets accidentally turned off either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

It's in a space that can easily bumped as one passes it. . ( Once it apparently shut off b/c the movement closed it ) Which way is full open? Clockwise or counter-clockwise? Thank you. email> jimmydin43@gmail.com On 2016-02-13 by Jim Devine

by (mod)

You are describing what is probably the supply valve on your heater's oil line.

It works backwards from what you think. Screwed fully down or clockwise is probably open.

See OPEN or SHUT POSITION of OSVs


My electric water heater elements don't work after I replaced them

I replaced the water heater elements and thermostat and it has Power in all their elements and thermostat and steel don't have hot water any help On 2015-12-22 by jay

by (mod) new heater but no hot water

Jay:

Watch out: If you turned power on to the electric water heater before you re-filled it completely with water both the new elements will have burned out.

The heater may have power "on" to it but the heating element may be burned out or its control thermostat may have failed

 

Gas burner on water heater shuts off after a few seconds

Gas burner started but after 10 seconds flame shut off and not persist continuously On 2015-12-12 by vishal patel

by (mod) gas burner flame won't stay on

Sounds like a bad thermocouple.

Richmond electric water heater whistled, banged, then the relief valve popped

I have a Richmond electric water heater that was here when I purchased house about 3 months ago. according to paperwork it is 3 yrs old. recently it started whistling and making banging noise.

then the pop off valve suddenly failed, so my husband replaced it hoping that would be the cause of the problem. It was not, it continues to pop off and make all the noise, so today my husband replaced the thermostats. Help what can we do now?

Replace the whole thing or is this something else causing it? On 2015-06-16 by Teresa

by (mod) Banging water heaters

Banging water heaters are often caused by mineral or lime deposits in the water heater - something your plumber can check.

Ask the plumber also if your home has a water hammer problem.

Whirlpool 50 gallon hot water heater gets hot but no hot water is delivered

I just put in a new Whirlpool 50 gallon hot water heater. The water heater is heating the water, but i get either no hot water or cold, then hot, then cold again at the kitchen sink downstairs, and luke warm to cold water at the faucets upstairs.

How is it possible to run the hot water side of a faucet for 10 mins and get zero hot water out of it when i know for a fact the water heater is heating the water? the pipe at the water heater is hot On 2015-04-27 by Bob

Great question, or as Click and Clack used to say, you've stumped the chump. I can't figure this one out from just your e-text. It's the inconsistency as you describe it that's puzzling.

Turn on hot water at one fixture. Go to the water heater, feel the outlet pipe: is the pipe hot?

Check that the heater was properly connected: cold and hot MUST be connected to the proper mounting points on the water - which will be marked COLD and HOT.

Check that the dip tube was installed: if you left out the dip tube on the cold water inlet that can certainly foul up the hot water delivery.

by Bob Improper installation of new faucet valve body mixed un-wanted cold into hot at the faucet!

Thanks for the reply DanJoe! But i figured it out! I had replaced a valve body in a bathroom but didn't put the actual valve in it.

This was allowing the hot and cold to mix at the valve body. I'm assuming the cold is at higher pressure than the hot and was back blowing through the hot water lines.

Once i put the valve in, everything works like it should. <--- dork! lol!>

by (mod)

Thanks Bob, this is a snafu I've not come across. Your report will doubtless help other readers. It makes perfect sense: I suppose you removed the core to avoid damaging it during soldering.


Water is too hot at our Aero CF32 water heater

How is the water temperature adjusted on aero cf32 hot water tank, it's to hot now On 2014-12-08 by Phil

by (mod) - how to avoid getting burned by the water heater

Phil, you are asking about the Bradford White Aero CF32 water heater. This is an oil fired, center flue hot water heating system that uses a single immersion aquastat or controller.

See the article titled

ANTI SCALD VALVES / MIXING VALVES

In the ARTICLE INDEX .

For efficiency the water heater may produce quite hot, even scalding water. The company's installation instructions for the Aero CF32 specify that a mixing valve should be installed at the water heater's outlet.

Here is what the company advises about avoiding scalding burns

Watch out: This water heater can deliver scalding temperature water at any faucet in the system.

Be careful whenever using hot water to avoid scalding injury. Certain appliances such as dishwashers and automatic clothes washers may require increased temperature water.

By setting the thermostat on this water heater to obtain the increased temperature water required by these appliances, the potential for scald injury increases. To protect against injury, you should install an ASSE approved mixing valve in the water system.

This valve will reduce point of discharge temperature by mixing cold and hot water in branch supply lines. Such valves are available from the manufacturer of this water heater or a local plumbing supplier.

Please consult with a plumbing professional.

White flakes coming out of the hot water side of the faucet

I have white flakes coming out of the hot water side of the faucet On 2014-10-07 by chris

by (mod) white flakes coming out of the hot water side of the faucet

Chris

see

HOT WATER DEBRIS CAUSE & CURE 

 

Aero oil burner turns on only when we press the RESET button

We have an Aero oil fired burner on my hot water tank that has been working on & off for the past two days, but now not at all. No hot water. We have 3/4 tank of oil. Pushing the reset button on the burner makes it kick on, but it shuts off after 15-30 seconds.

It will keep kicking on each time you push the reset button, but always shuts off within a minute or less. Hot water tank itself was just replaced 4 months ago. Plumber said burner was still good, so he reused it. Any suggestions are most welcome. On 2014-06-19 by Ellen

Ellen

WARNING UNSAFE CONDITIONS

STOP pressing the reset button. Pressing it more than once is flooding the combustion chamber with unburned oil, risking a dangerous puffback.

The repair needed may be a simple cleaning and tuneup but you need a trained oil heat technician on the job.

No hot water after draining the water heater


I drained the hot water heater and refill it and now it won't produce hot water , Any suggestions ? (Apr 26, 2015) Todd L

Reply:

Todd

Take a look at the hot water heater diagnostics beginning at

WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS

Perhaps you turned on an electric water heaeter while it was empty of water - burning up the electrodes.

 

Oil hot water heater wont re-start

My oil hot water heater will not restart when the temp in the tank goes down why? I changed the aquastat, the oil burner control( protectorary). Please help (Sept 6, 2015) SCOTT

Reply:

Scott:

The temperatures in an oil-fired water heater are sensed by an aquastat control, sometimes more than one of them depending on how the safety limits are managed. When the water temperature is below the cut-in temperature set on the aquastat the burner should fire.

But there are other controls that will shut down an oil burner such as a stack relay or cad cell sensor that detect flame problems.

It's time for a service call by a trained technician.

 

Gas hot water heater stopped working

Gas hot water heater-unit is almost new everything was working fine then one day just stopped getting hot.

Water is barely warm but when I pulled cover off it looked like pilot was still lit. Would a circuit breaker being switched on and off cause a problem ? The thermostat is set to on but no matter what setting it's on water will not get hot. What should I do next ? (Oct 2, 2015) Carson said:

Reply:

Please see WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS

Keep in mind that at your building you may have more than one of these conditions.

  1. No hot water: If you have no hot water at all, but cold water comes out of the hot water faucets, make sure that your water heater has fuel (oil or gas) or power (electric, solar).

    Also check for a defective high temperature limit switch (there is a reset switch on the thermostat) or for a defective upper thermostat (you'll have tepid hot water but no HOT water).

    See NO HEAT - NO HOT WATER: HEATER DIAGNOSIS for details about troubleshooting when you have no hot water at all.
  2. Hot water pressure or flow: if your problem is gradual or long-standing poor hot water pressure, or flow, that is, water comes out of the faucet or shower weakly or too slowly, start your diagnosis here

    at HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS (the article below)

    Poor hot water flow, or bad hot water pressure, which is usually a piping or clogging problem, mineral clogging at a water tank or tankless coil, or an overall building water pressure problem. In the article below we describe how to improve hot water pressure and flow.

    If your hot water pressure has suddenly been lost but you still have some, poor hot water flow,

    see HOT WATER PRESSURE LOSS
  3. Hot water quantity: if your problem is gradual or long-standing poor hot water quantity, that is your water is hot enough, but you run out of hot water too soon.

    If you do not have not enough hot water quantity, you are running out of hot water very quickly. Insufficient hot water quantity may be due to the way hot water is being made: a water heater that is too small, a tankless coil on a new small heating boiler, or an instantaneous water heater that is being asked to supply hot water too rapidly.

    Diagnosis and repair for hot water quantity are

    at HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT. 

 

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Or see WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS FAQs-2 - more-recent Q&A about calorifier, geyser, hot water cylinder, water heater troubleshooting

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