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Hot Water question that will stump you.

 
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ceastman



Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Northern VA
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:47 pm    Post subject: Hot Water question that will stump you. Reply with quote
50 gal electric hot water tank. Hot water runs out after 5 - 10 minutes. Dip tube fine. Sacrificial anode fine. Visually confirm no scale in tank. After checking both elements and thermostats I determined that they were fine. Girl friend wanted me to replace them anyhow so I did. Same problem. Hot water runs out. Have since purchased new tank from Lowes and the problem persists. I am ready to pull my hair out. Oh one more thing. Her electric bill has skyrocketed since the problem started. Please help.
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thescruff
Moderator


Joined: 03 May 2003
Posts: 4249
Location: Bath
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
So you're loosing heat Laughing

Tell is more about the tank, what size pipes, is there an secondary heat source such as the furnace, anything you can think off
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ceastman



Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Northern VA
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
there is no secondary heat source. Hot water tank receives water supply from city water ( good pressure ) I guess the pipes are 3/4 inch copper. I am not there to confirm right now. This is a small 1100 square foot house with a crawl space. 2 bathrooms and a kitchen.
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thescruff
Moderator


Joined: 03 May 2003
Posts: 4249
Location: Bath
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Concentrate on the hot supply pipe to the taps then, is there a return leg.
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vince knight
Moderator


Joined: 04 Mar 2004
Posts: 1244
Location: Essex/East London
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
does the tank go cold or just the water out of the taps?
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thescruff
Moderator


Joined: 03 May 2003
Posts: 4249
Location: Bath
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
vince knight wrote:
does the tank go cold or just the water out of the taps?


Vince its only an 50 gallon tank, if the mains in is very cold, you would be luck to get 40gallons of actual hot water, thats only 20ltrs min ish
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straker1966



Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 164
Location: cambridge
PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
how about the possibility of a leak under the floor?
if you had a water meter you could have a look and see if its turning when no water is being used in the house...

your girlfriends got you well trained, aint she? Twisted Evil
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ceastman



Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Northern VA
PostPosted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It was a leak under the house. Nice to find it but what a mess.
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