# Water heater help **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 15, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755 "2012-12-15T13:56:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wheels](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/wheels/32/6655_2.png) [@wheels](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/wheels)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/1 "2012-12-15T13:56:03Z")
40 Gallon 4500 watt water heater Hot water runs out quickly. I have researched some and it sounds like the lower element is not working. Tested the connections with a multimeter and the element is getting power. Tested resistance of both elements. The upper one read 12.8 and the lower showed no reading. From what I have gathered the lower element has gone bad. The upper gives me the few minutes of hot water and when it looks to the lower for more, it is not making any. This sound correct to anyone before I replace the element? ---
**Author:** ![JRubino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jrubino/32/6285_2.png) [@JRubino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JRubino)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/2 "2012-12-15T14:41:11Z")
How old is the tank? If its older then 10 years old you may want to consider replacing the tank. They’re cheap and easy to replace ---
**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/3 "2012-12-15T14:43:44Z")
If you have no continuity between the terminals of the element on your DVOM, the element is dead or you have a bad connection at one of the terminals(corrosion). They are fairly easy to replace, but you need to shut the water down and drain the tank. ---
**Author:** ![madwabbit](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/madwabbit/32/6654_2.png) [@madwabbit](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/madwabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/4 "2012-12-15T14:45:08Z")
Thermostats are also known to burn out. Judging by your preliminary testing…I would guess element. I would replace both parts…except if the unit is 8-10 yrs old…then it needs to go. ---
**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/5 "2012-12-15T14:45:59Z")
> [@Callout: Mindless or any 11sec or better cars. slight\_smile](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/callout-mindless-or-any-11sec-or-better-cars/48316/1595): > > How old is the tank? If its older then 10 years old you may want to consider replacing the tank. They’re cheap and easy to replace This too. New ones are substantially more efficient. You could probably easily go up 20-30% in size and see zero change in power usage over a set duration, and that may be on the conservative side. Plus you can just install them with sharkbite fittings. They’ll lock and seal onto both PEX and clean copper pending on what’s currently in your home. ---
**Author:** ![JRubino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jrubino/32/6285_2.png) [@JRubino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JRubino)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/6 "2012-12-15T14:49:20Z")
I would try considering going to Natural gas if you have gas already. The retards that built my house put a natural gas furnace in and literally 5 ft next to that put an electric water heater in. ---
**Author:** ![wheels](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/wheels/32/6655_2.png) [@wheels](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/wheels)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/7 "2012-12-15T15:17:40Z")
The heater is only 5 or so years old. The new element was 20 bucks for the heavier duty one (10 for the cheaper one.) I will drain down the tank tonight and see how much sediment is in there, maybe that killed the element. I’m on public water so it shouldn’t be that bad unless there is a break somewhere outside my house. I do have a natural gas furnace right next to the water heater. There is even an extra gas line right there. If this continues to be a problem I will look into replacing it for sure. ---
**Author:** ![toomanycamaros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@toomanycamaros](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/toomanycamaros)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/8 "2012-12-15T15:39:52Z")
Had the same problem with mine a year ago if the lower element is open just replace it ---
**Author:** ![usmc2801](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/usmc2801/32/6387_2.png) [@usmc2801](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/usmc2801)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/9 "2012-12-15T17:41:01Z")
> [@FAWK. I've converted](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fawk-ive-converted/50145/63): > > I would try considering going to Natural gas if you have gas already. The retards that built my house put a natural gas furnace in and literally 5 ft next to that put an electric water heater in. Same here and our house is only 6 years old you think being that new they would have been smart enough to put in a gas water heater too…fucking idiots. ---
**Author:** ![wheels](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/wheels/32/6655_2.png) [@wheels](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/wheels)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/10 "2012-12-15T18:43:03Z")
Was a bitch to drain. Kept getting clogged. Ended up using a drill pump to suck the water out. Upper element. Lower looks the same ![http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/boostedty4/photobucket-44589-1355625543436.jpg](http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/boostedty4/photobucket-44589-1355625543436.jpg) Bottom of heater ![http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/boostedty4/photobucket-4267-1355625542525.jpg](http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/boostedty4/photobucket-4267-1355625542525.jpg) I guess I will shop vac the debris out and be sure to clean it out yearly. The rod thing is still in there, but covered in scale. I cant get it to break loose to replace it either. ---
**Author:** ![JRubino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jrubino/32/6285_2.png) [@JRubino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JRubino)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/11 "2012-12-15T19:14:05Z")
Damn, man if your saying that tank is 5 years old you really should consider a water softening system. ---
**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/12 "2012-12-15T21:55:43Z")
Hi calcium deposits it looks like. Use vaseline on the orings if you haven’t already put the thing back together. ---
**Author:** ![pitman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4da419/32.png) [@pitman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/pitman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/13 "2012-12-17T09:55:35Z")
time to buy a tankless water heater ---
**Author:** ![ds50r](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ds50r/32/3491_2.png) [@ds50r](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ds50r)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 9:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/14 "2012-12-17T09:58:12Z")
def need a water softener holy crap! ive replaced afew water tanks and ones that are 15 years old dont look half as bad as that! wow ---
**Author:** ![ds50r](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ds50r/32/3491_2.png) [@ds50r](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ds50r)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 9:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/15 "2012-12-17T09:58:18Z")
where do you live? ---
**Author:** ![JRubino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jrubino/32/6285_2.png) [@JRubino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JRubino)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/16 "2012-12-17T10:03:07Z")
> [@Ivana Trump's yacht in Buffalo Harbor UPDATE: \*Now with pics\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ivana-trumps-yacht-in-buffalo-harbor-update-now-with-pics/51282/37): > > time to buy a tankless water heater Tankless water heater will not solve his problem. He needs a water softener system. ---
**Author:** ![ninety1two40](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ninety1two40/32/6332_2.png) [@ninety1two40](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ninety1two40)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/17 "2012-12-17T10:10:38Z")
One thing nice about new natural gas hot water heaters, at least mine, is that it doesn’t need electricity so even when the power is out I still have hot water. It generates it’s own electricity for the control circuitry. ---
**Author:** ![pitman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4da419/32.png) [@pitman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/pitman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/18 "2012-12-17T10:11:06Z")
> [@Opie and Anthony](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/opie-and-anthony/25815/585): > > Tankless water heater will not solve his problem. He needs a water softener system. your right on the softener part. but for his hot water problems get a tankless. the hot water runs out when you have a tank. if its tankless it stays hot when ever you want hot. plus its energy efficient. when you dont want hot water the tankless doesnt heat the water. when you have a tank it keeps the water hot even when your not home. [http://www.culliganwatertroy.com/problem\_water.html?keyphrase=water+softener&creativeId=13669813016&provider=google&matchType=p&c=1786096133&bc=1786096171](http://www.culliganwatertroy.com/problem_water.html?keyphrase=water+softener&creativeId=13669813016&provider=google&matchType=p&c=1786096133&bc=1786096171) local companies ftw ---
**Author:** ![JRubino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jrubino/32/6285_2.png) [@JRubino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JRubino)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/19 "2012-12-17T10:19:07Z")
> [@Ivana Trump's yacht in Buffalo Harbor UPDATE: \*Now with pics\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ivana-trumps-yacht-in-buffalo-harbor-update-now-with-pics/51282/37): > > time to buy a tankless water heater > [@Ivana Trump's yacht in Buffalo Harbor UPDATE: \*Now with pics\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ivana-trumps-yacht-in-buffalo-harbor-update-now-with-pics/51282/40): > > your right on the softener part. but for his hot water problems get a tankless. the hot water runs out when you have a tank. if its tankless it stays hot when ever you want hot. plus its energy efficient. when you dont want hot water the tankless doesnt heat the water. when you have a tank it keeps the water hot even when your not home. > > [http://www.culliganwatertroy.com/problem\_water.html?keyphrase=water+softener&creativeId=13669813016&provider=google&matchType=p&c=1786096133&bc=1786096171](http://www.culliganwatertroy.com/problem_water.html?keyphrase=water+softener&creativeId=13669813016&provider=google&matchType=p&c=1786096133&bc=1786096171) > > local companies ftw His hot water problem is caused by the element getting clogged with calcium. A tankless will save him money but he needs to address the hard water first. ---
**Author:** ![pitman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4da419/32.png) [@pitman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/pitman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755/20 "2012-12-17T10:27:08Z")
> [@Can You Say Fast???](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-say-fast/51277/16): > > One thing nice about new natural gas hot water heaters, at least mine, is that it doesn’t need electricity so even when the power is out I still have hot water. It generates it’s own electricity for the control circuitry. how does the water pump to the heater? if its a electric pump you will just have a hot water heater with no water [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/water-heater-help/265755.md?page=2)