Question
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Feb 23, 2006, 12:13 PM
| | New Member  | | Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 5
| | | Hot water runs out after 5-10 minutes
Hi,
Need some assistance: I have a 30 gallon gas hot water heater about 10 yrs old with copper plumbing and after taking the shower for 5-10 minutes, there is no more hot water.
What are some of the possible causes & fix?
Thank you,
Matt
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Answers
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Feb 23, 2006, 01:07 PM
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#2
| | | Plumbing Expert
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sarasota, Fl.
Posts: 13,105
Pay to call speedball1 for advice ($.95/min) | Quote: | Originally Posted by askme1 Hi,
Need some assistance: I have a 30 gallon gas hot water heater about 10 yrs old with copper plumbing and after taking the shower for 5-10 minutes, there is no more hot water.
What are some of the possible causes & fix?
Thank you,
Matt |
Hi Matt,
And 5 or 10 minutes are down from a normal shower of ? This could be caused by a dip tube that fell off, mineral buildup on the floor of the tank or a low thermostat setting. Have you considered changing your shower head for a "water saver" one? Cheers, tom |
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Feb 27, 2006, 01:09 PM
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#3
| | New Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 5
| Tom,
The next person would have to wait 30 minutes later to take a shower after the initial 5 or 10 minutes. What is a dip tube? The thermostat is set at almost to the end of "hot" so I would assume it is hot enough? Would some maintanance improve the capacity and what would you recommend? Also, Is the age of the water heater a potential cause?
Thanks alot for you help!!!
Matt | |
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Feb 27, 2006, 01:26 PM
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#4
| | | Plumbing Expert
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sarasota, Fl.
Posts: 13,105
Pay to call speedball1 for advice ($.95/min) | Hey Matt,
Your 10 year old heater most likely has mineral build up on the floor of the tank that's acting as a insulator. This would give you the slow recovery that your complaining about. If you had a bad dip tube your hot water would run out right away. My guess is that your heater has to be flushed clear of what's built up down there. For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by flushing on a regular schedule. let me show you how. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run untill the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Do this monthly to keep it clear. If you have 10 years of build up you may have to drain the heater and pour a can of C L R into it and let it set over night and then flush it out again. Your only other option would be to replace the heater since the average lifre of a water heater's 8 to 10 years. Good luck. tom
Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it | |
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Mar 6, 2006, 08:39 AM
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#5
| | New Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 5
| Tom,
What's the best way to pour the CLR into the tank without unsoldering the pipes?
Many thanks for all your help,
Matt | |
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Mar 6, 2006, 11:53 AM
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#6
| | | Plumbing Expert
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sarasota, Fl.
Posts: 13,105
Pay to call speedball1 for advice ($.95/min) | Quote: | Originally Posted by askme1 Tom,
What's the best way to pour the CLR into the tank without unsoldering the pipes?
Many thanks for all your help,
Matt |
Hi Matt,
Drain the heater and remove the the T & P valve,( Temperature. Pressure Relief) qnd pour it in there. Let it work overnight and next morning flush the heater out. regards, tom | |
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