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    charchinn's Avatar
    charchinn Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Aug 21, 2010, 04:39 PM
    How do I unclog hot water line
    Have electric hot water heater have cold water through entire house but no hot water comes out from any faucets. I assume hot water line is clogged. How do I unclog it?
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #2

    Aug 21, 2010, 04:56 PM

    Charchinn

    Has hot water just suddenly stopped or is this a new property to you? More info. Would help.

    Start by checking the cold water shutoff going into the water heater. Open the valve if it got closed or close it if it is open and hopefully that will dislodge anything stuck at the shutoff.

    Make sure the cold water shutoff valve is open after that and then check for hot water at a nearby faucet (remove aerator first).

    If that fails to give you hot water back you would then you want to check the drain at the water heater. When you open the drain do you get pressurized water for 15-20 seconds or barely any flow? If pressurized flow then the next place to check could be the heat trap nipple if you have these in place. Let us know if highly pressurized and we will describe a heat trap nipple.

    Also, look around for a shutoff on the hot water pipe out of the water heater... could be that got closed or is clogged.

    You may or may not (?) need to shut off the electricity to the water heater until you figure this out... up to you.

    Back to you... Mark
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #3

    Aug 21, 2010, 05:04 PM

    Normally water lines do not get clogged. A valve in the water line can get blocked but since you have not hot water through the house the problem is at the water heater.

    The problem will be

    A. the cold water input line to the water heater has been closed.

    B. You have heat trap nipples on the water heater and they have corroded to the extent that they block the flow of water.

    C. It has been so long since you flushed your water heater that you can't remember how long it has been.


    Connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater. Put the other end in a sink or a floor drain. Open the drain valve and let the water run until it is clear. The volume of water coming out the hose should be equivalent to the water out of a hose connect to an outside faucet. If you don't get that kind of flow, mineral deposits have built up in the bottom of the heater and are blocking the dip tube in the heater. That most likely means a new water heater.
    jmcintyrejr's Avatar
    jmcintyrejr Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #4

    Aug 14, 2012, 08:44 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by jmcintyrejr View Post
    when i tried to drain the hot water heater at the bottom nothing would come out!
    It is a water heater that is only a year or 2 old, in fact the handle at the bottom came off but no water came out

    How do I unclog or get my hot water to come into my faucets. I mean it comes out but just about the size of a pencil, and it is the same at all outlets[
    h
    ][/B]
    jmcintyrejr's Avatar
    jmcintyrejr Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #5

    Aug 14, 2012, 08:53 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by massplumber2008 View Post
    Charchinn

    Has hot water just suddenly stopped or is this a new property to you? More info. Would help.

    Start by checking the cold water shutoff going into the water heater. Open the valve if it got closed or close it if it is open and hopefully that will dislodge anything stuck at the shutoff.

    Make sure the cold water shutoff valve is open after that and then check for hot water at a nearby faucet (remove aerator first).

    If that fails to give you hot water back you would then you want to check the drain at the water heater. When you open the drain do you get pressurized water for 15-20 seconds or barely any flow? If pressurized flow then the next place to check could be the heat trap nipple if you have these in place. Let us know if highly pressurized and we will describe a heat trap nipple.

    Also, look around for a shutoff on the hot water pipe out of the water heater...could be that got closed or is clogged.

    You may or may not (?) need to shut off the electricity to the water heater until you figure this out...up to you.

    Back to you...Mark
    My tank is not electric it is gas only,also I have galvanize pipe in my house and when ever I take something alose you can see brown stuff inside the pipes!
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #6

    Aug 15, 2012, 06:02 AM
    Hi jmcintyrejr and welcome to The Plumbing Page at AskMeHelpDesk.com
    You ask,
    how do I unclog or get my hot water to come into my faucets.
    But you're not paying attention to the advice Mark and Harold's giving you. Heat trap nipples (see image), Do you have them?
    The cold water supply valve. Is it open?
    n fact the handle at the bottom came off but no water came out
    That tells me that you don't flush your heater and the minerals bare built up to the point of clogging the boiler drain, Not a good sign.
    when ever I take something alose you can see brown stuff inside the pipes!
    The "brown stuff" is iron oxide (rust) built up in your pipe walls. That can only get worse. (see image) Sooner or later you're going to have to repipe with plastic.
    Answer Marks and Harolds questions and we'll get started on a repair, Regards, Tom
    Attached Images
      
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