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    delschmi's Avatar
    delschmi Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Nov 18, 2008, 07:31 AM
    New water heater will not heat
    Hi all,

    We just bought a Kenmore Miser Electric Water heater last night and installed it. Actually my father in law installed it. He is a general contractor, so I feel comfortable about the install. However, our problem is, we have no hot water. It has been almost 12 hours since the new water heater went in, and still no hot water. We can not figure out what is going on. We did everything according to the directions, and nothing is working. Please help! I am tired of cold showers, esp. when its about 30 degrees here!
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #2

    Nov 18, 2008, 07:34 AM

    Check the following:

    1. Breakers
    2. Remove upper and lower access plates. They both have thermostats. Set them to 120 F.
    3. Under upper plate is fat red button. Push it in. Make sure it activated.
    4. Check your wiring. Maybe loose wire inside wire-nut ?

    Let us know how you did...
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #3

    Nov 18, 2008, 07:49 AM
    It's difficult to miss wire a new heater and both thermostats are factory set at 120 degrees. As Milo says, start at the breaker, is it on? Now on to the heater connection. You didn't cross the wires and connect one leg of the 220 to the ground did you? Do you have 220 volts there on the correct connections. Yes?
    Then check to see if the red overload button on the top thermostat's is not popped out. If you have checked all of that, you're getting power to the heater and your connections are correct I would suspect faulty thernostats. But my bet's on a faulty hookup. Good luck, Tom
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
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    #4

    Nov 18, 2008, 07:53 AM

    Well, if water is warm than that's a good start. Now, be patient. It will take about an hour for elec. Wh to heat up a full tank...
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    Nov 18, 2008, 08:07 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal View Post
    Well, if water is warm than that's a good start. Now, be patient. It will take about an hour for elec. Wh to heat up a full tank...
    Milo! Did you miss this?
    It has been almost 12 hours since the new water heater went in, and still no hot water.
    You were on track with your first post. What put you out in left field thinking it started to heat?
    Cheers, Tom
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
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    #6

    Nov 18, 2008, 08:28 AM

    Tom, I was replying to his comment he left in positive feedback line under my advice. He said: "... I pushed the red button..no change...water is warm but not hot..."

    Delschmi: IMPORTANT: Make sure BOTH THERMOSTATS are set to 120. Upper and Lower. Not only one. One element is not enough to heat up entire tank of water.

    Depending on manufacturer, Thermostats will be in some cases turned down to 70F as factory preset. Also, they are small dials. Make sure you turn it with skinny flat screw driver clockwise...
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #7

    Nov 18, 2008, 01:05 PM
    Milo, I'm working off the old skins that don't show comments. I he has only warm water and the thermostats are factory set at 120 degrees, (haven't run in to any set at 70. That wouldn't be too swift a factory setting) Then I would take a hard look at the elements. The lower one comes to mind. Regards, Tom
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