My daughter recently moved into a new 3 story Townhouse with her own electric water heater. When she showers between 5am - 6am she does not have enough hot water but if she showers at 9am she does. Townhouse actually replaced her electric water heater because they thought it might be the top element but she still has the same problem. She has heat trap nipples installed in both the hot and cold pipes... could one of these be defective and causing her problem ?

Concerned Dad

Townhouse actually replaced her electric water heater because they thought it might be the top element That doesn't make sense, If they thought them top element was faulty why replace the water heater? Wouldn't it make more sense to simply replace the upper element?
It was a good guess why she ran out of hot water at 5 AM but doesn't explain why she didn't run out of hot water at 9.
Heat nipples, see image) could restrict the flow but not restrict hot water from leaving the heater. Let's look elsewhere. Did the shower ever work or was it like this when she moved in? Is there a recirculating system installed on your hot water system? Any other details you can furnish me? Back to you, Tom

Is your daughter on any kind of energy saving plan with the electric power company?

Doesn't make sense to me either. She just moved in and has had the problem since day one. There is no recirculating system and she is not on a savings plan with the electric company. I had wondered if the heat trap nipple was defective, perhaps losing heat overnight and because her tank is only 30 gal. maybe it doesn't keep enough hot water during the period (we do live in a winter climate but the water heater is on the first floor inside and her shower is on the 3rd floor). They were looking at changing the top element but they are building additional Townhouses next to hers so they thought it would be just as quick to replace the Rheem heater rather then order a new part, etc. As soon as she meets her new neighbors she will ask them if they are experiencing a similar problem.

Still confused

I would be confused also. There is no kind of timing device in the wiring to the heater is there? Just a 2-wire cable connected going inside the heater, right. What's the model number.

Your statement "does not have enough hot water " is a bit vague. Does the volume drop way down or is the water just cooler than it should be, nvere gets piping hot no matter how long it runs?

No timer, just the 2 wire in. At 5am the water will run for at least 4 minutes and then slowly gets cool... but it will run for twice that in the afternoon before it gets cool. It's a Rheem model pro425tm.

Even twice that long is not sufficient. That holds 37.5 imperial gallons, so you are in Canada, right? It should be capabile of running full hot for over 1`0-15 minutes. Is the volume down when the water cools?

Very strange. Suggestion, when shower temperature has cooled, check temperature of bath sink and kitchen sink. Don't know what that will tell you but it might be related to temperature balancing in shower valve. Which is really a pressure balancing valve. I don't think either the water heater or the shower valve know what time it is but there has to be something different.

Would it be possible to check the voltage going into the heater at 5 am?
My home is 58 years old with the same 30 gallon, one element counter top water heater that came with it, This heater serviced three people for years until my father dies and I bought the house from my mother. After that it serviced two people until now. I don't think volume is your problem. I can't come up with any reason why you wouldn't be getting hot water at 5 am but have it at 9. This couldn't even be a bad dip tube or top element if she gets all the hot water she needs later. I can come up with something but it's way out there.
Here goes, If another unit were connected to, and drawing off your heater 6then early morning showers before work would be your big demand period. You would run out of water real fast. Everybody leaves for work and the heater recovers so you have lots of hot water at 9am.
Could this be possible? I realize that this is out in left field but it's the only explanation that's come up so far. And your thoughts? Regards, Tom