I have a well water system. 50 gal. electric A.O. Smith hot water heater. Had both heating elements and all 3 thermostats replaced. Have it turned up to almost 140. I have hot water in the tank but only 5 minutes of hot water top side. Water still flowes fine but very cold. PLEASE HELP. Jon

Did you check the dip tube?

http://www.pci-pcmcia-express.com/uploads/allimg/101116/1_10111618258_1.gif

No I haven't. I will, it seemed to fill OK. Thought if the tubes were blocked it would stop all or most of the water. I'm not a plumber, I'll check it out , Thanks.

Sounds like a faulty dip tube to me too. You must first understand the function of a dip tube,

A dip tube(see image) is a plastic tube in your water heater that directs the incoming cold water past the hot water in the upper part of the tank down to the bottom where it will be heated and raise to the top.It's located under the cold water inlet./ Unscrew the nut and check the tube to sse if it's still intact. Good luck, Tom

3Cat, this is a wonderful video on how its done:

Where's My Dip Tube??? - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8YS4SZu6TY)

Speedball, I was thinking the dip tube would be found under the cold water inlet as opposed to the hex nut. I'm thinking that it might be different for the A.O. Smith water heaters??

I'm going to ask you guys another question. Are there two types of dip tubes? I have found one that is double threaded versus others that simply have a lip at the top that sits under the cold water threaded nipple.

Always wanting to learn.

jlisenbe, yes you have described both types of common dip tubes. Also, you are correct about the placement of the dip tube. It is always directly under the cold water in nipple. The big hex nut is the anode rod.

In looking around, I stumbled across this. I know you guys probably get used to these situations, but I think I would have called a prayer meeting. New water heater!

Removing Difficult Nipple from Water Heater.mp4 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4HwCtqQTh0)

My bad! The anode rod is located under the large nut, The dip tube is , indeed, Under the CW in let. Tom

Thanks guys will check

Let us know how it goes.

jlisenbe, I watched the vid. Looks to me like they don't know how to use a pipe wrench correctly. If they actually used a pipe wrench with three side of the wrench touching the nipple, it would not have crushed in like that. Believe it or not there is a correct way and an incorrect way to use a pipe wrench. Of course, had I been called in to fix this problem after they had destroyed the nipple like they did, I would most likely have had to take a moment of prayer also, lol. Funny part is, if they would have just left the nipple alone, and connected the water lines to it, they would have found that the nipples will outlast the tank. Not really sure what they were trying to accomplish.

"Not really sure what they were trying to accomplish."

I wondered the same thing.

"If they actually used a pipe wrench with three side of the wrench touching"

So you are saying the nipple (or whatever) needs to be all the way down to the back of the pipewrench so that the two jaws AND the back of wrench (where the two jaws are attached) are in contact?

jlisenbe, as for your description of the touching parts of the pipe wrench, you are exactly correct. If only two sides are touching, you can distort or crush almost any nipple, nut, etc, no matter the thickness or strength of the material. All in all, the correct size pipe wrench, and the correct adjustment of the wrench is key for getting the job done more easily without distorting the item in question. You would be surprised how many times I have seen people put a pipe wrench on the nut of a union incorrectly and wonder why they can't get the union to seal. Its because they have misshapen the nut and it won't thread correctly. Worst part is, how would one know unless they were shown the correct way? Just like most things in life, if you are never taught the correct way, you have to eventually learn from the school of hard knocks. I have been enrolled in this school for many years, and don't see myself graduating any time soon. But I do tend to learn quickly from this rather astute schooling.

Point well taken. Thanks for the tip.