Ok, I'll start by stating that I don't know how much info I'll need to provide for you to help me so if you need more, let me know.

I have a gas water heater that's in an outside storage room. Most of the time the water temperature is fine. I think I have it set around 120. I have a toddler so I don't think I want it much higher than that. Funny thing, sometimes when I use my hot water it comes out cool/lukewarm (no matter how long I let it run). If I had to guess, sometimes it even feels "room temperature", so like around 75 degrees.

I don't know what to think because the water heater is fairly new (was installed when the house was built in 2002) and it does seem to warm up just fine sometimes. But others times, and it seems pretty randomly, I get water that's too chilly to wash dishes or bathe comfortably.

Any suggestions? :confused:

Thanks for your help!

There is a plastic tube inside the heater to draw the hot water off the floor of the tank rather than catch any cold coming inside. That tube can fail and is sometimes damaged during installtion by heating a copper pipe too much and melting the dip tube. Your tube may be faulty.

So this tube failing would cause me to get hot water sometimes and sometimes not?

How do I know if this is the case?

It can cause fluctuating supplies of hot , then cooler water. Under the same conditions this fluctuation should be similar each time. A lot depends on if there is any other draw on your water while you are filling the tube.

That's the thing, I haven't noticed that the conditions are similar each time. It's seemed pretty random. I initially thought that maybe the outside weather was having an effect (since the heater is essentially outside - was a just a theory) but it happens regardless of the temps outside. Sometimes happens in the mornings, sometimes evenings.

But I can say for sure that water is being only used in one place at a time. So only one bath filled, or load of laundry, or load of dishes.

The bad dip tube can be checked by removing the incoming supply line at the top of the heater. The dip tube is immediately under the last nipple. Have you power flushed your heater in the past 6 months, were there any bits of white junk in the water?

No I've never power flushed it. How do I go about doing that? And is that something that should be done regularly?

Thanks

Yes, every year or every 6 months if you have minerals in your water. It is simple, just attach a garden hose to the drain spigot on the bottom of the tank. Direct the hose to waste via a floor drain, sump pump or outside, now open the spigot. Observe the water or strain it and you'll see bits or debris. White specks that easily mush between your fingers is usually bits of dip tube gone bad. Unscrew and aerator from your kitchen or bath room spigot, they may have some of the same specks.

Thanks, never knew any of this. So will the hose just screw onto the heater?

As for replacing the dip tube, is that something relatively simple that I should be able to do myself or do I need to call a professional?

The standard garden hose will screw directly onto that spigot, turn twist the spigot collar, hose and all, counterclockwise. The tip tube is easy to replace if you where able to remove the supply line. If the supply line removal is over your head a bit then a pro can do it or even a handyman.

I will try the power flushing this weekend and see how it goes from there!

Btw, is the dip tube a standard sized tube or would it vary based on the model of the heater?

Great question, I have never seen a varied size dip tube so I have always assumed they are standar. We all know what assume can do, right? I think you are safe if this is a residential 30-80 gallon heater. Come back anytime

I was just wondering because I've got to go to Home Depot today to pick up a new handle for for my shower faucet and maybe I could grab it while I'm there.

I feel another question coming on because I've been having problems with that as well... :)

Last time I was at HD they had them hanging in a sleeve right by the heaters. You may need to ask the clerk for help finding them.

So I went to HD this evening after work... I couldn't find the dip tubes. I walked up and down the aisle a few times and saw various other connectors, PVC piping, etc... but not these dip tubes that you speak of.

I ask a clerk (a couple clerks actually) and they looked at me like I'd just stepped out of a spaceship. They asked me a couple questions (I think to try to throw me off because that's how they treat women, in my opinion).

I repeat what it is that I'm looking for, explain the situation, repeated a few of the catch phrases and terms learned in this post, and they still looked at me like I just made this up. One customer even proceeded to butt into the conversation between me and the clerk and told me that this part was not something I could buy separately.

That being said, from what had been described here, I was confident that it'd be relatively easy to find (installing, well maybe a different story).

Sooooooo... Can you give me a better description or post a pic so that I will know exactly what I'm looking for when I go back? Or maybe I should try Lowe's next time?

THANKS!

Some folks at some store are fools. Becqause they do not know their store or anything about the department they should not be there. Dip tubes are replaceable as are scraficial anode rods but these guys will all tell you they can't be bought separately, fools. Go to the yellow pages and look under plumbing supply, call and ask them. They may also give your free accurate advice on installation, they are not fools.

There is a plastic tube inside the heater to draw the hot water off the floor of the tank rather than catch any cold coming inside. that tube can fail and is sometimes damaged during installtion by heating a copper pipe too much and melting the dip tube. Your tube may be faulty.

It's seldom,( I think this is the first time) that I have to post a correction to Bobs answers. Bob's referring to the dip tube.(see image) The dip tube's a plastic tube located just under the cold water inlet. It sends cold water down to the bottom of the tank where it will be heater and raise to the top of the heater where a second element will maintain the heat. The hot water doesn't remain on the bottom. Hot water like hot air raises.
Sorry Bob, but, truth be told, I make more mistakes then you do. Hugs all around! Tom

Thanks Tom,
So from what I stated, do you still think it's the dip tube or do you think it may be something different?

Thanks A LOT for the picture!! That's really helpful.

Another thing the nosy customer at HD suggested was that maybe my thermostat was faulty. How does this sound to you guys here? I didn't think it was the case since it does get warm and it's a fairly new appliance.

No problem here Tom , I did describe the function of that dip backasswards. Should have had my second cup of joe. I'd stick with a bad dip tube but anything can happen so a bad thermostst is not impossible, just not likely.

I'm with Bob on this, The first thing I would be checking is the dip tube.
As you can see by the image a broken dip tube will allow cold eater to remain on top tempering the hot water. You would get hot water at first followed by a spurt of cool wate. Good luck, Tomr

Just here to agree with Tom and Bob. Dip tube would be my fist check, especially on a gas water heater. They are cheap, fairly easy to replace and come in standard size(only may have to cut a little length off the bottom to fit height of water heater, dip tube is usually about six inches off bottom of tank). On a gas water heater, a fualty thermostat means a bad gas valve, which is spendy and almost worth replacing water heater itself. You said water heater is fairly new, how new. It may be under warranty. Might be time to have the installer back to check this out. Good luck and please let us know what you find.

Thanks guys!

Tom, that 2nd picture really makes the connection for me and I understand it!

I called a plumbing supply company today and the guy told me that I needed the model of the heater so that he could check; which of course I didn't have while I was at work. I told him that I thought it was a standard part and he told me it varies by brand/model... :confused:

Do you think my only option is a plumbing supply company? (Asking because most have business hrs parallel to my work hrs)

Mygirlsdad, My house was built in 2002 so that makes the water heater about 7 yrs old so I doubt it's still under warranty at this point. I didn't move into my home until 2006 so I don't know who did the installation.

You have to have a model number to order a dip tube? Most of the 40 gallon heaters that we sold all had the same size dip tube. 50 gallon? Longer dip tube. I always thought 40 gallon heaters just had one size dip tube. Have things changed so much since I've retired? Cheers, Tom

Thanks Tom, that was the understanding I got from the posts here- that it was a standard size. Unless he was referring to the size of the tank? But no, I specifically remember him asking me the brand/model of the tank. When I told him that I thought it was a standard part- he (the guy on the phone at the plumbing supply company), made me feel foolish and insisted that it varies by manufacturer.

My guess would be the standard 40 gallon tank- I haven't looked at it but it's a small home and of all the heaters I've seen before, this one looks "average".

But do you think my only option is a plumbing supply company for this?

There should b e a sticker on the front that gives you the capacity of the heater and the wattage of the elements. Call another plumbing shop and tell them you want a dip tube for a 40 gallon water heater. If it's too long you can always cut the end off. Good luck, Tom

Will I need any special tools for this or is it a matter of pulling one off and putting the new one on? And if I need to cut it, heavy duty shears or would I need a hacksaw?

Will I need any special tools for this or is it a matter of pulling one off and putting the new one on? And if I need to cut it, heavy duty shears or would I need a hacksaw?

It will depend on what fitting's threaded into the cold water inlet of the heater as to how you go about replacing the dip tube. A picture would be nice otherwise just tell me what fitting's in there. Regards, Tom

Ok, thanks I'll try to take a pic this evening


It will depend on what fitting's threaded into the cold water inlet of the heater as to how you go about replacing the dip tube. A picture would be nice otherwise just tell me what fitting's in there. regards, Tom

I took a couple pics and was just able to get them uploaded... let me know if this helps at all. I checked and my heater is 40 gal.

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This is the part I bought at Lowe's over the weekend. It was the closest thing I could find and was around $5. Let me know if this is right? :confused:

The top of the tube is threaded. The material is like a slightly flexible PVC pipe.
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I added these pics last night 6/22, but for some reason the time stamp says my last post was 6/18... so I don't even know if the thread was updated. :confused:

It looks like the mods may have merged the posts (even though they were several days apart)...

Anyhow, my question now is (if that's the right part) how I would go about getting this part in the tank?


I have another question about power flushing my tank... I attempted to do it the other night. I hooked up the hose and made sure the rubber washer was in place but I can't get a tight seal so every time I open the faucet, the water spews everywhere. Any suggestions?

A garden hose with the washer may require you to tighten with a pair of plyers. Is the drain spigot plastic or brass?

It's plastic

I tried without the washer and I got about the same results. I'll try pliers next.

Did I buy the right part? :confused:

From what I saw in the picture it is the right part but will be difficult to install since all of your connections are sweat fitted. Dip tube goes into the tank under the cold supply line feeding the tank. Shut down your main, drain a few gallons from the tank and unsweat the copper pipe that feeds in the cold, the dip tube is the last part you see screwed into the tank and there is a union that allows the copper to screw into the dip tube. Do not unsweat right at the dip tube, move up at least a foot to one of those elbows so you will avoid melting the new dip tube when you resweat. The hoes, try 2 rubber washers one on top of the other.

Hey just wanted to update you guys...

So after all this time showering with lukewarm water I had a good friend of mine come take a looky at my water heater since he knows a little about fixing stuff like this. He couldn't find anything wrong. He verified that everything was running OK with the water heater and gas. He determined that apparently the thermostat is "out of calibration".

My water heater was set for about 125 so that should be hot enough, he turned it up to 140 and that did the trick. I never turned it up because 140 is usually too hot and I didn't want to risk scalding my baby or myself. But otherwise he said everything is running fine.

Go figure. :o

Not sure if this would pose a problem in the future?

Great! Just glad it was a simple fix. Thanks for the update. Always a pleasure to help out another expert. Good luck, Tom