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weldon245 · Feb 23, 2009, 04:55 PM

I have recently changed the shower head and the pressure of the shower head is a lot greater than the last one, I now run out of hot water in like 3 minutes, is that normal ? But before I changed to the new shower head, hot water would stay on throughout the duration of a shower and continuous showers after that, but I gave one of my children a bath, the hot water would be gone before the tub was full. What problems do you think? Is the hot water heater big enough ?

Thanks
Jimmy

ballengerb1 · Feb 23, 2009, 04:59 PM

Weldon, I think you are using the word pressure to actually describe the volume of water. Your new head is allowing more water to come out every minute and now your heater can't recover fast enough. Installing a water saver shower head will extend the amount of time you will have hot water. However, we should alos talk further about your water heater, it should not run out this fast even with no shower head at all.

weldon245 · Feb 23, 2009, 05:09 PM

Ballengerb1

I understand about the water volume coming out and that makes sense, but how about the water going cold when filling up the tub for a bath ? What info do you need ?

ballengerb1 · Feb 23, 2009, 05:11 PM

Yep, time to talk about the heater. Is it gas or electric and roughly how old and how many gallons?

weldon245 · Feb 23, 2009, 05:18 PM

I believe it is 2004, operates by gas, 40 gallon short. Would draining help or some sort of preventive maintanence ? I brought the house about 4-5 years ago, so the water heater had to be new.

Milo Dolezal · Feb 23, 2009, 05:57 PM

Weldon245: Think logically...

You have 40gln hot water heater. For shower, you mix h/c water in ration 3:1. Your old shower head has flow of 4gln/minute. Once you turn hot water on , water heater will start refilling with cold water, mixing your hot water with cold. Result: you will deplete hot water in about 8 minutes.

Your new shower head depletes water slower bcs it is "water saving" shower head which uses about 2.2 gln/minute. Therefore, you may get longer showers.

Average tub holds 80glns of water. If you have 40glh heater - you will fill roughly 2/3 of the tub with hot water. If the tub happens to be cast iron one, water will start cooling rapidly as soon as it hits cold metal tub.

Makes sense ?

afaroo · Feb 23, 2009, 11:47 PM

Weldon,

Can you tell us what is the setting of your gas valve, see the image below, Thanks.

John

weldon245 · Feb 25, 2009, 03:08 PM

Afaroo,

It ranges from low to very hot. Hot has 3 settings A,B, and C. C being the very hottest it can get. The arrow or setting is on B.

afaroo · Feb 25, 2009, 06:16 PM

Hi Weldon,

Can you tell us the Brand and the model Number of your water heater, Thanks.

John

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 25, 2009, 06:32 PM

You may want to check the dip tube in cold(inlet)side of water heater. It is located directly under the nipple. Should be able to pull it up with a finger stuffed inside. See if it is broken or cracked. It should go about 2/3 the way down the tank. This is just one thing to check. Please let me know what you find and we will move on from there. IF dip tube is broken off or cracked, it will cause shortage of hot water because the cold incoming water is going directly to the hot outlet side. This would explain your three minute shower and lack of hot water when filling tub.

afaroo · Feb 25, 2009, 07:02 PM

Here here are some other links to show how the dip tube works, Thanks.

John

How a water heater dip tube works and what it looks like.

http://www.ronhazelton.com/tips/repa...n_dip_tube.htm

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 25, 2009, 07:37 PM

Great links afaroo. Thank YOU.

weldon245 · Feb 26, 2009, 09:39 AM

Afaroo,

Make: Kenmore Power Miser 6 Model#: 153.336260

Mygirlsdad77,

The inlet dip tube is located at the top of the tank, correct ? Just unscrew the nut and pull the tube out? Have to bare with me, not that handy inside the home, but all this feedback is teaching me something and helping.

ballengerb1 · Feb 26, 2009, 09:48 AM

Weldon, if you are locking at just a nut shaped object on the top of the heater, leave it alone, that's the anode rod. The inlet is one of two pipes entering the tank, the cold one.

weldon245 · Feb 26, 2009, 10:21 AM

Do these photos help ?

afaroo · Feb 26, 2009, 10:27 AM

Weldon,

If you open the second link in my post #11 will show the dip tube, and click on the seea veide about cleaning Aerators will open the link below and you will see where the dip tube is installed and what happens when it is failed, Thanks.

John

How to Install a Tankless Water Heater - Video

afaroo · Feb 26, 2009, 10:37 AM

Ses the picture below I marke for you where the dip tube to be installed, Thanks.

John

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 26, 2009, 05:53 PM

I see you have no union on top of water heater. You would have to cut the pipe on the cold side to remove nipple. This could possibly turn into more of a job than you want to take on. It may be time to call in for onsight help. If you would like to try this yourself. Please let us know. Can be quite simple for someone that works on these all the time, but can be frustrating for first time.

Milo Dolezal · Feb 26, 2009, 08:03 PM

Just noticing: your cold water supply is only 1/2". It should be 3/4". Rework that connection...

afaroo · Feb 26, 2009, 08:20 PM

Good catch Milo you have sharp eyes,

Thanks,
John