My hot water isn't hot like it use to. It lasts for 5 minutes in the shower. Can get one more time if I turn off for a few minutes. The water heater has never been serviced or water flushed since we moved here since 1980. I drained some of the water the other day and didn't notice any sediment except brownish water.

A plumber said all it needed was a upper element. He did not check the dip tube, elements and thermostat with a voltmeter or anything. I asked about the dip tube. He said it wasn't broken, but he didn't open the water heater. I tried to check the dip tube myself but it was too hard to turn for me.

Could the upper element be the only cause?

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I drained some of the water the other day and didn't notice any sediment except brownish water.

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And the "brown" in the water was caused by iron oxide,(rust) built up on the bottom of the tank. Your tank needs to be flushed, (more later).

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Could the upper element be the only cause?

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No! Get another plumber, this one didn't complete the call.! If you had hot water to begin with and it turned cool after a few minutes I would suspect the lower element before anything. A bad dip tube or upper element wouldn't give hot water to start with. The water would be warn followed by cold.

Now let's put your water heater on a monthly maintenance schedule.

For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by FLUSHING NOT DRAINING on a regular schedule. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run until the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white or yellow grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Do this monthly to keep it clear. Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back together the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my answer, Tom

Hi, thank you.

You were right, it is the lower element. Now the plumber is having a hard time removing the element because of the age. He said it was frozen. He's used heat, WD40, a chiesel. He was saying a new water heater if it can't be removed. Is there another way to get it off?

Just a update. He's going to drill a hole to remove. I hope this is OK.

He called after I read your first post. Then I ask him to clarify which element it was. A big sign of relief -- he said he was going to check each one. I think it was a voltmeter. My mom said it was OK to work on it.

Thanks for the info about flushing the water. I turned off the water the other day and not much water came out through the hose, except the little bowl it came out fine.

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Just a update. He's going to drill a hole to remove.

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You're still using the plumber that misdiangosed the job in the frirst place? And now he has more problems? OK! What's he going to drill? The two main types if heater elements are flange types that bolt in and screw type that thread in, (see images) Which one is he attempting to replace?
If it's a screw in type he is aware that they make a wrench(see image) especially for that doesn't he? When I get a stubborn screw in type I take and place a element wrench and a 18" pipe wrenchfor leverage and "gorilla" that sucker out. In all the years I've been out in the field, and there's been over 50 of them, I've never had to drill out a element to replace it. Good luck and thank you for rating my answer. Tom