I just had my home re-piped and a water heater was installed. When the plumbers left, I washed dishes and noticed the flow of hot water decreasing. When I checked the water heater, the cold water intake valve was closed. I turned it on and have hot water, but wonder what damage was caused to the hot water heater. Any ideas?
I called the company and they said they will send out a technician tomorrow to check the heater which has a six-year warranty. What would they be able to determine?

Thanks

The water heater should not have gone dry... as they typically feed out the top and water is pushed out by the pressure of the incoming cold water. So it wasn't being displaced by air or anything that would have left the heating elements exposed.

There really should not be any damage.

I don't know if it is quite that easy an answer, Smoothy... ;) It certainly could be, too, but let me double check a bit here...

The first thing I would need to know is if this was an electric or a gas water heater (Smoothy assumed electric).

Next, I would want to know how long you had to leave your faucet open to get running water AFTER you opened the "cold water intake valve". Was it a long time and you had tons of air spitting out for a long time until you got the water flowing properly and hot or was hot water flow almost instantaneous, or was there just cold water after the air cleared the lines?

After we get these answers we can tell you more, OK?

Mark

Hi Smoothy and Mark
Thank you for your answers. It is an electric heater. I am pretty sure I got hot water soon after opening the valve.
Mike

Hi Mike,
Is sounds like no damage was done. If you're getting hot water and it doesn't turn cool right away. Then the top element is still working. This time you luck out.
Always nice to see a happy ending. Good luck, Tom

Thanks Tom