[dec101]

I have a water heater about 7 years old. The water is rather warm in the summer-this only happens in the summer time! I have to turn it up before taking a shower, and tomorrow it will be too cool again and I have to turn up again next day. I ended up turning it downing after shower to avoid super hot water. What is the problem with my water heater? Thanks!

[Milo Dolezal]

I think what happens is that when you turn hot water on you are getting warm water that is warm from pipe being run through attic. Before the real hot water (from w/h) arrives, you finished showering. The pipe may not be even run trough attic but can be warm from being buried in the ground.

This is common problem in areas where it gets really hot for longer period - like in SFV area of L.A..

Try this: turn hot water On tomorrow morning and wait 5 minutes. See if hot water arrives. Let us know what you have found out... Back to you.. Milo

[speedball1]

When you let the water run for awhile will it get hot enough to use? How long a run is it from the heater to your shower? Is this a gas or electric heater? Has this problem been ongoing or did it just start? Back to you, Tom

[dec101]

When you let the water run for awhile will it get hot enough to use? How long a run is it from the heater to your shower? Is this a gas or electric heater? Has this problem been ongoing or did it just start? Back to you, Tom

Tom,

Sorry for not getting this back to you quick enough. I tried to let the water run for about five minutes but it was still warm. I then waited for another 5 minutes and turn on the water, and then water was warmer. The run from the water heater is not too long - straight from the basement to the second floor. It is a gas heater and I have the problem for the past three or four years. My best guess is that the sensor is not reading the temp right - I mean it thinks the water is hot enough (at or above the set temperature) therefore it never turns on the fire until enough COLD water is added in.

Thanks!

[Missouri Bound]

If you have unusually hard water there could be enough sediment in the tank to "trick" the temperature probe on the gas valve. Do your faucets show signs of sediment from hard water?

[dec101]

If you have unusually hard water there could be enough sediment in the tank to "trick" the temperature probe on the gas valve. Do your faucets show signs of sediment from hard water?

My water should be soft because I use a water softener. But the first 3 year of this new house I di not have a water softener, I did notice a lots of sediments. It turned out the water here has being always soft, but the new houses for some reason had high level of regular sediment - coming from construction (not sure why).

If say this is caused by the sediment down the bottom, how do I clean it?

[hkstroud]

This sound like a broken or deteriorated dip tube to me.