[mbrideau]

I wrote earlier about an issue with my water but some of it seems to have cleared up.

What is happening now is I have cold water running throughout the house but I have no hot water at all. A couple drips (if I'm lucky) in the sink near the hot water tank then it stops and that is it.

The utility company that switched it out says the problem is not the water heater (but won't send someone to check) and something must be plugged after the water heater so its my issue to deal with. Before we had the old one upgraded our water was perfectly fine. Also during the switch, they had to add new piping and sodder (spelling?) some connections together as everything looks different from the original.

Help!

[afaroo]

We need some more information, did some one replaced your water heater, is it electric or gas?

Thanks.
John

[Stratmando]

Any valves nearby they forgot to turn back on.
When you turn on just the hot water, do you get cold water or No water.
"It seems to have cleared up", but now you have no water? What improved?

[mbrideau]

Thanks!
Yes, someone (the utility company's contractor) replaced my water heater as the previous one was 18 years old. It is an electric water heater.

When they replaced it they had to cut some new pipes and sodder them together. The pipes directly coming to the water heater look a little different than before but probably because the water heater itself is different.

Now here is the strange part imo.

I have cold water in the house and the pressure is great BUT once I turn on the hot water valve my pressure in my cold water faucet cuts in about half. And once the hot water valve is turned on it sounds as though the water heater is filling up but it is already full and at the same time you hear something draining. If I turn on the hot water faucet in any part of the house I get no hot water and I have removed all the screens etc off the faucets. Once I shut off the hot water completely my cold water runs fine again.

The folks who did the work said my well water is low and that is the problem. Last night, I shut off the pump completely and didn't touch our water for about 12 hours. This morning I did get a little bit of brown water from a couple of my faucets but cleared up quickly and is clear. I've left it on while I went to work so my family could use the washroom at least.

Marc

[mbrideau]

Any valves nearby they forgot to turn back on.
When you turn on just the hot water, do you get cold water or No water.
"It seems to have cleared up", but now you have no water? what improved?

The it seems to cleared up comment wasn't stated properly when I wrote it. I guess I meant to say I have water, its only cold water.

[Stratmando]

Is Breaker turned back on, if heater had power with no water, element may be bad.
Almost sounds like the out from the hot from water heater is connected to the overflow?
Do you see where the overflow exits the house?

[mbrideau]

Not sure where the overflow exits the house to be honest

[Stratmando]

Is their 3 pipes at the water heater and can they be mixed up, or not likely?
If you have cold water, pump should be good.

[mbrideau]

There are 3 pipes in the wall behind the water heater. Two have blue handles (copper pipes) and one is red and white. The blue ones are open and right now the red/white is closed.

[Stratmando]

See what opening the last valve does, also being ready to shut off.
The valve that is shut off, where does that pipe connect to. Hot Out?

[mbrideau]

Not at home to double check but I'm quite sure it is ~hot out~

[Stratmando]

If so, turning that valve on may fix problem. Good Luck, Take care, will check back later.

[mbrideau]

When I turn on that valve that is when I lose half the water pressure for my cold water, the water heater sounds like it is filling and I hear water draining at the same time

[Stratmando]

It may just SOUND like draining, let it run a bit and see if it needs filling?

[mbrideau]

The problem is being fixed. The company who switched the water heater actually hooked up the hot water to the overflow (if that is the proper name) so the water was coming in to the water heater and it would drain right back out the house so that is why it was sounding like it was filling up and draining all at the same time. What a mess! They will need to come back and fix up some of the wall.

[Stratmando]

Likely not the proper name, maybe High Pressure relief or something like that.
Good Luck.

[mbrideau]

Tks for your help. Much appreciated

[Stratmando]

Let me know the final Resusts/Damage?
Take Care