We find that when the hot water has not been used for several hours
there will be not sufficient hot water for a bath. If we for example,
run the dishwaher before the bath, there will be enough hot water.
Does this sound like the tank needs replacing? Tx, your suggestions
please. jesse

gas? electric? cold temp in? hot temp out? dip tube needed? electric
element failure?
take some water temperatures and check out your electric or gas water
heater troubleshooting. i'd temp check then bump up the thermostat
setting hotter and temp check in a few hours. use a digital thermometer
from the kitchen.
see:
http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pag...hot-water.html

yep, how old is the heater?

Jesse wrote:

We find that when the hot water has not been used for several hours
there will be not sufficient hot water for a bath. If we for example,
run the dishwaher before the bath, there will be enough hot water.
Does this sound like the tank needs replacing? Tx, your suggestions
please. jesse

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:45:35 -0800, JillAdams wrote:

yep, how old is the heater?

Jesse wrote:

We find that when the hot water has not been used for several hours
there will be not sufficient hot water for a bath. If we for example,
run the dishwaher before the bath, there will be enough hot water.
Does this sound like the tank needs replacing? Tx, your suggestions
please. jesse
It is a 40 gallon natural gas manufactured in 1999. I drained the tank
completely tonight after our baths and will see how it behaves
following this. I did not notice any debris in the water drained. Tx
four your reply. jesse

"Jesse" wrote in message
...
We find that when the hot water has not been used for several hours
there will be not sufficient hot water for a bath. If we for example,
run the dishwaher before the bath, there will be enough hot water.
Does this sound like the tank needs replacing? Tx, your suggestions
please. jesse

Could be the thermostat low limit. As the water sits, it cools down and the
thermostat should kick the burner on to bring it back up. See if there is a
setting for it.

yeah turn thermostat up just a little.

hope they turned OFF the burner or electric before draining tank!

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

Could be the thermostat low limit. As the water sits, it cools down and
the
thermostat should kick the burner on to bring it back up. See if there is
a
setting for it.

I did not realize these thermostats had low limit settings. Is the setting
hidden under some cover or screw?

I have a similar problem, but not quite as bad. If the hot water has not
been used for a while, it comes out at least 10 deg cooler, than with use.

Rich

In article , "RichK" wrote:

I have a similar problem, but not quite as bad. If the hot water has not
been used for a while, it comes out at least 10 deg cooler, than with use.

What a coincidence: I installed a brand new State 50-gal NG heater about
three weeks ago and have noticed the SAME thing. It is NOT annoying enough
that I am anxious for a "fix", but I HAVE noticed the cooler (less hot?) water
after a period non-use.
--

JR

"Jim Redelfs" wrote:

I have a similar problem, but not quite as bad. If the hot water has
not
been used for a while, it comes out at least 10 deg cooler, than with
use.

What a coincidence: I installed a brand new State 50-gal NG heater about
three weeks ago and have noticed the SAME thing. It is NOT annoying
enough
that I am anxious for a "fix", but I HAVE noticed the cooler (less hot?)
water
after a period non-use.

Mine is also made by State a 40gal, but a few years old. Beginning to
wonder.

I've been at this place for not quite a year and noticed it right away.
Have not observed this on any other heater before.

RichK

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 11:55:29 -0500, "RichK" wrote:


"Jim Redelfs" wrote:

I have a similar problem, but not quite as bad. If the hot water has
not
been used for a while, it comes out at least 10 deg cooler, than with
use.

What a coincidence: I installed a brand new State 50-gal NG heater about
three weeks ago and have noticed the SAME thing. It is NOT annoying
enough
that I am anxious for a "fix", but I HAVE noticed the cooler (less hot?)
water
after a period non-use.

Mine is also made by State a 40gal, but a few years old. Beginning to
wonder.

I've been at this place for not quite a year and noticed it right away.
Have not observed this on any other heater before.

RichK

Ours is a 40 gallon made for Sears in 1999, I've drained the tank then
refilled and turned up the temp a bit. We will know tonight as we are
both away in the afternoon and we will try the bath before running the
dishwasher. Fenny wants me to replace the appliance but I'm not
convinced that it will solve the situation. There must be a solution,
I was convinced that the bottom of the tank was silted but on draining
everything that came out was clean. We need more suggestions please
Tx. jesse

"Jesse" wrote in message

Ours is a 40 gallon made for Sears in 1999, I've drained the tank then
refilled and turned up the temp a bit. We will know tonight as we are
both away in the afternoon and we will try the bath before running the
dishwasher.

Been thinking, although this may not be your situation.

In the past, I used to set the heater much hotter, so I could not hold my
hand under the hot water and easily compare.

With the present heater, I've been running it much lower, such that I can
hold my hand in the running hot water. Now I can tell the diff and confirm
with a thermometer, when it's hotter or not as hot.

Before it never occurred to me to measure the temp - it was always HOT.
Perhaps the differential was always there.

RichK

Thermstats arent precision instruments. The 10 degree bounce you see is
probably normal for your tank.

theres a easy work around as soon as you get home run some hot water.
this will trip the burner on, and reheat the water.

although its easier to just set the temp up a little.

you will also notice that after using lots of hot water the temp can
end up more than normal

"RichK" wrote in message
...

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

Could be the thermostat low limit. As the water sits, it cools down and
the
thermostat should kick the burner on to bring it back up. See if there
is
a
setting for it.

I did not realize these thermostats had low limit settings. Is the
setting
hidden under some cover or screw?

I have a similar problem, but not quite as bad. If the hot water has not
been used for a while, it comes out at least 10 deg cooler, than with use.

Rich



The setting is not user accessable. It is determined by the control unit
and generally tracks with the setpoint.

This is normal and depending on the tank size, efficiency of the insulation
and frequency of your use, you'll notice it more or less than others.

To deal with it, I run the hot into the tub until it feels warm then stop
and wait 15 min for the WH to heat to full temp. That little bit of water I
use to prime the Hot pipe causes enough cold to be introduced into the tank
to kick on the burner but not so much it that takes a long time to heat up.
When I return the hot tap is primed and the tank is topped off at max set
temp.

Similar to you using the dishwasher but more optimized to filling the tub.
I probably don't even need to run the hot as much as I do to het the WH to
light.

Without this trick, I could not fill my tub at one time, 30-45 min to heat a
depleated tank to usable temp.

PS my hot pipes are insulated.

On Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:15:49 GMT, "PipeDown"
wrote:


"RichK" wrote in message
...

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

Could be the thermostat low limit. As the water sits, it cools down and
the
thermostat should kick the burner on to bring it back up. See if there
is
a
setting for it.

I did not realize these thermostats had low limit settings. Is the
setting
hidden under some cover or screw?

I have a similar problem, but not quite as bad. If the hot water has not
been used for a while, it comes out at least 10 deg cooler, than with use.

Rich



The setting is not user accessable. It is determined by the control unit
and generally tracks with the setpoint.

This is normal and depending on the tank size, efficiency of the insulation
and frequency of your use, you'll notice it more or less than others.

To deal with it, I run the hot into the tub until it feels warm then stop
and wait 15 min for the WH to heat to full temp. That little bit of water I
use to prime the Hot pipe causes enough cold to be introduced into the tank
to kick on the burner but not so much it that takes a long time to heat up.
When I return the hot tap is primed and the tank is topped off at max set
temp.

Similar to you using the dishwasher but more optimized to filling the tub.
I probably don't even need to run the hot as much as I do to het the WH to
light.

Without this trick, I could not fill my tub at one time, 30-45 min to heat a
depleated tank to usable temp.

PS my hot pipes are insulated.

I've discovered that there really is a solution to the water hot too
late problem. One could install a timer controlled re circulating pump
to move the hot water resulting in hot water on demand. The pump alone
here is priced at $450 so it will be the dishwasher first for us.
Thanks for all your thoughts. jesse

"Jesse" wrote in message
...
We find that when the hot water has not been used for several hours
there will be not sufficient hot water for a bath. If we for example,
run the dishwaher before the bath, there will be enough hot water.
Does this sound like the tank needs replacing? Tx, your suggestions
please. jesse

The tank was made in 1999, which I think was right during the time frame for
a lawsuit regarding the plastic used in dip tubes of that era - they crumble
& disappear in the tank because they changed the formula for the plastic.
Check for a missing dip tube on the cold water intake. It's a $10 part.

Also, make a heat trap out of copper pipe on the hot water side. I did that
to mine and the heater doesn't light up as much as it used to - the heat
stays in the tank, it doesn't radiate through the pipes anymore (makes
insulated pipes unnecessary). I don't think the 6" long heat traps you can
buy will do much good nor last very long because they are nothing more than
nipples with rubber flapper valves in them. Making one out of copper pipe
or a long section of copper flex tube will last forever and always work -
laws of physics.

Otherwise it sounds like a normal hot water heater that just doesn't get
used enough. Mine acts this way sometimes, and sometimes I've set my
dishwasher to delay starting for about 4 hours after I go to bed so that
I'll have HOT water in the morning.

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:33:40 -0700, "Bob M." wrote:


"Jesse" wrote in message
.. .
We find that when the hot water has not been used for several hours
there will be not sufficient hot water for a bath. If we for example,
run the dishwaher before the bath, there will be enough hot water.
Does this sound like the tank needs replacing? Tx, your suggestions
please. jesse

The tank was made in 1999, which I think was right during the time frame for
a lawsuit regarding the plastic used in dip tubes of that era - they crumble
& disappear in the tank because they changed the formula for the plastic.
Check for a missing dip tube on the cold water intake. It's a $10 part.

Also, make a heat trap out of copper pipe on the hot water side. I did that
to mine and the heater doesn't light up as much as it used to - the heat
stays in the tank, it doesn't radiate through the pipes anymore (makes
insulated pipes unnecessary). I don't think the 6" long heat traps you can
buy will do much good nor last very long because they are nothing more than
nipples with rubber flapper valves in them. Making one out of copper pipe
or a long section of copper flex tube will last forever and always work -
laws of physics.

Otherwise it sounds like a normal hot water heater that just doesn't get
used enough. Mine acts this way sometimes, and sometimes I've set my
dishwasher to delay starting for about 4 hours after I go to bed so that
I'll have HOT water in the morning.

Could you please tell me more about this heat trap made from copper
pipe. Tx jesse

"Jesse" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:33:40 -0700, "Bob M." wrote:


"Jesse" wrote in message
. ..
We find that when the hot water has not been used for several hours
there will be not sufficient hot water for a bath. If we for example,
run the dishwaher before the bath, there will be enough hot water.
Does this sound like the tank needs replacing? Tx, your suggestions
please. jesse

The tank was made in 1999, which I think was right during the time frame
for
a lawsuit regarding the plastic used in dip tubes of that era - they
crumble
& disappear in the tank because they changed the formula for the plastic.
Check for a missing dip tube on the cold water intake. It's a $10 part.

Also, make a heat trap out of copper pipe on the hot water side. I did
that
to mine and the heater doesn't light up as much as it used to - the heat
stays in the tank, it doesn't radiate through the pipes anymore (makes
insulated pipes unnecessary). I don't think the 6" long heat traps you
can
buy will do much good nor last very long because they are nothing more
than
nipples with rubber flapper valves in them. Making one out of copper pipe
or a long section of copper flex tube will last forever and always work -
laws of physics.

Otherwise it sounds like a normal hot water heater that just doesn't get
used enough. Mine acts this way sometimes, and sometimes I've set my
dishwasher to delay starting for about 4 hours after I go to bed so that
I'll have HOT water in the morning.

Could you please tell me more about this heat trap made from copper
pipe. Tx jesse


It's nothing more than a loop of pipe, or flex tube. It needs to be 6-12"
tall. Here's what happens: Heat rises, but it won't sink, so the heat goes
up one side of the loop and across the top but not down the other side. Two
long straight pieces (9-12"), two short straight pieces and 4 elbows are all
you need to make this happen. I've heard it can be made by taking a 36"
flex tube and bending it into a loop, but (IMO) flex tube isn't much more
flexible than copper pipe.