Is there a way to control water level in water heater?
Posted on | May 14, 2010 | 5 Comments
I have a 75 gallon water heater in the basement, but I always run out of hot water after a 10 minute shower. Someone told me that my water heater might not be completely filled. Is there a way to check or control the water level in the water heater?
Thanks for the responses and link. The water heater is about 4 years old. I will flush the water heater as suggested this weekend.
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5 Responses to “Is there a way to control water level in water heater?”
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May 14th, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
mine did that too. i don’t know how to check the water level, but i just turned the temperature gauge up. now it lasts for like a half hour. it’s not on the highest temp either. with the temp higher more cold water has to mix with it to make it warm (so it doesn’t scald you) which makes for more total water and a longer shower. i don’t know about yours but ijust unscrewed a panel on the front and lifted up some insulation. there is a knob under that that can be set on 3 or four settings (doesn’t say temp number though). i just turned up one setting and that was it. now it lasts longer. hope this helps you but you may have already tried that.
May 14th, 2010 @ 7:52 pm
The way most water heaters work is the input and exit pipes are at the top of the tank. When you draw hot water out of the tank, cool water instantly replaces the hot water.
If the hot water wasn’t full, you would not get hot water at all. You would get a bunch of air and hissing noise out of your sink as the hot water heater filled. Eventually, would would get hot water out of the faucet.
If your hot water tank is 75 gallons and only provides 10 minutes of hot water, I suspect that the tank is full of sediment. I would shut the cold water supply off to the tank and put the pilot light in the “pilot” or off position and drain the tank out of the valve at the bottom of the tank. You may need ot drain and fill it several times to get all the sediment out.
Here is a link that describes the process a little more thoroughly:
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infwaterheater/infdrainwh.html
May 14th, 2010 @ 8:17 pm
A 75 gallon water heater should hold near that amount. A ten minute shower should not use up 75 gallons. To test it, take a 5 gallon bucket and turn on the hot water only. Fill the bucket then pour the bucket out until there is no more hot water. Multiply the number of buckets by 5. which will give you the amount of gallons. If it doesn’t equal near 75 gallons you probably have a build up in the the water heater tank. Sometimes a water heater will get a build up of sand, shale and minerals which takes up space in a water heater which gives you less water. Is your water heater new or old? If it is old you may have the problem that i just mentioned. Some shower heads have water miser filters that are supposed to help conserve water,may be yours don’t. Check it out.
May 14th, 2010 @ 8:49 pm
all things being ideal, I.E.
1) normal thermostat setting, and it is functioning normal
2) water heater isn’t too old and filled with sediment
your problem is probably the “DIP TUBE”. you will need a plumber to replace it. if the water heater is over warranty, don’t bother and replace the water heater.
May 14th, 2010 @ 9:02 pm
There is no way to adjust the amount in your water heater. The way a hot water heater works is> It is full and as you turn the water on the cold water that sup lies the heater pushes the water out. It is pressurized. That is why there is a safety pressure valve on it.You should get plenty of hot water with a 75 gal tank. What your problem may be is the water may not be getting hot enough. Three things that it can be if it is an electric one.It is not turned up high enough. It has one of the two heating elements burned out. The heating elements are covered with calcium build up, acting as a insulator.