Only the top eight inches of the tank gets hot.... the rest of the tank is cold to the touch... running the tap only gets about two gallons of hot water. Anyone know what the problem could be?
- posted
16 years ago
Only the top eight inches of the tank gets hot.... the rest of the tank is cold to the touch... running the tap only gets about two gallons of hot water. Anyone know what the problem could be?
Some tanks have twin elements, a small short one that only heats the water at the top and a main element that heats the whole tank.
The main element could have failed..
Or it simply could be that the controller has failed or has been mis-set..
Has the heater been replaced recently or is it an old heater but new problem?
old heater, new problem
I would try the thermostat before the element. Try turning the stat up to start with and see what happens.
Adam
Another possible cause could be a loose connection causing an open circuit when under load, which could allow some heating before going open circuit.
May be a twin element heater designed to only use one element on economy setting. Only heats the upper level of water on economy. If it is then the lower element has probably snuffed it.
Thanks to all, it was the element that had burst, just put the new one in.
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