Water Heater does not heat all 6 gallons

If you have a DIP tube that has fallen OFF, Suburban will send you a new one. It is installed from the outside. Just leave the old one in the tank. It will not cause any problems. BUT, you REALLY need a digital actual temp of the full hot water output at the pop off valve. Have you done that? The factory tstat is 130 and you can buy and install a 140. Doug

The PRV dripping would not affect heating ability.

It probably was dripping due to loss of 'air pocket' at top of tank.
Water expands and pressure increases when heated. The air pocket is there to allow the expansion...air can be compressed----water can't. So when air pocket is lost the pressure will increase enough to cause PRV to drip.
(See picture of WH tank in previous post)

Next time you find it dripping......re-establish the air pocket
Turn off water supply
Open closest faucet (Hot side) to relieve pressure
Open PRV via lever.......when water stops flowing let PRV snap close
Turn on water supply and close faucet.



I really think you have a dip tube that has fallen off.

You will be surprised at the gunk that can accumulate in 1 year in the tank. We spent 5 months in an area with high lime content in the water. Even with our filters there was a lot of lime and calcium that drained out - looked like it had snowed or sleeted on the ground where it drained.

ScottG wrote:
It heats all 6 gallons but you diluted it by adding cold water.

That makes sense, but we are getting significantly shorter showers this year than last year.

Thanks

mbopp wrote:
Any chance the outside shower valves are open and allowing hot and cold water to mix?

There is no outside shower.

It heats all 6 gallons but you diluted it by adding cold water.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
What's you definition of 'HOT'?

I would define HOT as 120*+, it was this Hot tested by touch for about 3.5 gallons and got significanlty cooler, sub 100*.

I noticed the pressure relief valve was leaking and does not reset easily/completly. I know I will need to replace it, but do you think this would significantly affect the heating ability?

For what it is worth I drained the water heater by gravity and got 6 gallons, for safety reasons I drained it cold, at least I'm reasonbly confident it is filling up completely and I got minimal corrosion for
the first few seconds when draining.


Thanks again for everyone's help.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Hey OP

Just thought of something.....

Wonder if the dip tube on cold inlet has fallen off??

That would mix cold water quicker with the hot water resulting in lower overall temperature.
Drain the WH and with a good pin point flashlight see it if any black plastic part is laying in bottom of tank.

Some Black plastic did come our of the bath tub faucet this past weekend. It was pretty small, 2 pieces about the size of a quarter.

Hey OP

Just thought of something.....

Wonder if the dip tube on cold inlet has fallen off??

That would mix cold water quicker with the hot water resulting in lower overall temperature.
Drain the WH and with a good pin point flashlight see it if any black plastic part is laying in bottom of tank.

Any chance the outside shower valves are open and allowing hot and cold water to mix?