Woke up to a warm shower this morning. DW said that last night she could barely get hot water to do dishes. It is a 10 gallon Suburban HWH that is only ran on electric. The gas portion no longer functions (too much salt air.)It appears that there is power going to the element and the element is not burnt out. I always thought a HWH on electric either work or they don't. Is it possible for the element to only warm the water?Thanks in advance.

if it is on a double breaker? one could be tripped ,or if it has two elements? one could be bad.

Lots of reasons, but Im guessing by what you said lack of maintenance is number one. Go outside and start cleaning every terminal you can find. Then start checking voltages.

have youused a outside shower and shut the head off and not the faucet itself?

newman fulltimer wrote:have youused a outside shower and shut the head off and not the faucet itself?Been there done that and the results are ....... warm water only, throughout the system. It is now the FIRST place I check, if we have only luke warm water.

donn0128 wrote:Lots of reasons, but Im guessing by what you said lack of maintenance is number one. Go outside and start cleaning every terminal you can find. Then start checking voltages.Maintenance has always been done for the last three years (don't know about PO.) I have continuity, plus 115 volt across the terminals.

Just warm water. Fixed (in under an hour.) WOW you guys.

Bobbo
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2014
John&Joey wrote:
Texan and newman I owe you a cold beverage.

I checked the outside shower, but it was fine. BUT, that got me thinking. This season the washer got replaced with a Haier that required a "Y" hose. I always turn off the water when we are done, but yesterday I got lazy. Figure I would do it today when I got too it.

Well I'm guessing that is my problem, since it would mirror the outside shower solution. Thanks again you two!!! :)

Put a back flow preventer in the hot leg of the hose.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 10, 2014
Glad you found the source of hot/cold mixing.

It is a 10 gallon Suburban HWH that is only ran on electric. The gas portion no longer functions (too much salt air.)

Maintenance has always been done for the last three years

Then gas side should be working. Have you done any troubleshooting?

One of the things nice about Suburban is the separate systems/controls.
Electric side doesn't work then you have gas side or vice versa
Atwood.....use same t-stats and controls....one not working could mean other not working.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Dec 10, 2014
FWIW my water heater would only warm the water when on electric only. When I removed the element I discovered it was split. A new element has my hot water back to its regular steaming self.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2014
glad to here it got solved but if plumbed right you shouldnt have to turn the water on and off
John_Joey
Explorer
Dec 10, 2014
John&Joey wrote:
The Texan wrote:
newman fulltimer wrote:
have youused a outside shower and shut the head off and not the faucet itself?

Been there done that and the results are ....... warm water only, throughout the system. It is now the FIRST place I check, if we have only luke warm water.

I'll double check (good advice, thanks) but we had hot water the day prior, and the outside shower is never used. I'll still check.

Texan and newman I owe you a cold beverage.

I checked the outside shower, but it was fine. BUT, that got me thinking. This season the washer got replaced with a Haier that required a "Y" hose. I always turn off the water when we are done, but yesterday I got lazy. Figure I would do it today when I got too it.

Well I'm guessing that is my problem, since it would mirror the outside shower solution. Thanks again you two!!! :)
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2014
if not that the next thing is make sure the thermastat is clean atthe tank the connections are clean.
Then the next step will be flush and clean the tank and check the elament for calcium buildup
also before all of this open the bpopoff valve and see if the water is 130 degrees
John_Joey
Explorer
Dec 10, 2014
The Texan wrote:
newman fulltimer wrote:
have youused a outside shower and shut the head off and not the faucet itself?

Been there done that and the results are ....... warm water only, throughout the system. It is now the FIRST place I check, if we have only luke warm water.

I'll double check (good advice, thanks) but we had hot water the day prior, and the outside shower is never used. I'll still check.
John_Joey
Explorer
Dec 10, 2014
donn0128 wrote:
Lots of reasons, but Im guessing by what you said lack of maintenance is number one. Go outside and start cleaning every terminal you can find. Then start checking voltages.

Maintenance has always been done for the last three years (don't know about PO.) I have continuity, plus 115 volt across the terminals.
The_Texan
Explorer
Dec 10, 2014
newman fulltimer wrote:
have youused a outside shower and shut the head off and not the faucet itself?

Been there done that and the results are ....... warm water only, throughout the system. It is now the FIRST place I check, if we have only luke warm water.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2014
have youused a outside shower and shut the head off and not the faucet itself?

Forum Discussion

Just warm water. Fixed (in under an hour.) WOW you guys.

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