Water Heater Problems

[Lost in LOS]

I have a consistent problem with water heaters here. The water in the shower runs too hot or too cold, It is the demand system shutting down I am sure. The water out of these little heaters [mine are in the attic and control the whole bathroom] is too hot, so you must use very little and it shuts off the water heater thinking it doesnt want any more. My showers have mixer valves. A temp fix is too run the hot water in the sink at the same time and then the water heater uses more and stays on

anyone know how to fix this without using the tank system or putting a separate one in the shower

[JeffreyMcCollum]

If it has a controler you could lower the temp. you could get a smaller wattage unit also. How is your water pressure ? Most homes have poor systems were it goes up and down. Might want to check the water flow too.

[noise]

If it has a controler you could lower the temp. you could get a smaller wattage unit also. How is your water pressure ? Most homes have poor systems were it goes up and down. Might want to check the water flow too.

That is the problem we had with our water heater, a genuine heater and not a "warmer". Because it is a high temp heater to supply enough hot water for a bath tube, shower, and sink, it "demands" a certain pressure and flow or it shuts off. When the electricity goes out, getting hot water for a shower is iffy at best.

At first we had a terrible time getting a steady flow. Then we raised the house water pump cut off pressure to be slightly higher than the minimum the heater required and solved the problem.

[Lost in LOS]

If it has a controler you could lower the temp. you could get a smaller wattage unit also. How is your water pressure ? Most homes have poor systems were it goes up and down. Might want to check the water flow too.

That is the problem we had with our water heater, a genuine heater and not a "warmer". Because it is a high temp heater to supply enough hot water for a bath tube, shower, and sink, it "demands" a certain pressure and flow or it shuts off. When the electricity goes out, getting hot water for a shower is iffy at best.

At first we had a terrible time getting a steady flow. Then we raised the house water pump cut off pressure to be slightly higher than the minimum the heater required and solved the problem.

i will check that out, what pressure did you use?

[Crossy]

Good responses already, let's shuffle this off to DIY.

Really need to know if the heater has a power adjustment and what is the wattage of the heater?

[Lost in LOS]

Good responses already, let's shuffle this off to DIY.

Really need to know if the heater has a power adjustment and what is the wattage of the heater?

no external adjustment [user control] for power. Unit is in the attic but I think its just a standard size for sink and shower

[Crossy]

With the shower on full bore hot does the water get cool enough to use? These simple heaters attain a lower temperature when there's a high throughput of the wet stuff.

Check your shower fitting for restrictors that reduce the flow to save water, removing them (and cleaning the shower head) may be enough to get the flow up so the heater doesn't cut off.

Failing that it's time for a replacement heater of lower power rating, or one with a proper thermostat or electronic power control

[Naam]

six instant water heaters in my home. not one without thermostatic control.

[Lost in LOS]

taking out the flow restrictors helped a lot, more water means more hot water. It may be enough, if not i will have to try and find heaters with adjustable temperature

controls that work for the whole bathroom

thanks for the help

[Lost in LOS]

took out the water savers and this helped considerably.

these are 3 phase heaters in the attic for the whole bathroom, no controls. If one phase is disconnected will the heater still work and will that lower the high heat? If the water is not so hot there will be more needed and it wont shut down

[Crossy]

Removing one phase will reduce the power output by about 30%.

Water heaters are unlikely to have a phase loss detector so give it a try. Ensure the disconnected wire is well insulated (use a screw connector not tape.)

[Lost in LOS]

Removing one phase will reduce the power output by about 30%.

Water heaters are unlikely to have a phase loss detector so give it a try. Ensure the disconnected wire is well insulated (use a screw connector not tape.)

if the water saver removal doesn't work properly I will disconnect one phase, that sounds like it will work

thanks

[TommyDee]

we had an identical problem here. its due to lack of water pressure and the pipe diameters. I installed a booster pump outside the house which has given us great pressure and my showers can all be warm again, not just boiling or freezing. cost.. 8-9K installation time.. 1 hour.

I should add that i have to drain the pump units monthly, for some reason, but other than that it all works fine

Edited August 16, 2011 by TommyDee