Hot water trouble

[cbrunny]

My hot water decided it wasn't going to work today. Looks like there's tons of air in it somehow. With the taps on upstairs I get a trickle of hot water and I can see the air bubbles coming through the pipe (clear pex pipe).

I opened the release to let the air out of the tank. No air came out. There was a trickle of black water which started to run clean after just a few short seconds.

Tons of air bubbles through the pipes though. I get full pressure with no bubbles on the cold line. Just the hot, to all taps/showers.

I'm guessing I need to drain the tank. Any thoughts?

 

[JEDIYoda]

You could always miniaturize the rotational valve seal and then purge the occidental permeated swivel top!




This is not OT.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[cbrunny]

har har

 

[CoachB]

Sounds like the incoming cold line to the WH is blocked somehow. Opening the release should result in a good flow. If water flows well out of the release valve, then the issue lies in the hot water out line.
How old is the unit and could it be leaking without you knowing it?

 

[cbrunny]

I'm fairly sure the tank is filling properly. It isn't running constantly, which I would expect it to do if it were filling with cold, even slowly. Also I get normal pressure for about 4 seconds after leaving all taps shut for a few minutes and then opening one.

It is connected to a water softener though. Our area is notorious for hard water. I think the tank might be gunked up with hard water deposits, possibly resulting in lack of flow out the release. Is that possible? When we moved in the softener salt was empty, not sure how long it had been like that. But that was about 2 months ago and no issue since. I've kept the thing full.

 

[cbrunny]

well im at a complete loss. now everything is completely working normally, hot water and all.

I went off to work this morning without resolving the problem. when i came home at lunch, there was a big puddle underneath the tank and leading into the drain. the water was dripping out the pressure release. i turned off the cold water in line. the water slowed but continued for maybe an hour. then it stopped completely. i manually opened the pressure release with no change. closed it. turned on the cold water slowly. heater kicks on as normal. no leak. run to the tap. hot water as normal. run to different tap. hot water as normal. run back to tank. no bubbles in pex line. scratch head. turn on all taps at once. all functioning normal. scratch head. run back to basement. check for air in pex. no air in pex. scratch head. close all taps. have hot shower.

strange.

 

[DrPizza]

Sorry, I'm at a loss - I cannot find a single cartoon on youtube where a character gets sucked up into the water system and squeezes out a leaky faucet somewhere. Because that's what it sounds like was your problem.

 

[waffleironhead]

If it happens again, try to put the softener in bypass. My guess is that is where the issue is.

 

[cbrunny]

If it happens again, try to put the softener in bypass. My guess is that is where the issue is.

meaning perhaps the water is too soft?

 

[waffleironhead]

meaning perhaps the water is too soft?

No, meaning that air could be sucked in at the softener if things arn't working properly in the valve. If you bypass the softener and water pressure immediately returns you have your source of air in the tubes.

 

[natto fire]

I'm fairly sure the tank is filling properly. It isn't running constantly, which I would expect it to do if it were filling with cold, even slowly. Also I get normal pressure for about 4 seconds after leaving all taps shut for a few minutes and then opening one.

It is connected to a water softener though. Our area is notorious for hard water. I think the tank might be gunked up with hard water deposits, possibly resulting in lack of flow out the release. Is that possible? When we moved in the softener salt was empty, not sure how long it had been like that. But that was about 2 months ago and no issue since. I've kept the thing full.

You might have a clogged dip tube. Definitely on to something about deposits clogging the orifices of your hot water tank. They would cause the symptoms you speak of.

Are you on well water, or a municipal supply?

 

[boomerang]

...

 

[boomerang]

well im at a complete loss. now everything is completely working normally, hot water and all.

I went off to work this morning without resolving the problem. when i came home at lunch, there was a big puddle underneath the tank and leading into the drain. the water was dripping out the pressure release. i turned off the cold water in line. the water slowed but continued for maybe an hour. then it stopped completely. i manually opened the pressure release with no change. closed it. turned on the cold water slowly. heater kicks on as normal. no leak. run to the tap. hot water as normal. run to different tap. hot water as normal. run back to tank. no bubbles in pex line. scratch head. turn on all taps at once. all functioning normal. scratch head. run back to basement. check for air in pex. no air in pex. scratch head. close all taps. have hot shower.

strange.

You had a blockage at the valve controlling the cold water going into the hot water heater. Closing it and then opening it dislodged the blockage.

• You had no hot water coming out because there was no cold water coming in.
• You had air in the line because when you opened the taps and the pressure relief valve with no hot water coming out, air went in.
• Never open the pressure relief valve. They usually start to leak after you do that and it is often impossible to get them to stop. Then, your only recourse is to replace it.

You should drain the sediment out of the HW heater yearly from the hose bib at the bottom. Few people do this, but it is a good idea to do so.

The valve you closed to turn off the cold water to the HW heater may give you problems at a later date. If so, replace it. But if there is a next time, you will know what the problem is. You may be able to free the blockage by just closing it and opening it, but I suspect that now that the softener is working you will have no further problems related to that valve.