Evolv-ing Thread

[kiba]

That's cool, outr gas bill was only $25 last month.

tbh I'm kind of surprised if it's been working for us in vacation mode all this time, isn't that setting just designed to keep the pilot on? Like no burner at all... we've been washing clothes/taking showers etc.

 

[Alexander Mundy]

Edit: seems in the intervening time I typed most of this and when I posted it is a gas water heater.

I'm an electrician, not a plumber, but on every residential electric water heater I've ever troubleshot the top thermostat has 3 functions. First there is a thermal overload module attached to the bottom of it with a reset button. Second It either sends voltage to the top element when it senses temp below its set threshold or to the bottom thermostat when above its set threshold. Both elements are never on at the same time. Again, this is for the residential ones I've worked on, the commercial ones have been simultaneous and differential with a few that could be reconfigured either way.

 

[Rossum]

It's a gas one but the pilot looks strong.

Sorry -- I obviously assumed it was electric.

 

[kiba]

Sorry -- I obviously assumed it was electric.

No worries, most apartments/condo's don't have gas.

 

[kiba]

So yeah, you guys were right I think, showers been running for 30 mins and it's still really hot. but my thing is, and why I never considered that bc I thought "vacation mode" was just for keeping the pilot on while you're gone, no burner, no nothing... but we've been taking hot showers...

confused.

 

[Rossum]

I'm an electrician, not a plumber, Jim!

Fixed that for you!

every residential electric water heater I've ever troubleshot the top thermostat has 3 functions. First there is a thermal overload module attached to the bottom of it with a reset button. Second It either sends voltage to the top element when it senses temp below its set threshold or to the bottom thermostat when above its set threshold. Both elements are never on at the same time. Again, this is for the residential ones I've worked on, the commercial ones have been simultaneous and differential with a few that could be reconfigured either way.

That's the way mine here in FL works. Coupla months ago we had lukewarm water at best. Upper element was getting 240V, bottom nothing. Confirmed burned out upper element. Ordered a replacement, but having no hot water kinda sucked. Secret sauce: Turning the top thermostat all the way down sends power to the still working lower element. Recovery takes longer, but it made usable hot water that way until the replacement upper element arrived.

PS: Up in PA, I have an indirect-fired tank that uses hot water from the gas "boiler" to heat the domestic hot water. Those things rock. Wired for priority from the boiler, it can use the full 150,000 BTUs of boiler output for recovery if it needs it.

 

[classwife]

...isn't the tree/triangle the mfgrs recommended setting ?

 

[awsum140]

I think that triangle indicates the "greenest" or most efficient setting which usually translates into poor performance in the real world of wanting a hot shower.

 

[kiba]

...isn't the tree/triangle the mfgrs recommended setting ?

idk but it's supposed to prevent the burner from coming on, this switch looks exactly like mine & that xmas tree is pilot/vacation mode.



It actually worked, I'm guessing just from ambient heat or something but I was running out of hot water... only problem now is its scalding hot on the lowest setting.

 

[awsum140]

Have you got a "mixing" valve? If so have a look at that. It would hep to have a DMM with a temperature probe but a cooking style thermometer, closely coupled to the output of the mixing valve, would work to let you set the output temperature.

 

[mikepetro]

So yeah, you guys were right I think, showers been running for 30 mins and it's still really hot. but my thing is, and why I never considered that bc I thought "vacation mode" was just for keeping the pilot on while you're gone, no burner, no nothing... but we've been taking hot showers...

confused.

That Triangle you had it on wasnt "vacation" mode, that was just "medium" or mid-range.

When nyou said Christmas Tree I just thought it might have been a possibility.

 

[mikepetro]

I have a gas water heater too, and I run mine a bit hotter than mid-range. I like hotter water.

In your case, "Vacation Mode" would be all the to the left on the LOW side.

 

[mikepetro]

idk but it's supposed to prevent the burner from coming on, this one looks exactly like mine & that xmas tree is pilot/vacation mode.

I think the video was a little misleading, if that triangle was "pilot only" then you never would have any hot water. I have a similar thermostat, and vacation mode is all the way to the left where it says low. I have a second knob that you set on "pilot" when you want to light the pilot, or run pilot only mode.

 

[dwcraig1]

Due to Legionnaire's disease forming within the tank it should be no less than 120 F, a little higher would be even better but beware of the potential to scald infants and older folks.
I check mine at the kitchen tap early in the morning with a know good thermometer.

 

[kiba]

idk but it's supposed to prevent the burner from coming on, this switch looks exactly like mine & that xmas tree is pilot/vacation mode.



It actually worked, I'm guessing just from ambient heat or something but I was running out of hot water... only problem now is its scalding hot on the lowest setting.

I think the video was a little misleading, if that triangle was "pilot only" then you never would have any hot water. I have a similar thermostat, and vacation mode is all the way to the left where it says low. I have a second knob that you set on "pilot" when you want to light the pilot, or run pilot only mode.

I do remember something from the home inspector who was reading the manual, (gone now) but he asked if we wanted him to leavi it on pilot mode & my gf said that he showed her the middle setting, plus I don't see anything after the third low setting.

If it was though, this would explain for our seriously low (for the winter) gas bill.

Have you got a "mixing" valve? If so have a look at that. It would hep to have a DMM with a temperature probe but a cooking style thermometer, closely coupled to the output of the mixing valve, would work to let you set the output temperature.

Where would that be? On the unit?

& yeah I measured it think with this in accurate thermometer but i think I at least got it down to 130f or so... Anyways, moment of truth lol, gonna try to take a shower after it's been running for like 15 mins or so.

 

[awsum140]

The mixing valve would probably be on the top of the tank. It will have a line coming from the water heater, a line supplying cold water and the output line going to the house. One of the advantages of having one is that you can run the water heater at a higher temperature to prevent bacteria buildup in the water heater while maintaining a relatively safe use temperature at the faucets.

 

[kiba]

The mixing valve would probably be on the top of the tank. It will have a line coming from the water heater, a line supplying cold water and the output line going to the house. One of the advantages of having one is that you can run the water heater at a higher temperature to prevent bacteria buildup in the water heater while maintaining a relatively safe use temperature at the faucets.

Here's a pic of the cold side for water coming in.

btw I was pulling out the shower restrictors, pulled one out of the guest bathroom (restrictor was actually in another unit, it's the kind w/ the hose for cleaning the tiles) and it kicked ...., then I promptly went over & destroyed my master bathroom one, (it was one of those switchable ones that goes from an elephant sprayer to a hand held one) found like 3 in that one, got it all assembled and put it back.

It's spraying out of places waters not supposed to spray out of, lol, time to get a new one I guess... Never really liked that one anyway.

 

[awsum140]

I don't see a mixer there, Kiba. You can fix that shower head with rubber washers or O rings from Home Despot. No need for a new one if you don't really need/want to replace it. I love the dual head shower systems, one head or the other depending on mood or need and both at once when I want to get "blasted".

 

[kiba]

I don't see a mixer there, Kiba. You can fix that shower head with rubber washers or O rings from Home Despot. No need for a new one if you don't really need/want to replace it. I love the dual head shower systems, one head or the other depending on mood or need and both at once when I want to get "blasted".

That's OK, i never liked that one & when I took it apart it just made me hate it more, there's so many restrictions in that thing besides the 3 that I took out, I'm just going to get a better one. & yeah it was that type, where you can have it coming out of one or the other, or both. I prefer just the regular non-hosed kind, they seem to spray the hardest.

 

[Rossum]

Due to Legionnaire's disease forming within the tank it should be no less than 120 F, a little higher would be even better but beware of the potential to scald infants and older folks.

I would call 120F "warm water", not "hot water".

Infants are generally not capable of turning on the water by themselves.

Old folks usually know better, 'cause they grew up before the energy-use nannies went all overboard on us.

I check mine at the kitchen tap early in the morning with a know good thermometer.

OCD much?