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About 2-3 weeks ago, we had a water heater installed in our home. I went with a local plumber who installed a 50gal - 38,000btu Rheem water heater.
As we take a shower, we've noticed that while we start we hot water, after about 3-4 minutes, the water is not as hot as when we started.
I mean the water is still hot just not as hot. We have to slowly turn handle in the shower up and up to get hotter water.
I don't remember having to do this with our old water heater.
No, not normal. If it is electric, could be the lower element isn't kicking in. Might also be dip tube or installed in reverse. (outlet connected to inlet pipes and visa versa)
Edited to add - depending on your incoming water supply, the water in your cold water line could become significantly colder in winter. If your pipes are in a heated basement, the resting cold water will pick up heat from that source. As it is replaced with water from shallow-buried pipes, it can drop fifteen degrees or more - imitating a water heater issue like you describe.
Last edited by harry chickpea; 12-27-2011 at 04:31 PM..
Water heater is gas.
Everything is located in our finished basement, which is heated.
Even though it was just 2-3 weeks ago we had the water heater replaced, I cannot for the life of me remember is this was happening with out old water heater. In the shower you adjusted the valve to your liking and the water temperature remained constant at that setting. I *think* that's how I remember it.
Now, you have to knick the valve little by little to keep the water nice and toasty.
This also happened to me recently. As best I can tell, the old heater's thermostat was probably crudded up enough to cause the heater to heat the water higher than indicated on the valve. I too have pressure regulating shower valves and noticed that I had to lower the temp control to a hotter setting.
About 2-3 weeks ago, we had a water heater installed in our home. I went with a local plumber who installed a 50gal - 38,000btu Rheem water heater.
As we take a shower, we've noticed that while we start we hot water, after about 3-4 minutes, the water is not as hot as when we started.
I mean the water is still hot just not as hot. We have to slowly turn handle in the shower up and up to get hotter water.
I don't remember having to do this with our old water heater.
Before I call the plumber, is this normal?
That should not be happening. Call the plumber.
It seems odd that a new water heater would have this problem, but it sounds like the lower heating element is bad.
The heating element(s) may be bad or they are set for a lower temperature which the plumber or you can can take off the cover and set the temp control slightly higher. As said above your cold water comming in to replace what youve used up in hot water may be lowering the temps. You should be under warranty for at least a year so call the plumber out to do the right thing and fix it to your satisfaction.
The heating element(s) may be bad or they are set for a lower temperature which the plumber or you can can take off the cover and set the temp control slightly higher. As said above your cold water comming in to replace what youve used up in hot water may be lowering the temps. You should be under warranty for at least a year so call the plumber out to do the right thing and fix it to your satisfaction.
Could be that you are comparing winter and summer performance where the hot water flow is not varying that much but the cold water gets colder as you run more in from external sources. I can notice a little of that in the winter at my house (and know it is not the heater that is a 100K Btu unit with a very rapid recovery time).
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