Water heater not working

Rheem water heater not working



If you have an electric water heater and it is not making any hot water then you have a problem. The good news is that electric water heaters are not that hard to troubleshoot and there are not a lot of things that can go wrong with them. I will go over the things that can give trouble and how to fix them.

First off if you have some hot water but not as much as you did when it was new then you probably have a bad bottom element. Only the top element is working, so you are only getting about 1/3 of a tank of hot water, replace the bottom element and you will be good again.

If you are making steam, then you have a bad thermostat. While you are making the steam out the relief valve, check to see which element is working. The easiest way to do that is to see which element has 220v on the two screws on the element. That thermostat at that element is bad. Replace it and you will stop the sauna.

If you have no hot water then check the red reset button directly above the top thermostat. You may have to push very hard on it to get it to reset. If the reset is tripped then you have a bad thermostat. Finding out which one can be tricky and timing is important to catch the bad thermostat in the act.

No hot water can also be the result of the top heating element going bad. If the top element goes bad then the top thermostat will never get enough heat to trip on the bottom thermostat. Therefore you will get no hot water. Dual element hot water heaters for residential use, do not ever run both elements at the same time. Only the top OR the bottom will be energized at a time.

This all there is to checking an electric hot water heater. If you are having problems go through this list systematically and you will find your problem and be able to fix it.

Rheem heater Water is not hot

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402
Water is not hot



If your water heater has NO hot water, then click circuit breaker

Next, click red reset button.
Turn off power.
Open cover on water heater.
If heater has 2 covers, open top cover
After re-seting water heater, insulation must be put back over thermostat to prevent cooler air from affecting thermostat.

1) Reset button is a good starting place to check water heater.
Reset clicks off for a number of reasons, including overheated water.

2) Reset will not reset, then replace thermostat.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

3) Resets clicks on, but clicks off again later, you should diagnose the problem.
Clicking reset is not a hazard 
Click the reset as often as you want until you have time to diagnose.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

4) Reset is not tripped, and you still do not have hot water:
Then use tester on top two screws (T1 - T3 screws -or- 1 and 3 screws) of upper thermostat to check if you have power.

If you have power, then replace thermostat. 
If problems continue, a full diagnosis is needed as per the link above

If you need more help, add a comment and I will respond

Water heater pressure is very low

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


MY HOTWATER PRESSURE IS VERY LOW WHICH IS MAKING MY HOTWTER COME OUT VERY SLOW ALL OVER THE HOUSE. THE COLD WATER RUNS AT A VERY HIGH CONSTANT SPEED. SO HOW DO I FIGURE OUT WHY THE PRESSURE FOR THE HOTWTER IS SO SLOW.

Close the valve that on top of the water heater on the col side on due the hot side house, and screw in a 3/4gage valve on top of heater then open the valve the one you close and you will read the pressure on the gauge ; you'll know if is your tank is clog you could have at least 50 psi on you're gauge.

My job is to give you resources that can help you for free.

http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/
The link above goes to professional plumbers.
They will know and see more things than I can short-list for you.
They will probably tell you to take apart the lines going into water heater to see if problem is before or after water heater. Or if the problem is inside the water heater.
The problem might be at the shut off valve located on cold water line going into heater.
If you have hard water, the problem could be at an elbow.

Water heater Humming

NOISY WATER HEATER


Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402

Started humming periodically when using hot water and tankis filling up with cold water

Usually when a tank is making noise, it means the tank needs to be cleaned out or flushed.
I wrote a page with diagrams showing how to clean out a tank, and how to flush the tank.
Page shows gas and electric water heaters.
See if this helps:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater.html

RHEEM 81V400 water Heater element

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402

Which element do i need for a RHEEM 81V400 water heater?

Rheem bolt-in element is 4500 watt.
Buy at hardware store or plumbing supply.

rheem water heater Not enough hot water,running out

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


Not enough hot water,running out before I'm finished showering.



Hello,

Hot water heaters are a touchy thing. There performance depends on your demand. If you are using an energy saving shower head I would expect you to have enough hot water for easily a couple of showers. But, if your using the "power flush" type shower heads that use 3.5 gpm or more, the 40 gallon heater is not enough. Also, consider type of water your heating. Is it well water or municipal. Unsoftened well (this includes some municipal well supplies too) water causes hardness ions to cake the heater element making them less efficient. If you have the low flow shower, it is likely you have an element burnt out. They can simply be replaced and picked up at any big box store for less than $20 dollars. Each element can be tested in place with a continuity tester. If your not sure how to test, but would be willing to replace the elements - replace both of them. You will have to shut off power to heater and drain tank completely before removing elements. Replace elements with same wattage or higher. Most have two 2250 watt elements for a total of 4500 watts. you can easily install two 3000 watt elements and have a quicker recovery rate and more hot water than ever.

=======
If it is a 40 gallon tank,. and has the potential to produce plenty of hot water. then drain out the hot water tank! it may have a lot of scale build up in it. a water heater has to be drained at least every year or so. but that depends on the quality of the water going to it. they say its a good practice to drain out a few gallons every 6 months, to ensure it is clean. but i have a 40 gallon tank, and it has been in for about 5 years. no problems. but the water going in is real good. just hook a hose to bottom drain, and run out a few gallons till it appears clean or all sludge is out.

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Rheem water heater will not turn on at all

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


Rheem 83xr52-2 50 gal residential water heater. Water temp was low. I cut power at electric panel, removed upper panel on water heater, turned up thermostat, replaced panel and switched power back on at electric panel. Now water heater won't turn on at all. 


Solution:---
You can open the top up again. I would not turn the temp higher than 130 degrees, maximum. However, there should be above the thermostat a red button. This is where the power wires connect to the thermostats and heating elements. Sometimes this button needs to be reset, press it and discern if you hear a click sound. This means that the high temperature safety switch has tripped open and you had to manually "reset" it. There are two thermostats by the way. The water heater usually works this way. There are two thermostats and two heaters. The upper tank heater turns on first and it heats the top half of the tank. Then when the thermostat above is satisfied it then allows the bottom heater to come on and heat the bottom half of the tank. You might want to set the bottom heater thermostat as well. This is made this way because it is actually faster and more efficient to heat the top half first and the bottom half secondly. Try this first with the reset button. We could check voltages, but that requires a level of knowledge and safety that I am not sure that you are comfortable with. Pictures of the upper and lower thermostats and connections will help if the "reset" does not do the trick. By the way, not meaning or implying anything, but did you move the thermostat in the right direction? Sometimes the dials can be confusing.

More Details:---

Electric water heater is completely repairable by homeowner.

What to do right now:
Check circuit breaker
Push in red reset button on upper thermostat and see if that restores some hot water.
Put insulation and cover back so thermostat does not receive cooler air and misread tank temperature which can cause overheated tank that causes reset button to trip.
Turn thermostat back to where it was.
That way you have some hot water until problem is fixed tomorrow.

Break down problem:
You were short of hot water.
That says electricity to water heater is good and upper element is working.
And it says original problem is one of 4 things.

1) Loose wire going to lower part of water heater. Check parts for signs of heat damage at screw terminals, especially lower element. 
Burned lower element means lower element probably bad.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-element-and-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html

2) Bad upper thermostat ***** This is best suspect since water heater stopped completely after temperature adjustment.
3) Bad lower thermostat. I usually replace both thermostats at same time.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

4) Bad lower element. Test element using inexpensive multimeter from Home Depot electric department.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

Here are repair steps:
Buy generic upper and lower thermostat and replace both thermostats, and if problem persists, then replace lower element.

If you want to test water heater parts before replacing anything:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Upper thermostats are interchangeable
Upper thermostat for 2-element tank has 3 screws on right side of thermostat

Air in water heater lines

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


I suddenly got air in my hot water lines. Not all the time but has happened three or four times. At the same time it seems as though I have less hot water than I used to. Is it an element or do you think that it is a fill line issue? 40 gal Rheem electric in a mobile home 1996



Sorry to read about your problem, I hope this helps you out.

sounds like you have a defective fill tube, plus you water heater is on the old side, and is getting past the fail point....

Rheem water heater thermostat

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


I have a Rheem model number is 81V52D and I think I need to check the thermostat. Do I need to drain the unit in order to check the thermostat?


No you do not need to drain water heater when checking or replacing thermostats:
Water heater is drained when replacing elements or cleaning sediment out of tank.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

Also look at following links: These links can teach you everything about fixing ordinary tank-type electric water heater using generic parts from hardware store.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-electric-water-heater-works.html

http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-element-and-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html

http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Water heater drain location

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


How to drain71- 40 .where is drain need to replace hearer need to drain first. 50 gal



Solution 1:---
There is usually a spigot right at the base of the water heater. Thread a garden hose on the spigot and route the garden hose outside. Of course be sure to pull the power breaker first. After you are sure that the power is off, turn the spigot handle and let the water flow. Be sure that you turn the inlet valve off that is located on the top feed pipe. Be sure to turn the feed back on before you power up as this will ensure that the upper and lower calrods are covered before you power on.


Solution 2:--
1. Turn off the breaker at the panel box, it should be marked, " Water heater," or WH.
2. You should be able to find a spicket on the bottom.
3. Connect a standard garden hose to the spicket at the tank and run the other end
to the location you want to drain the water to.
4. Turn the spicket handle to the left, " counter clockwise " to allow the water in the tank
to start draining.
5. On the top of the tank, in the center, you should find a pipe, and on the top of the pipe
there should be a little tag that says, " pressure release valve ", use your fingers to put
this small metal switch in a straight up position.

Thermal cup will not stay lit

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402

Replaced thermal cup and still wont stay lit for more then s few hours model #21v40-7

Plugged orifice on the pilot or faulty gas valve

Water heater trips circuit breaker

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


My hot water heater tripped the circuit breaker on the house panel. I reset the circuit breaker but the heater still would not begin to heat. I drained the tank and found one burned out heating element. I went ahead and replaced both upper and lower. Still not hot water. I used a fluke meter and verified power to the outlet and the top element and thermostat it was good. However when checking the bottom element with the meter there was no voltage. I purchased and replace both to and bottom thermostats. Still the heater does not heat. The unit is only 3-4 years old installed by the builder after the first one failed after being in the house only 9 months. Is there something else I should check before replacing with a new one?? I'm about 4hr and $50 into this project.


Comment by asker:----

I ohm tested the bottom element 13.5, top 0. Unplugged the heater, drained and removed top new element and found half of it missing/burned off. Replaced it with the old element that was not burned out and ohm checked prior to installing to get 13.5ohms. Filled water heater back up "prior" to plugging in this time. Now l just need to turn the thermostats down a little. The heater is now working : >)


Solution:---


Tough problem here. Most dual element heaters share one line. if this is the case and you have power on the top and none on the bottom I would check the connecting wires one to another. also check the settings of the thermostats. They may be adjusted all the way down. If the wires and connections are good I would recommend ohm testing the new elements. I have burned elements out by introducing cold water to very hot coils (forgetting to turn the water on after flipping the breaker)
Never forget that calcium buildup will short the element. If touching on the bottom you will burn it up.

Water heater temperature setting change

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402
How to change temperature setting


Link below shows step-by-step for typical tank-type gas and electric water heaters
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-adjust-water-heater-temperature.html

If water heater used to be hotter, look at diagrams following link:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater.html

Other water heater tips and tricks:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-anode-rod.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/9-ways-to-save-with-water-heater.html

If you have tankless water heater, consult manual.
Changing temperature on tank-less can lead to problems.
Tankless should be DE-limed each year to maintain efficiency. U-tube search 'delime tankless'
Read the manual for yearly maintenance requirement.
All costs are energy, and tank-less are maintenance heavy.

Water leaking water heater

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


Water leaking observed from the bottom of the tank. What's the problem? Should I replace the old 21V40-2 unit? if so, what kind of tank is ok to replace the present unit? What's the price and installation fee? 


If water heater is leaking, then open following 2 links to avoid tank rupture and troubleshoot leak:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Emergency-steps-for-leaking-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Water-heater-is-leaking.html

Open following link if you want to install your own gas water heater:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html

To have gas water heater installed, can run $2-300 for installation plus cost of heater.
40 gallon natural gas water heater at Lowes starts at $300+, and tanks with longer warranty cost more and last longer.

If you maintain the tank: keep chemicals out of same room as water heater, attach bare copper ground wire between hot and cold pipes, flush tank each 6 months, clean burner each year as shown in manual, read the manual entirely for specific information about your model, and inspect/replace anode rod every 2-3 years then basic 6-year tank can last much longer.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-anode-rod.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/9-ways-to-save-with-water-heater.html

I purchased a GE 40gallon

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


I purchased a GE 40gallon water heater model: GE40M06AAG. What type of circuit breaker do I need and it says that its a 240/208 volts AC only. Can I use it and what do I need if I can use it?

You need a 2pole 30 amp breaker that will fit what ever style breaker panel you have....then you will need to run 10/2WG wire from the breaker to the hot water heater...

Water tank temperature lights says

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402

Water tank temperature lights says ON VACATION and VERY HOT at the same time. Chart indicates CONTROL IN LOCKOUT. It apparently detects toxic fumes. i have been painting with oil paint upstairs, how long do i have to wait till we have hot water again?


You need to air out room, with open window or fan that can suck it out for about and hour.

Not heating the water

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402
Not heating the water


 Maybe this will help some? I was going back to some customers that asked questions in the recent past and even farther back  It appeared that no one answered some of them, So, I thought I would take some of my personal time to see if I can help. Even though this Informational site may not have your exact model or brand  this site will help you a lot. Here is a site link about everything you want to know about hot waterheaters and possibly yours, from repair to trouble shooting it. 

http://home.howstuffworks.com/water-heater.htm

Got 5 minutes of hot water then cold. replaced

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402

Got 5 minutes of hot water then cold. replaced both elements and thermos. still 5 minutes of hot water. power bill increased nearly 400% in 30 days. HELP!!! please.



When the top of the tank is hot the upper thermostat removes power from the upper heating element and transfers the power to the lower thermostat and heating element. If the lower thermostat is defective, then the lower portion of the tank will not be heated and the supply will be greatly reduced. You replaced both elements however check that the lower element is coming on after ther upper one cuts out and is acutally working.
Check for power at the upper thermostat terminals where the power is sent to the lower thermostat and heating element. If there is no power then the upper thermostat should be replaced. If there is power then check for power at the lower heating element. If there is no power at the lower heating element then replace the lower thermostat.
If there is power to the lower heating element then it should be getting hot. If it is not, maybe defective. Another possibility is a broken dip tube. Check for a broken dip tube and replace if necessary.

If the dip tube is broken, the incoming cold liquid can mix with the out going hot liquid and cause it to seem as though you are running out.

I want to check the anode rod on a Rheem 82VH40-2.

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


There are 4 plastic caps on top of the water heater. 3 are around the perimeter and measure about 1.25"D. 1 is more toward the center next to the electrical connection and is about 1.75"D. All have foam insulation under the plastic cap. Which is the anode rod? Dig out the foam insulation? Thanks so much for your help!!!


Comment:---
The water heater is 5 yrs old. From what I've read, checking the anode rod (and replacing when necessary) will extend the life of the water heater. I do not have an odor problem.


Yes you're exactly correct. If memory serves me it's one of the smaller ones and is located closer to the center than the outer regions. So pop off the covers one at a time and poke around under it with a small screwdriver or scribe or some such thing. You should be able to identify it by it's shape. I believe it's a 13/16th's size of a socket to remove it. Personally, I don't usually replace them unless the customer insists. I think they're a waste of money and can eventually cause very bad odors in the hot water.

Detecting gas and won't light

Problem with Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402


I just installed this water heater, which has worked fine for several days in a large dry basement. The heater turned off in the middle of the night. A blue light is flashing 7 times signifying a SVS flamable vapor sensor. There is no smell of gas. I placed a fan to move the air around. Could the sensor itself be bad? What else can I check?



Open following link for troubleshoot error codes showing 7 flashes on Honeywell gas control valve is system lockout due to flammable vapor:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Honeywell-gas-control_error-Damper-series.pdf
The FV system in Rheem can be tripped by presence of flammable vapors such as gasoline or paint fumes etc, or it can be tripped if water heater was dropped, or mis-manufactured, or if gas control valve is defective, or if water heater is not getting adequate fresh air, or there is inadequate venting of combustion by-product.
When combustion chamber overheats, then glass vial breaks and damper shuts off air supply to water heater and it will not light.
Open following link for possible help fixing the problem:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-repair-Rheem-FVIR.html