Adjust temperature for water heater

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


I need to adjust water temperature, and don't have a manual. i have a 81v40d C model , 40 gal electric.


To help people understand how to adjust the temperature on their electric hot water heater.

Electric Hot Water Heater Temperature Adjustment

If your electric hot water heater is not getting your water hot enough or your water is too hot then you can make the adjustment easily yourself. There are a few things that you may need to know to do this. I will go over where the thermostat(s) are located and also how to make the changes.

The first thing to remember is to make sure that the power is turned off to the hot water heater before you attempt to open any of the covers and make any adjustments.

The next thing is to locate the covers which are over the thermostats and the elements. There are two on most hot water heaters, one for the top and one for the bottom. One or two screws hold these covers in place. They will look like this when you look at the front of the hot water heater.


When you have the cover removed you will see that the top thermostat, reset safety control and the element look like this.


The bottom thermostat and element look like this.



If you need to reset the hot water heater you push the red button on the top thermostat in hard till it clicks. To change the temperature setting on the thermostat you need to take a screw driver and turn the dial to the desired temperature either higher or lower as you prefer.

The elements can also be checked by using and ohm meter and checking for resistance across the two terminals of the element. If you get no resistance or a high resistance the element is no good. A normal reading with most meters will be somewhere in the 8-25 ohm range. This even gives a bit of buffer for different meters and the possibility of them being a bit out of calibration.

For most people a simple adjustment of the temperature settings will be sufficient to give you the results you want. Remember that you may need to adjust the thermostat for both elements to get the desired result. Also remember that you can get a longer time before you run out of hot water if the water is hotter and you mix more cold into it. The downside of that is the chances for scalding are greatly increased with hotter water. If you have small children or elderly adults, think carefully about what very hot water can do to them.

For higher efficiency you also want to keep the water temperatures as low as possible to reduce the residual heat loss of the stored hot water.

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 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

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

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 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

rheem what size heating element to use

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


I have a rheem glas standard 30 gallon model # 81sv-30d water heater with upper and lower watages 3500. how do i know what size heating element i need?

Look on label on side of tank. 
Wattage of tank will be element wattage. This is true if tank has one or two elements since both elements are never ON at same time.
Simply go to hardware store and buy 3500W element.
Take phone photo to store if needed for identification.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html
Wattage appears on end of each element.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Voltage-printed-on-element-.jpg

I have a Rheem Standard

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


I have a Rheem Standard Energy miser electric water heater that is 46 " high, serial # R 0590105132 and model # 81v40D---40 gal. Could you please tell me the year it was manufactured? 


Check that serial number.
Rheem is first two digits= month and next two digits= year, which means 1990.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

Can I run the hot water heater with a generator

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

Can I run the hot water heater with a generator
Reverse polarity may not allow me to run the hot water heater with a generator



Yes.
Ordinary electric water heater can run on any voltage from any direction (excluding volt/amp ratings below what can heat element coil).

Voltages include single-phase, split phase, and 3-phase residential/commercial voltages with either 50 or 60 Hz.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-water-heater-for-120-Volt.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-water-heater-thermostats.html#3-phase

Install line fuse.
30 amp fuse would be required to prevent wires from overheating, and eliminate fire hazard.

This information does NOT apply to energy-smart electric water heater with box on top of heater, or newer energy smart with electronics, or to hybrid water heaters, or heat pump water heaters with delicate electronic circuitry.

Why it works like this:
Ordinary electric water heater thermostats are mechanical bi-metal switches and respond to tank temperature, and are not operated by electricity. 
Ordinary generic elecrtic water heater thermostats switch electricity on-off using mechanical bi-metal switch.
Heat elements are simple coil of thermal wire that gets hot when voltage is applied.
The element will get hot when power is applied.