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

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