water heater with broken tip tube?

zepfan

Normally how long would it take for a heater to run out of hot water if a dip tube is broken? Te heater in question is a 50 gallon ao smith, electric, 7 years old with both elements new and working. The homeowner says that with one shower running in the morning the water gets luke warm within a few minutes. I don't know if its a broken dip tube, or the upper thermostat is going bad. When I looked at it before I had to adjust it up to get it to energize the upper element. Also with a broken dip tube how much head is need to get it out, or is there enough flex in them to remove? I only have about three feet above the heater before the ceiling. Thanks to all.

Big Ed_4

The replacement drip tube will have a little flex to it ..

ChrisJ

They run out pretty fast because it's dumping the cold water right on top.

It's not that they run out, but you start getting cooler water.

hot_rod

I suppose it would depend at what level in the tank the tube reaches. It it is broken or deteriorated across the entire length, probably within seconds you would feel the blending.

Elements and controls have been tested out? Element checked by current draw, not voltmeter?

zepfan

Yes I amped out both elements, and they were drawing current. The elements were replaced last year.

JUGHNE

I chased one of these problems years ago, even changed the dip tube to no avail.
It turned out to be a cross connection between hot and cold.

They had a single lever shower valve installed near the WC.
It had a flex hose and shower head that was installed for bidet use in the past. However it was not in use but the head removed and hose capped. The valve was on and cold flowed into the hot supply.
Other suspects are mop sink and washer connections.

FWIW, when changing both elements I also change both upper and lower tstats. I had too many callbacks to not do it.

Larry Weingarten

hi @zepfan , Is there a hot water recirc line? If so, the check valve in it may be stuck open. Also try testing for cross connection by shutting off cold supply to the heater and opening a hot tap. If it keeps running there is a problem. Sometimes heaters get blamed for things they didn't do

Yours, Larry

rick in Alaska

If the lower tstat isn't working, it will do that. Turn the upper thermostat down to make sure the lower one is engaged, tuen up the lower tstat, and then do an amp check on the lower element. I believe it is around 13 amps when working right.
The other thing to check is to run your water until it goes cold, and then feel the hot outlet, If the outlet pipe still feels hot, then there could be a cross connection.
Also, yes. a broken dip tube will only allow a short draw, depending on how far down it is broken.
Rick

zepfan

Thanks for all responses, no re circ line in the house. I am going to replace the thermostats and see what that does. If the heater was older and wasn’t in a confined area I would speak with the customer about just replacing it