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Hot water goes cold quick

Fmassarotto_9
Fmassarotto_9 Member Posts: 148
in Plumbing
hi all, unfortunately 2022 hasn't been off to a wonderful start, and with that being said my water heater is finally starting to go on me. whenever i take a shower it goes from hot to chilly in aboit 7 minutes. and then the rest of the fixtures in the house have no hot water. Currently i just became unemployed so that doesn't help. is there anything i can do as a home owner to try and get a few more weeks out of it? I realize taking shorter showers is the only real option. my major concern is to prevent an explosion like i saw on the news once. Any advice would be appreciated. At least until i cna get back on my feet

Comments

  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,505
    What kind of water heater, size, fuel? Post a pic too.

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  • Fmassarotto_9
    Fmassarotto_9 Member Posts: 148
    STEVEusaPA said:
    What kind of water heater, size, fuel? Post a pic too.

    it is an A.0 smith 48 gallon natural gas 60000 btu from 1993 

  • wmgeorge
    wmgeorge Member Posts: 222
    Check the burner, but its possible your dip tube is off inside the tank.
    Old retired Commercial HVAC/R guy in Iowa. Master electrician.
    rick in Alaska
  • Fmassarotto_9
    Fmassarotto_9 Member Posts: 148
    wmgeorge said:
    Check the burner, but its possible your dip tube is off inside the tank. 


    im thinking it is the dip tube, whenever the shower is on the burner turns on but it doesn't send hot water up 

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,636
    edited February 2022
    Hi, I'm going to second the idea of a bad dip tube. It's simply a plastic pipe under the cold water connection at the top of the tank. It delivers cold water to the bottom. If it cracks or breaks off, you get short showers. Waterheaterrescue has them, or maybe your local plumbing supply might carry them. Some folks have made their own from copper pipe, but that will damage the steel tank over time. It's certainly time to check the anode rod as well, so you're not looking at having to get a new tank.

    Yours, Larry.
    ps. By the way, the serial number on your tank suggests it was made in the year 2000. So it's a bit newer and this is good!
  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,694
    This will be a long shot but I experienced same thing after intalling a 1950's vintage showerhead.
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,505
    Vent pipe is wrong too, by code.

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  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,694
    What's wrong with vent pipe?
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,505
    SlamDunk said:

    What's wrong with vent pipe?

    Need a riser off of the draft hood. Can’t be an elbow.

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  • Aluvaboy
    Aluvaboy Member Posts: 29
    edited February 2022

  • Aluvaboy
    Aluvaboy Member Posts: 29
    Steve,

    I found this on a google search. Is this what is needed? Or is it only for double walled vent pipe?
  • wmgeorge
    wmgeorge Member Posts: 222
    Recommended, not required. I have seen lots done with an elbow, around here they are vented into the gas furnace vent pipe. What Code book are you getting this from and the page number?
    Old retired Commercial HVAC/R guy in Iowa. Master electrician.

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