20 Most Recent Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402 - Page 7 Questions & Answers

If some taps have really hot and others luke warm, then you might have defective mixing valve, check valve, or crossover on single handled faucet.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Crossover.html

Crossover can also cause stacking event. Stacking could be part of puzzle.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Stacking.html

Once crossover or check valve or mixing valve problem is solved, if you have really hot water to some taps, then turn down thermostat to avoid scalding.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-adjust-temperature-on-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more help.

Water heater and brand are not identified:
Question posted under electric water heater, but electric water heaters are not power vent.

First suspect is gas control valve thermostat.
Or burned points on contactor that turns on the blower.
Check if the burner is still going so you are not getting runaway heating that will trip the ECO and require possible gas valve replacement.

Open following link for older Reliance troubleshoot manual, plus some troubleshooting resources and illustrations, plus link to find age of water heater:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#troubleshoot

Add a comment and say what you did to restore functionality.

Depending on the age of your unit, it could be thermostat(s). The heater has two, an upper and a lower. If you got this new and are familiar with the unit, have you noticed a decrease in the temp of the water or, does it turn cold sonner than usual? It's not likely that both thermostats would go bad at the same time but, if you noticed less then premium hot water supply, you may have been operating off of one for a while. First, make sure your breaker is on and, if you have a timer on the heater, make sure it's working. Also make sure you don't have a remote switch that may have been tirned off. You should have 110v to each element and, you can turn power off and check for continuity. Try turning your thermostats up and see if the heater produces even warm water. If it does, you have bad heating elements.

1) If leak is simple, then put garden hose cap over end of drain valve.
Pick up hose cap in garden department at home center or hardware store
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/garden-hose-thread-cap-76.jpg

2) Or install a garden hose and run to a drain until valve can be replaced.
The hot water will not last as long for showers until valve is fixed

3) If drain valve is cracked, it needs to be replaced.
If you are a DIY adventurer, then replace drain valve.
Since drain valve is plastic, expect to use every tool you can borrow when the plastic valve breaks off.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-drain-valve.html

4) Call a plumber who will prefer to replace with new heater.

5) If you want adventure, then replace heater yourself and save $400 installation. Here in Houston 2011, electric heater costs 220 and gas 330 at local box store. Offer 10% less.
Open following link for gas installation, and use basic information for replacing electric.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html

Good luck and Upvote the help.
And take advantage of fixya expert assistance live.
For a price, expert works with you while you work on timer or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

Sounds like water heater is getting 120V but not 240V

You say there is no hot water inside the tank?
You have two elements, so tank is 240V.
Both elements test for continuity.

These three symptoms together imply that water is getting 120Volts instead of 240Volts.
Water heater appears to have electricity, but is receiving power from only one leg of the 240Volt circuit.

Open following link for troubleshoot of electricity to water heater.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Test-electricity-to-water-heater.html

Upvote the help.
And take advantage of fixya expert assistance live.
For a price, expert works with you while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

by looking at pitcher you have a 40 gallion hot water heater
check thr voltage at the heating elaments
ok remove the two blue covers in thare you
will find a square box with two wires check the
voltage on the round peace it looks like a big nut
with two wires on it use a multi meater you will
have 110 volts if you do the heating elaments
have gone bad
thats a new ballgame you will need to drain the unit
turn the power off
take the two wires off the round peace once they
are off you will need a big sockett un screw them
out both of them take them to home depot and match
them to your new one make sure thay are the same
make and model once you are satisfied reinstall them
please rember to refill the unit with water if you dont
the new heating eliments will burn up in 2 to 3 seconds

hope this helps you
bob

zdriscoll-

All tank water heaters make some amount noise, clicking and "snapping" sounds, particularly after much of the hot water in tank has been used (like after a long shower) and has been replaced by cold water that is being heated vigorously.

If the noises are accompanied by poor or erratic performance, or obviously if something malfunctions, you may require the services of a repair connection.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

DIYpro

Lower element can be burned out and still read 230V across screws

1) We know thermostats are working because elements test 230V.
2) We know upper element is working because tank has some hot water.
If upper element is burned out, tank will have no hot water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html

3) Here's how to test lower element:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

4)Here's how to replace element
Rheem element is 4500Watt bolt-in type
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html

5) Rheem manual says: Heaters furnished with standard 240 volt AC, single phase non-simultaneous wiring, and 4500 watt upper and lower heating elements.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Rheem-spec-sheet.pdf

Rheem 4500Watt element

Electric water heater can be repaired by homeowner
If I understand correctly, water heater is producing no hot water.
Reset button clicks in, but still no heat.

Three initial things can be causing this:
1) No power to water heater. Test across top two screws on upper thermostat for 240V. Red and black wire are attached to these screws. Screws are marked 1 and 3. Upper thermostat is same that has reset button. If power tests 120 across screws, then breaker may be off on one leg. If no power, then start testing at breaker.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

2) Upper thermostat is bad. Replace thermostat with generic upper thermostat available at hardware store.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

3) Upper element is bad. Test and replace element using Rheem 4500 watt element available at hardware store. Image shown below. Look at label on side of tank for element wattage. Rheem puts 4500 watt elements into all their 240V electric water heaters.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

If upper element is burned out the tank will not heat any water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html

Rheem 4500Watt element


Upper thermostats are generic and interchangeable:

Generally tank odors are bacteria reacting with anode rod.
Make sure odor is isolated to water heater, and on hot water line only so you know water heater is best suspect.
Change anode rod.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-anode-rod.html

Your plumber will know all about anode rods and will have tools or impact wrench for removing old anode rod.

If you had to shut the entire house off to install, your main valve may have broken off. Common problem with cheap Home Depot gate valves. Check valve and see if it turns endlessly. If so, that's the problem. To get water back on you'll need to shut off at the meter. The stem assembly screws into the valve body. Carefully take a wrench and unscrew stem assembly from body. Once removed you will need a pair of needle nose pliers to remove gate assembly which broke off. Pull out gate, make take a little effort if water is hard in your area, may have to tap a few times with small hammer on bottom of valve to free it up. After removing gate, reassemble whats left of the stem assembly. Be careful with gasket, grease on threads helps. Tighten vice and snug. Note: Whenever you are working on piping, plumbing systems, always be aware of how you tighten and loosen things up. Back up what your removing with another wrench or channel locks. You don't want to snap something off and create more problems!

Now go back inside and open hot and cold water in tub. Make sure valve is on over water heater. DON'T PLUG IN OR TURN ON ELECTRIC WATER HEATER UNTIL YOU KNOW IT'S FULL.
Turn water back on at meter. Go inside and see if water is coming out.

Error 72 is Flame sensing Device fault.
Flame rod could need replacement or be out of line, or tankless needs to be cleaned using maintenance outlined in manual.
Read manual.

Open following link for Rheem tankless troubleshoot resources including error codes, parts links, typical manuals:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Troubleshoot-Rheem-Tankless-water-heater.html

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

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

Most likely one or both of heating elements are bad & need to be replaced.

Hi,
The heatings elements go bad and or the thermostat can also go bad...check also that the reset did not kick out...

If your electric hot water heater is not working...check out this tip about electric hot water heater problems

Electric Water Heater not Working

heatman101

turn off the power,then on the side of the WH there should be a Blue cover take the cover off,if u have gloves u might want to use them because u might have to move a small section of fiberglass out of the way after that u will see a black looking box with a red button in the center below that button on most WH u will find the thermostat use a small screw driver to turn it down Clockwise to turn it up Counter clockwise to turn it down Put fiberglass back in put cover on turn power back on

There is a reset button located behind the top cover plate on the side. Remove four screws to remove cover and carefully spread insulation apart to access element,thermostat, and reset button. It is a small round red button. If you push it in and it stays thens the element should come on. If it pops right back out then you need to look at changing the reset.Thank you.

If you have not done so already then turn thermostats up to 140 degrees. You may also try to drain and flush tank to clean out any mineral deposits that could be hurting your effiency. To do this shut off electrical power to heater then connect garden hose to drain valve on the bottom of tank. Run hose to floor drain or other safe area and open drain valve. If it drains good with the water on then let it flush for a couple of mins. then shut incoming water supply off. Let tank drain as far as it will. You may need to open a faucet on the hot side of nearby fixture to break vacumn.
Drain it completly then close drain valve and hot side of faucet.Turn water supply back on and let tank refill. Do this 2-3 times to get inside of tank as clean as possible. Hope this helps you and thanks. P.S. You may need to replace thermostat also.

Electric water heaters never power BOTH the upper and lower elements at the same time.

If the water in the tank is cold, either the top OR bottom element will be powered through the upper thermostat (t-stat), never both at the same time. The upper t-stat will send power to the upper element until the temperature of the water in the top of the tank reaches the set point of the t-stat say 140 degrees. When the water temperature in the top of the tank reaches 140 degrees, the t-stat is "satisfied" and disconnects the power from the top element and sends it to the lower t-stat.

IF the temperature of the water in the lower half of the tank is lower than the set point of the lower t-stat, the t-stat closes to send power to the lower element. The lower element REMAINS powered by the t-stat until EITHER the water in the lower part of the tank reaches the set point temperature of the lower t-stat again, say 140 degrees; OR the temperature of the water in the upper part of the tank drops, at which point the upper t-stat "calls" and switches the power away from the lower t-stat and sends it to the upper heating element instead. When the top t-stat is satisfied, it switches power back to the lower t-stat. The process will continue back and forth for as long as needed to bring the temperature of the water in both halves of the tank to 140 degrees.

You must wait until the top of the tank is heated - before the lower element will be powered to heat the water.

I hope this helps you understand how the switching happens in these water heaters. Good luck! Please rate my reply. Thank you.