20 Most Recent Rheem 40 GAL ELEC TALL Water Heater 6YR SC 82VH402 - Page 9 Questions & Answers

You posted under electric heater.
1) If your electric heater is putting out black smoke, turn off circuit breaker immediately and call plumber.

2) If you have gas water heater, look at label on side of tank to get brand and model number.
This information will help you find manual for your product.
Each manual has troubleshoot steps for that specific brand and model and you can perform the troubleshooting steps.
Generic steps for smoky, yellow-tip flame include:
Too little air: Adjust air shutter
Clogged burner ports: Clean burner ports
Misaligned orifice: Realign orifice and burner.
Most manuals suggest taking apart and cleaning combustion area each year, including burner assembly.
Keep chemicals out of same room as water heater to avoid deterioration of burner and combustion chamber.

3) Add a comment with model and brand number, and I will try to find manual for you so you can walk through troubleshooting steps.

4) Get model and brand number and repost question at fixya.

5) Get model and brand number and repost question at professional plumbing forum.
http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/

6) If you do not have tools and know-how for do-it-yourself, then call a plumber

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

before going to far on this. drain water out of tank untill it runs clear. there may be a build up of sediment in the tank. try this first. shut off cold water to tank.

The cold water line should have a shut off valve on it. If it does, turn it off. If it doesn't, you may have to turn off the water at your regulator or at the street.

On the bottom of the water heater, there should be a hose bib. Attach your water hose to the bib and run the other end to a drainage site of your choosing. Open the hose bib and allow the water to drain out. when done flushing it turn on cold water and let sit for a while to build up the hot water.

If your water heater is gas fired, turn off the gas valve at the water heater locaton. If it is electric, turn off the breaker controlling the water heater. before draining. have a nice day !!

You posted under Rheem 40 gallon tank-type electric water heater.

You have some hot water so that says specific things:
-Upper element is working.
-Electricity to water heater and circuit breaker are good
-You don't report a leak so TP valve is good
-You are not experiencing overheating event
-ECO reset button is not tripped
-Insulation and covers are in place so thermostat not exposed to cooler temperatures that would cause thermostat to misread temperature and cause overheating.

That leaves 6 suspects listed in order of difficulty:
1) Leaking faucet or broken water line that is running hot water all the time and tank cannot keep up.

2) Thermostats set too low. Turn power OFF, open covers and check each thermostat.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-adjust-temperature-on-water-heater.html

3) Loose screw, loose wire at upper thermostat, lower thermostat, or lower element. Turn power OFF and tighten screws, and look for signs of high heat and burning, especially on lower element.

4) Upper or lower thermostat. Replace both thermostats for $28 and see if that corrects problem.
Parts available at home center, hardware, or plumbing supply
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

5) Defective wire between upper and lower sections of tank: If this is the case, and water heater has 2" foam insulation, then tank usually replaced since insulation is too dense to drop another wire. Call for manufacturer for warranty information. Do a full troubleshoot using multimeter.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Water-heater-manufacturers.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

6) Lower element is burned out. Test lower element. Replace lower element. Rheem elements are 4500 Watts and are available at home center, hardware, or plumbing supply
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-element-and-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

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.

first check you're breaker to see if it tripped try to reset the breaker,if that doese'nt work, there is a removable panel for the upper element on the front of the heater remove the top one and any insulation in the way and you'll see where the element goes in the tank and also what called the themostate on it you will see a red button,it's a reset button push it and see if you hear the elements comes on, if it doesent work,the themostate may be bad the upper one controls the lower one,if it's bad it's and easy fix, you can get one at home depot or lowes for under $15.00,BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING TO THE WATER HEATER ALLWAYS MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF THE BREAKER IF YOU DON'T FELL COMFORABLE DOING THIS ANY HANDY MAN CAN CHECK THESE THINGS OUT FOR YOU,Hope this helps.

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

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on timer or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

NO it wont exsplode but it could start leeking at iny time becuese its over its lifespan best bet is to plan on getting a new one soon.

yes it is.

1) All 2-element tanks are 240 volts.
I replace both thermostats
Be sure to put insulation and covers back when finished so thermostats not exposed to cool air that will cause temperature misread.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

2) How thermostats work
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-water-heater-thermostat-works.html

3) You have multimeter, so you're right there.
Take 30 minutes and do complete water heater troubleshoot.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

4) Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

Here are a few tings to look for:
When COLD WATER comes into the heater, it might cause sweating of the Cold water line, if the humidity is high in the house? This is usually in summer time only-- when the humidity inside the house is higher..

Another possible place, is the relief valve:
If you have a check valve or two in the system, that ends up trapping all the COLD water in the tank, as it goes thru its heating cycle, -- the Cold water expands, and has to be relieved-- Thus the relief valve will spit out a puddle of water keeping the pressure at a safe level.
(However-- usually the system has a drop pipe coming out of the relief valve-- so likely you would have said that the puddle was at the bottom of the drop pipe-- and you probably would have suspected it..)

However-- Do these suggestions give you some ideas of where the water puddle is coming from ?
Tell us more-

Mack B

You need to troubleshoot water heater and electric going to water heater.
Troubleshoot takes about 45 minutes.
Typical electric water heater tank is fully repairable by homeowner using generic parts from home center or hardware.
Links below walk you through the steps:

http://waterheatertimer.org/Test-electricity-to-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Buy $5 multimeter from Lowes or Home Depot or Ace:
Install battery in multimeter.
When testing voltage, rotate multimeter dial to 240 or 250 or 277 VAC.
When testing continuity or elements, rotate multimeter dial to ohms (upside down horseshoe symbol is ohms)
Image of Multimeter

YOU MUST TAKE OUT YOUR HEATING ELEMENTS AND TEST THEM.. THEY COULD BE BAD.
TESTING FOR POWER IS ALSO SIMPLE WITH A VOLTAGE METER. FIRST TEST THE POWER FROM THE OUTLET,TEST THE POWER FROM THE BRAKER , FINALLY TO YOUR HEATING ELEMENT .. AND IF IT HAS POWER JUST REPLACE IT. THE THERMOSTAT CONTROL SHOULD OPEN ONCE YOUR TURN IT ON.. IF IT DOES NOT OPEN POWER ..REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND PROBLEM SOLVED.

Links below show step-by-step photos:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

If you turn power ON before tank is completely full of water, elements will instantly burn out.
For example if tank was half full, and power was turned ON, the upper element burns out, but lower element is still good.
If upper element is burned out, the tank will produce no hot water
If lower element is bad, and upper element is good, then tank produces some hot water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html

Another thing to consider is the electric power going to water heater.
You mentioned elements, so you have 2 elements, which is 240Volt water heater.
Check wiring to water heater:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Test-circuit-breaker-and-electricity-to-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, fixya expert speaks with you over phone while you work on heater.

You have electric water heater.
You replaced elements and thermostats but heater still won't work.
And tank was completely full of water, and water was running out of a faucet before turning power ON.
If elements are not fully immersed in water, they will instantly burn out.
If upper element is burned out, then tank will have NO hot water.
If lower element is burned out, and upper element is not burned out, then tank will have some hot water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html

If elements did not burn out, then that leaves 1 main suspect: the electricity.

1) Push in ECO red reset button on upper thermostat. If ECO is tripped out, then heater will not work.

2) Click circuit breaker all the way one direction and then back the other direction to make sure breaker is latched.

3) If tank has 2 elements, then it is 240volt.
If 1 leg of 240Volt circuit is not working, then 240V appliance will not work.
240Volt circuit needs both hot wires to complete the circuit:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-EH40-hot-water-heater-timer.html#120-240

Buy cheap multimeter from Home Center and set dial to 240-250-277VAC
Tape tester leads to woods sticks to keep hands away from power.
Power is ON
Test across top 2 screws on upper element should show 220-240 volts.
If you have 240 at top two screws, then skip down to step 6.
If no reading across top two screws, then move to top of tank.

4) Open connection point where wire connects to heater.
Test across both insulated wires should get reading of 220-240 volts.
If no reading, move to circuit breaker box.

5) Mark water heater breaker.
Turn off all breakers except water heater breaker and main breaker. (and breaker to light fixture where box is located)
Do not hold or touch or lean against anything metal.
Stand on dry boards and wear dry clothes.
If main breaker is OFF, the big wires that connect to main breaker are still HOT.

Remove box cover.
240Volt breaker has 2 wires connected with screws.
Test across both screws for 240Volt.
See if wires are loose.
If there is no reading, then breaker is not working on one leg.
To double check, move water heater wires to another same-size 240V breaker and then put ear against water heater to listen for bubbly-fizzing sound.

6) If you are getting 240 to water heater, then wire inside tank could be loose.
Do 30 minute troubleshoot:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, fixya expert speaks with you over phone while you work on timer.

how old is the unit? you will get a new one for 6 years,but the labor will be acouple hundred dollars

You posted under Rheem 40 gallon electric water heater, which is two-element 240Volt heater.
If this is not your heater, add a comment.

If you suddenly have no hot water, that narrows the suspect list.

Step1:
Check for tripped circuit breaker.
Open top cover on water heater and push in reset button on upper thermostat.
If reset button is tripped out, and will not push back in, then replace upper thermostat.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
Put ear against tank and listen for bubbly-fizzing sound that says heater is ON.
If reset is not tripped, then move to step 2

Step 2: use tester or multi-meter and test across top two screws on upper thermostat for 240Volt.
If heater is not getting 240V, then test circuit breaker.
Move water heater wires from 240V breaker to another same-amp 240V breaker and see if that restores power.
You may need to replace breaker:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-circuit-breaker.html
If problem persists, then you might have a line problem between breaker and water heater.
Open cover on top of heater, and check connections on top of heater.

Step 3:
If heater is getting 240V, then upper thermostat or upper element is bad.
I suggest 30 minute troubleshooting which could save you a service call, and will be valuable information in the future:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, fixya expert speaks with you over phone while you work on timer.

you need to show it to mechanic its metal plate is not working....

they are behind the access plates but look at the plates the top one usually has a reset button behind it

Sorry to read about your problem, I hope this helps you out.

sounds like you have a defective fill tube, plus you water heater is on the old side, and is getting past the fail point.....

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check the fill tube