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Water Heater Has Me Stumped #7846029 05/20/20 10:27 PM
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Hey folks. I'll try to be as thorough as possible without droning on and on. I'll use bullet points.

I replaced water heater with the exact same make and model as I had before. A Rheem.

When I turn on any hot water faucet in the house the pressure is normal. After a few seconds it slows to a trickle. It takes about 10 seconds.

Cold water pressure is fine.

I can't figure out the hot water being fine at first and then slowing down. It was fine until I replaced the water heater (It sprung a leak).

As I was typing this I had a thought. I turned on a hot water faucet and let it run until it slowed. Turned it off and back on. Still a trickle. Maybe I do have sediment in my lines and the water heater builds pressure over time but once that pressure is gone, it's gone for a while and I need to clean my pipes? Maybe sediment in the lines caused the other heater to fail at 7 years and when I turned the house water off and relieved the pressure it allowed it to settle somehow in the pipes causing a restriction? Not on well water but my water is not soft by any means.

It's a standard electric water heater, no special hospital or nursing home unit.

I've changed a few water heaters in my day and this is a first to me. I'd like to go into it somewhat educated. Am I on the right track with the weird sediment angle? Thoughts please? Thanks in advance.


"I have no idea what WW-III will be fought with, but WW-IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7846040 05/20/20 10:33 PM
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You check the aireators ? I know I spelled wrong. The usually catch all the crap.

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7846043 05/20/20 10:39 PM
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Yeah, but the pressure is fine at first. I'll check them all, though. Thanks!


"I have no idea what WW-III will be fought with, but WW-IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

A. Einstein

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7846121 05/20/20 11:54 PM
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I would suspect your supply valve (stop valve) going into your water heater is not fully opened. If it is only opened a small amount, it will let enough water through over time to build up enough pressure to give you a good flow then rapidly drop off. If it was trash breaking off it would have already plugged the aerators and would also restrict the cold water flow. The gate/seat may have become detached. Have someone open up the hot water and gently tap the side and back side of the valve body to see if it will get pushed open by the water pressure. You can also open and close the valve with a faucet open to see if it will get it to move. Listen for water flow into the heater. You will probably need to replace the stop valve.

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Old Rabbit] #7846137 05/21/20 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Old Rabbit
I would suspect your supply valve (stop valve) going into your water heater is not fully opened. If it is only opened a small amount, it will let enough water through over time to build up enough pressure to give you a good flow then rapidly drop off. If it was trash breaking off it would have already plugged the aerators and would also restrict the cold water flow. The gate/seat may have become detached. Have someone open up the hot water and gently tap the side and back side of the valve body to see if it will get pushed open by the water pressure. You can also open and close the valve with a faucet open to see if it will get it to move. Listen for water flow into the heater. You will probably need to replace the stop valve.


Yep. Either incoming or out going. Check both.


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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: bill oxner] #7846150 05/21/20 12:19 AM
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Originally Posted by bill oxner
Originally Posted by Old Rabbit
I would suspect your supply valve (stop valve) going into your water heater is not fully opened. If it is only opened a small amount, it will let enough water through over time to build up enough pressure to give you a good flow then rapidly drop off. If it was trash breaking off it would have already plugged the aerators and would also restrict the cold water flow. The gate/seat may have become detached. Have someone open up the hot water and gently tap the side and back side of the valve body to see if it will get pushed open by the water pressure. You can also open and close the valve with a faucet open to see if it will get it to move. Listen for water flow into the heater. You will probably need to replace the stop valve.


Yep. Either incoming or out going. Check both.

X3


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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7846165 05/21/20 12:31 AM
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If you used heat trap nipples, they are directional. One or both may be istalled wrong. Look carefully at instructions or for dierectional arrows on nipples.

Incoming (cold) should point down. Out going (hot side) points up.


If the 2nd amendment was written just to include guns for hunting, why is there not an amendment to protect fishing poles?
Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Lazyjack] #7846176 05/21/20 12:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Lazyjack
If you used heat trap nipples, they are directional. One or both may be istalled wrong. Look carefully at instructions or for dierectional arrows on nipples.

Incoming (cold) should point down. Out going (hot side) points up.


Well the nipples attached to the tank came already attached but I'll check that. There is no discharge valve at the heater but I will check the inlet valve. Might give it a few love taps.


"I have no idea what WW-III will be fought with, but WW-IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7847613 05/22/20 01:43 PM
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Being that it is happening on EVERY faucet I would bet the trouble is at the water heater itself. I would disconnect the hot water outlet flex check that heat trap nipple....as stated. Those started becoming common as efficiency demand increased. They don't make up THAT much difference imo. You can pull out the insert inside the nipple with a pair of needle nose. I bet that does it.

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7848236 05/23/20 12:57 AM
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Make totally sure you connected H to Hot and C to Cold; they may have REVERSED on different year versions even the same model - you may still get hot water, but the inner dip tubes/ heat trap valves often not reversible.

Also, your OLD water heater may have actually been connected in reverse (wall ports reversed) but didn't have heat-trap valves and 'still gave hot water', etc. - confirm and make totally sure you know which is which.

Do you have an expansion tank? connected on COLD side?
Try connecting water hose to drain valve, and see what it does when opened fully ….

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7853661 05/28/20 03:31 PM
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Keep us informed. I'm one of those who always enjoys hearing what fixed a problem I've never seen before.


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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7853960 05/28/20 09:14 PM
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Do what top water said remove the insert on the hot side. If you have it hooked up with a flex line run it into a bucket turn on the valve and check the flow that will isolate the issue

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7853992 05/28/20 09:36 PM
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Do you have a drip pan under the water heater? And if you do, is it rigged with a sensor that will automatically cut off the supply side (cold water) if it senses water in the drip pan? My sensor went wonky on me a couple of years ago and started cutting off the hot water at random times. Very similar symptoms to what you're describing.


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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7854042 05/28/20 10:30 PM
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I have it in a drip pan that drains to the outside but no sensor or anything. I'm back at work and cold showering in the morning. I'll pull those nipples this weekend and checlk for "flow control" devices, and I'll try the Topwater, Oldoak, Bildo, and Texan 'til I Die routes also. Then I'll sweat off and replace the valve, I think. I'll keep you all posted, thanks to all and keep 'em coming if you got 'em!


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A. Einstein

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7854169 05/29/20 12:39 AM
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This is going to sound pretty basic but make sure you opened the supply line all the way that goes to the water heater.

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7854462 05/29/20 10:48 AM
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Attach a hose to the top of the water heater where it discharges, if it flows after turning water back on then you probably have lots of sediment in your fixtures. Always run hot side of tub first to clear debris and sediment after changing water heater.

If you do have good flow, then start looking at your angle stop/shut off valves to each fixture, run them and see if pressure is strong

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: RedRanger] #7862454 06/06/20 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by RedRanger
Attach a hose to the top of the water heater where it discharges, if it flows after turning water back on then you probably have lots of sediment in your fixtures. Always run hot side of tub first to clear debris and sediment after changing water heater.

If you do have good flow, then start looking at your angle stop/shut off valves to each fixture, run them and see if pressure is strong


OK, I kinda' did this. I was really doubting the sediment thing, but the idea of the hose got my little hamster moving. I ran the hose from the supply line valve before the water heater. Guess what? No water! The supply valve wouldn't open completely. Bad internals I guess. I had to sweat it off so instead of sweating on a new valve I sweated on a male adapter and added a threaded female to male valve for the supply line so if it happens again it'll be a much easier replacement.

Thanks again everyone for the assistance!


"I have no idea what WW-III will be fought with, but WW-IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

A. Einstein

Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7862581 06/06/20 08:43 PM
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up


If the 2nd amendment was written just to include guns for hunting, why is there not an amendment to protect fishing poles?
Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7887199 07/01/20 05:25 PM
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Another testament of the need to assume nothing and check the simple things first.

Glad you got it fixed.

Last edited by Texas Dan; 07/01/20 05:36 PM.

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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7887207 07/01/20 05:32 PM
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I wish other THFers would give us the rest of the story like you just did.


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Re: Water Heater Has Me Stumped [Re: Slow Drifter] #7888480 07/02/20 07:25 PM
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Sounds like trash plugging up the inlet valve?


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