Bruinator Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 I am having an issue with my water heating as I am getting no hot water in my house. I was wondering if the following 2 parts are ok to change in it? One is a water heating element , on the package it says 4500w-240 and 240 volts. The other part is a thermostat upper , on the package it says 240 volts. I am attaching a pic of specifics on my water heaterhttps://imgur.com/R0vEm7I Can one or more verify this if these are the correct parts plz. TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 6, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 6, 2018 Replace the water heater.. There is probably a lot of sediment at the bottom that would cause heating issues. The install isn't hard to do on electric and electric water heaters aren't all that expensive. If you are planning to do all of that, you could easily just replace one. I purchased a 40 gallon hot water heater for $240 USD on sale at my local Lowes. You can pick up new ones for under $500, not worth repairing as the tub can and will rot out like mine did...yours was manufactured in 07 10-11 years is pretty good for a hot water heater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 how long should it take to drain a 40 Gallon water heater? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 6, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 6, 2018 30 min or there about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 I am going on about 45 mins. Is that excessive and if yes, should I shut the main valve off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 6, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 6, 2018 yes you need to shut the main off otherwise it will keep feeding into the water heater and it will never stop until you either deplete the well or wherever your city water is coming from (if you have city water). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 How long would u wait until u would shut off main valve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 6, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 6, 2018 Before you start draining the water heater...that would be step 1 or step 2. Step 1 or Step 2 is to also shut off power to the water heater. these two things happen before you hook up the hose and open the spigot to drain the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cork1958 Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 2 minutes ago, Bruinator said: How long would u wait until u would shut off main valve? Should've been the first thing you did! DConnell 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 OK I shut off the main valve. I assume after i turn off the power breaker and when I dont have any water coming from the hose into my sump pump then it is OK to change upper thermonstat and heating element at that time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 6, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 6, 2018 yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 TYVM. I will let you know how I make out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 6, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 6, 2018 I am guessing by lack of check in, it didn’t go so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudnartim Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Probably not a good idea to be doing this work yourself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xenon Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 52 minutes ago, sc302 said: I am guessing by lack of check in, it didn’t go so well. DConnell 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 What is the best tool to use to take off the 1 1/2 water heater element? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted November 7, 2018 Global Moderator Share Posted November 7, 2018 4 minutes ago, Bruinator said: What is the best tool to use to take off the 1 1/2 water heater element? An element wrench. Something like.... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-5-in-Element-Wrench-15016/205680998 sc302 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Jim K said: An element wrench. Something like.... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-5-in-Element-Wrench-15016/205680998 Thx but the wrench is POS and slides right of element unit. I tried it. Unless there is something i need to do with the water heater that will help loosen it? Edited November 7, 2018 by Bruinator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 7, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 7, 2018 Deep socket of the correct size. Don’t know what size it is exactly. Try some pb blaster could be rusted on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) 8 minutes ago, sc302 said: Deep socket of the correct size. Don’t know what size it is exactly. Try some pb blaster could be rusted on. Yep, thats was my conclusion as well, Home depot, lowes, sears harbor freight tools dont have 1 1/2 sockets. I found out the only pace that sells them. A place that sell them are autopart dealers. What a PITA. Should i use a drill that i can connect the socket to it so it is easier to remove if there is such a drill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 7, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 7, 2018 If the 1 1/2 is sliding it could be metric. You could try an adjustable wrench or channel lock pliers to try to get it off. Also advance or autozone may have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 2 minutes ago, sc302 said: If the 1 1/2 is sliding it could be metric. You could try an adjustable wrench or channel lock pliers to try to get it off. Also advance or autozone may have it. Yes, I am going to try that tomorrow. Should i use a drill that i can connect the socket to it so it is easier to remove if there is such a drill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 7, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 7, 2018 2 minutes ago, Bruinator said: Yes, I am going to try that tomorrow. Should i use a drill that i can connect the socket to it so it is easier to remove if there is such a drill? You would use an electric impact, they are a few hundred. For the cost of that plus tools You would have been enjoying hot water by now if you replaced the whole heater. Far less work. Cut two pipes, solder two pipes, disconnect 3 wires, hook up 3 wires, done. There is a large chance what you are doing won’t work or will only work a short time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinator Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 Just now, sc302 said: You would use an electric impact, they are a few hundred. For the cost of that plus tools You would have been enjoying hot water by now if you replaced the whole heater. Far less work. Cut two pipes, solder two pipes, disconnect 3 wires, hook up 3 wires, done. There is a large chance what you are doing won’t work or will only work a short time. Yes, It is the cheapest way to start out before having it replaced. IDC of the price coz I am going to return it when I am done using it LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc302 Veteran Posted November 7, 2018 Veteran Share Posted November 7, 2018 Well good luck. It is 11 years old. I wouldn’t trust it to go 12. Mine caught fire as the internals rusted through and water got to the electrical connector which ignited the insulation. The fire department called us lucky that we still had a house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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