Water heater temp varies widely


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Old 05-18-17, 05:55 PM
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Water heater temp varies widely

The past few months the temperature of water from my water heater varies quite a bit. Sometimes ts barely warm enough to take a shower other times I have to add cold water to coll it down a bit. Can this be fixed? There is no sediment in the bottom of the tank. Its an LP gas water heater Thanks Tim
 
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Old 05-18-17, 06:04 PM
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Is it only the shower acting up, if so it's not the heater, it's likely the anti scald valve sticking in the control valve.
 
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Old 05-18-17, 09:48 PM
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Thanks for the reply

Its a hole house problem. Most noticeable in the shower.
 
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Old 05-19-17, 02:51 AM
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First thing I'd suspect is the thermostat. Pretty cheap and easy to replace on a gas unit IIRC.
I dunno exactly, but with anything I think has a problem with something controlled by a knob, I turn it upper to lower limit a few times and see if things change.

Doesn't always help, but it sure can't hurt can it?
 
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Old 05-19-17, 05:44 AM
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If you are going to "exercise the dial" then very slowly turn the dial up to near maximum, wait a minute, then very slowly slowly turn it down to minimum, wait a minute, then very slowly turn it back to where it was. Repeat all this once.

Not part of the above test but also try this: If no one has been using hot water for several hours, like overnight, then slowly turn the dial up 1-1/2 notches and then slowly turn it back to where it was. If on numerous occasions the heater kicks on and keeps running for 15 or more minutes then you probably have a sluggish kick on problem that has been known to occur after several years although not with all heaters.
 

Last edited by AllanJ; 05-19-17 at 06:08 AM.
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Old 05-24-17, 09:28 AM
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Thanks for the replies.

Yes Allen its typically in the morning for whomever gets the first shower. I usually take that time slot so the Mrs. can have a nice hot shower. I will try exercising the dial and see what happens.
 
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Old 05-24-17, 09:32 AM
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Allen forgot to ask, can the sluggish kick on problem possibly be fixed exercising the dial?
 
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Old 06-24-17, 01:18 PM
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Thanks for the advice its works great now. No more lukewarm showers in the morning
 
 

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