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Started By
Message
Hot water heater help
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:03 pm
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:03 pm
We're living with my mother in law for the time being while our house is being built. Yay right, well first day here and there's not a drop of hot water.
She goes and gets one of those cheap element and thermostat testing tools with the light bulb. I hate electricity, anything to do with it I will gladly hire someone. Reluctantly, I offered to go check it out.
Put the clip on the element probe, touched the other probe and kaboom the little tester thing explodes in my face and hand.
Does this mean the element is bad or the tester thing sucks? Me doing it wrong is a viable option as well.
She goes and gets one of those cheap element and thermostat testing tools with the light bulb. I hate electricity, anything to do with it I will gladly hire someone. Reluctantly, I offered to go check it out.
Put the clip on the element probe, touched the other probe and kaboom the little tester thing explodes in my face and hand.
Does this mean the element is bad or the tester thing sucks? Me doing it wrong is a viable option as well.
9
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:07 pm to BoogaBear
You're supposed to kill the power to the heater prior to using it.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:12 pm to BoogaBear
No directions?
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:13 pm to wickowick
Directions said to clip alligator clip on one probe. Touch the little tool to the other.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:15 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
Directions said to clip alligator clip on one probe. Touch the little tool to the other.
It sounds like a continuity tester which will possibly explode if used on high voltage.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:16 pm to BoogaBear
Why do you need to heat already hot water?
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:17 pm to QuietTiger
Well it did just that.
I'm still seeing spots. I gave up and got a beer.
I'm still seeing spots. I gave up and got a beer.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:19 pm to SuperSaint
quote:
SuperSaint
Expected OTer.
Good idea OP. Call a plumber.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:24 pm to BoogaBear
This is how people who have no business doing this type of stuff get hurt. And, it is a water heater.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:27 pm to jorconalx
Well thank you for your amazing help.
Didn't think testing it would be such a big deal.
Didn't think testing it would be such a big deal.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:28 pm to BoogaBear
Don't call a plumber all they know is chit runs down hill, call an electrician.
ETA: Youtube is your friend
ETA: Youtube is your friend
This post was edited on 4/5/15 at 6:32 pm
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:31 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
Didn't think testing it would be such a big deal.
It's not too bad , but there is a process. Unfortunately that process requires you to read the directions that come with the tester. I balk at directions myself most times.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:33 pm to 007mag
quote:
007mag
Guess it's regional, plumbers do that here and not sparkys.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:38 pm to QuietTiger
If it's gas it is plumbing, electrical it is an electrician in my way of thinking. But it's fairly simple once you're aware of what to do so plumbers could probably check the elements and such.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:47 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
Put the clip on the element probe, touched the other probe and kaboom the little tester thing explodes in my face and hand.
Does this mean the element is bad or the tester thing sucks? Me doing it wrong is a viable option as well.
you checked continuity and not voltage. You can't have a live circuit when checking continuity.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:50 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
Didn't think testing it would be such a big deal.
Exactly.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 6:52 pm to Napoleon
There is something on Rheem heaters to look out for (actually the #1 reason they are tossed out) there is a glass fuse that "pops" and seasls off the dampner. I see this a good bit on them, it's a $25 part, but people replace the HWH (it never heats anything but water that is already hot so it's a Hot water heater to me lol) for that part breaking.
Also if you have a GE heater, you have an 11 year warranty, so use it. I cringe when people call us for GE heaters, because I know I will be fixing them for a service fee and then getting my parts reimbursed by GE. But it makes the customer happy when I tell them. "Well this is a $400 repair, but since I'm GE authorized, I'm going to write up the paperwork as a warranty and deal with GE and you just pay our $69 service fee"
Most of those customers then keep our card, so hopefully it pays off.
Also if you have a GE heater, you have an 11 year warranty, so use it. I cringe when people call us for GE heaters, because I know I will be fixing them for a service fee and then getting my parts reimbursed by GE. But it makes the customer happy when I tell them. "Well this is a $400 repair, but since I'm GE authorized, I'm going to write up the paperwork as a warranty and deal with GE and you just pay our $69 service fee"
Most of those customers then keep our card, so hopefully it pays off.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 9:04 pm to BoogaBear
Well, at least you broke the tester, so you don't have to frick with it anymore
Posted on 4/5/15 at 9:11 pm to BoogaBear
A plumber can fix the water heater. In all likelihood it's bad elements. It's cheaper to go ahead & replace the elements & the thermostats. Get sandhog elements. Don't those cheapshit $12.00 elements. They last maybe one year. I call them "job security" for the plumbers.
Posted on 4/5/15 at 10:39 pm to BoogaBear
agree with the others...sounds like you used an ohm meter on a circuit with power and blew it all to hell...
at least we know that there is poweer to the unit...
look for a red reset button on one of the elements and push that...I bet it clicks and all works fine after that...
at least we know that there is poweer to the unit...
look for a red reset button on one of the elements and push that...I bet it clicks and all works fine after that...
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