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Author:
cessnat37
I got a look inside the electric water heater tank today. The mineral deposit isn't nearly as bad as I thought. I guess because I have been draining out sediment regularly. I gave it several short flush cycles. I'll do it again in a year, and probably vacuum it then. I'll work on replacing the anode rod also. I might need a couple tools for that.
Can you click on the link below to view a couple photos? When I reconnect the black and red wires to the lower heating element connection, does it matter which terminal I connect the red and black wires to? Are these both interchangeable?
I am going to disconnect the hot and cold lines so I can put the tank in an auxiliary drain pan. When I reconnect, I don't need to put anything on the nipple threads, correct? The brass fittings contain rubber gaskets/washers?
[s434.photobucket.com]
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
hj
The wires can connect in either order. The connectors LOOK good enough to reuse them, but normally we do NOT reconnect old ones because the rubber deteriorates over time.
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Author:
dlh (TX)
buy new washers for the lines. i had a customer that didnt replace them when he changed his water heater and it started leaking a few months later
- - - - - - -
PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
cessnat37
New washers for the brass fittings on the cold/hot lines. I didn't think of that. I guess I can do that when I get the anode rod replaced. I won't need to completely drain the tank for that, will I?
Speaking of the anode rod. I thought of another concern. When I eyeballed the rod through the heater it had thickened considerably with a lot of gunk on it. Is that gunk hardened? If I have to forcefully yank out the rod, couldn't it damage the threads in the opening? Then I would need a new tank.
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Author:
hj
IT will not damage the tank, but the stuff will be "scraped" off the rod and fall into the tank.
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Author:
cessnat37
Thanks HJ. This is what I thought. I did my tank cleaning yesterday,and my faucets seem to be running hotter with less effort. Now I have to get that rod out!
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
hj
Unless you changed the thermostat setting, the temperature should be the same, NOT hotter.
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Author:
cessnat37
Hmm. Wonder if I brushed up against thermostat or something. Feels hotter for sure. I'll check
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Author:
LemonPlumber (FL)
Unless you brushed up against them with a screw driver they did not change.Be sure to flush not drain the tank as your anode is replaced.know the difference or suffer from missing the bottom of the heater shape.
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Author:
cessnat37
'Be sure to flush not drain the tank as your anode is replaced.know the difference or suffer from missing the bottom of the heater shape.'
I don't understand lemonplumber. Can you explain?
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Author:
hj
NO ONE understands Lemon, so you are not alone, and any explanation will be even more confusing. What you did was probably all you had to do, or could do. Someday, I might do it with my 13 year old heater, but if so it would be the first time I have EVER done it with any heater, OR replaced the anode rod in one. But then again, I probably will NEVER do it.
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