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Author:
sheepcake (AZ)
Are the heating elements engaged in a traditional tank type electric water heater when water is being drawn from the hot water line under full flow? For example, say the hot water line burst by a washing machine or dishwater, drawing full pressure off the hot water line continuously. Would the heating elements continually work to heat the water in the tank as it is being drawn out at such a fast rate? A plumber told me that a tank type electric water heater (that is not an on-demand tankless type) senses flow and only heats the water in the tank when there is little or no hot water being drawn. But I've been unable to confirm this in my research.
This information will be valuable to me in connection with whether I'm having trouble with multiple different water heaters in connection with a (so far unfound, but partially isolated) hot water line leak. (But don't address that part, just the part above. I'm all leak-detectored out).
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Author:
packy (MA)
the thermostats on an electric water heater don't know if water is flowing or not. they are attached to the OUTSIDE of the tank.
they only sense temperature. they will pass current to the elements until they warm up to their set temperature.
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Author:
sheepcake (AZ)
One other question, packy. Is there any sort of limit or safety feature on the continuous running of the elements? Would the elements run continuously, around-the-clock, without any interruption, for days on end without tripping a breaker or otherwise going into any sort of rest cycle?
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Author:
packy (MA)
you can put the water heater in a pan and have a safety device that will sense water in the pan and send a low voltage signal to a control to shut things down.
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Author:
sheepcake (AZ)
Yeah, I've seen that method used on This Old House a few times. But that, of course, is for leak issues around the water heater area.
So, it sounds like that the elements have solely the thermostat as their god. Unless they lose power, they will run non-stop, come heck or high water, until they reach the set temperature - or burn out.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
You are in AZ, so if you are having a problem with lack of hot water even with the elements working, you probably have an under slab hot water leak. If the water is cold the heater will TRY to heat it, although it will fail to do so if there is a rapid flow, but your utility bill will keep going up.
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Author:
ev607797 (NC)
Keep in mind that only one element operates at a time in a standard water heater. The cold water enters the bottom of the tank via the dip tube and pushes the heated water up and out the top. Again, no actual water flow is sensed; it is just a matter of whether the water at the top of the tank is warmer than the water at the bottom.
---Ed---
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