Hi, everyone !


I'm a non-expert but I've been reading up as best I can.
Have a Bradford White Hydrojet 40 gal. hot water heater about 10 years old with
WH9 thermostat on bottom and WH10A thermostat on top.

I am having a problem starting approximately
two days ago of very hot water all of a sudden. It was almost to boiling
for a day or so.

When I realized this was a problem, I turned off the breaker, and it took
about 24 hours to cool.

I read somewhere about the reset, so I put power back on and carefully hit
the reset botton.

Now I'm having some hot water, but about half the usual capacity,
but normal hot water temperature. So my question
does this give enough clues to know if it's an element, or a thermostat.
I have had a multimeter for awhile, but still haven't learned how to
use it.

Peter Ligotti



Edited 4 times.

Replace both thermostats. Test the bottom element because it may be bad too.

at 10yrs old I'd be tempted to just replace the whole thing, but, if you are going to take the time to drain it, vacuum out the mineral deposits from the lower element position, replace both heating elements and test. Use tubing with a wet vac to remove minerals.

Hi, m & m. Thanks for response!

Not sure if it's important or relevant or changes anything,
but I did replace both elements about a year ago.

THANKS

The scalding water indicates a faulty thermostat but I replace both at the same time. The reduced capacity could be pointing to a non-working lower thermostat.?

The scalding water was probably caused by the lower element failing. The shortage of water would be due to its complete failure so it is not working at all. You may have replaced the elements, but if you used the most common ones, they have a relatively short life as a lower element. IF you do not know what you are doing with a multimeter, do not do ANYTHING, besides a multimeter is not the device I use to test water heaters.

Thanks, again, m & m ...

So I take it that a bad thermostat could cause either (1) scalding hot water
or (2) no hot water from the lower element depending on what's wrong?
In other words depending on the nature of the thermostat malfunction
it could cause either result ?

And, BTW, based on the suggestions received so far,
(and also, I do happen to have some spare elements) so I'll try
replacing the lower element first
AND
if that doesn't do the trick, will replace both thermostats.

Peter



Edited 1 times.

Hi, hj ...


Thanks for your response!

I will try changing the lower element first.
(as per above I have a couple of spares; I thought they were good
quality ones, but you never know)

Thanks for tip to not use the multi-meter until I know what-I'm-doing.

Have been doing a tutorial, (just practiced on
various batteries so far)
and have great respect for the
dangers at higher voltage and Amps.

Peter



Edited 1 times.

quote; also, I do happen to have some spare elements) so I'll try
replacing the lower element first AND if that doesn't do the trick, will replace both thermostats.

As long as you are doing "trial and error", why not just replace the water heater also? The prudent thing to do would be to test the system and change whatever NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. In 60+ years I have replace very few thermostats, because they are seldom the problem.

quote: I thought they were good quality ones, but you never know)

It is EASY "to know". If they are a simple "U" shape with 2 tubes, they are garbage. If they are "folded" so you essentially have four "tubes", they are either better or the best, depending on what they are constructed of.

Hi, hj.


Thanks. That would be great if I could replace the hot water heater,
but right now cash flow does not allow.

Peter

Hi, thanks, hj.

Yes, they are the folded type, but I'm not sure exactly
what they're made of.



Peter

I gather you do not recognize sarcasm when it hits you in the face. That was just hyperbole regarding the insanity of replacing things without first finding out if they are defective. You would go bonkers if your auto mechanic started doing that.

The best folded ones are Incaloy or stainless steel, because they do not depend on water immersion to prevent burnout.