About 2 weeks ago my heating company installed 2 electric water heaters in series( Rheem - PROE38 S2 RH95 . When I first installed the first water heater, I checked the temp of the water and it was 120 degrees. Now I found the water wasn't quite hot enough and checked again several times and it is only 114-115 degrees. (I did make sure I waited for the water to get fully heated).

It is a dual element heater. Is this normal for the temp to get lower after the initial install? or is something wrong with the water heater??? Should I just adjust the thermostat a little? If so should I adjust both the lower and higher thermostat.

I could have my heating company check it out they installed it only 2 or 3 weeks ago. Any thoughts

Thanks
Tom

FYI - Thanks for all of your previous help when I was getting my 2 hot water heaters installed.



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if they are in series, the temperature in the second one is the one you should be checking and adjusting.

Thanks

That's what I thought and that is the one that originally was getting 120 degrees now 114 degrees.

Do you or anyone have any thoughts on the following

1) Is this normal for the temp to get lower after the initial install?
2) Is this a sign that something is wrong with the water heater???

3) Should I just adjust the thermostat's a little? If so should I adjust both the lower and higher thermostat.

How and where are you measuring the temp of the hot water? For every foot of piping that the water flows it will lose some heat before it gets to the destination (sink, shower, tub).

The thermostats on the water heater are probably no better than +/- 10 degrees accuracy, plus they have a built-in "hysteresis" of several degrees so they won't sit there and quickly switch on and off. A change of 6 degrees is perfectly normal. Just adjust the upper and lower thermostats higher if you want the water to consistently be 120 degrees or higher. It will never be completely and exactly the temp you set it at. Immediately after a heating cycle the water inside the water heater will be close to the thermostat setting. But every minute after that there is a gradual cooling of the water, plus any hot water usage in the home causes cold water to enter the water heater and slightly cool the water inside. This continues until the water temp drops to the lower trip point of the thermostat, then the heating cycle begins again. The temp of the water in the water heater will never be exactly the same from hour to hour. I think you are fretting needlessly.

I doubt there is anything wrong with your water heater.



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Water at the top of the tank will ALWAYS be hotter than that at the bottom, so just adjust the lower t'stat.

I'd store at 140* and use a thermostatic mixing valve to deliver 120*. I believe that is recommended to kill Legionella.

Residential or Commercial application?

Best Wishes

Water at the top of the tank will ALWAYS be hotter than that at the bottom, so just adjust the lower t'stat.