Erick
: : Can anyone tell me, on an electric hot water heater, which heat element should be set for the higher temperature, the upper (quick recovery) or the lower main heat element? Henry : : : MY CURRENT WATER HEATER HAS BEEN ACTING UP. : : : THE HOT WATER ONLY LAST FOR A MERE 5 – 10 MINUTES. : : : IN ORDER FOR MY WIFE AND I TO HAVE A SHOWER, WE EITHER HAVE TO : : : TAKE A SHOWER TOGETHER OR LET THE WATER DRIZZLE FROM THE SHOWER : : : HEAD. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A SHOWER : : : BY MYSELF AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING A COLD RUSH IN A : : : VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.: : : QUESTION: IS THERE A WAY TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE CURRENT : : : WATER HEATER?: : : WHAT HAVE I ALREADY DONE TO THE WATER HEATER. : : : I HAVE TURNED UP THE THRERMOSTAT TO HOT. : : : I HAD A GAS COMPANY PERSONNEL COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. (NO SUGGESTIONS) : : : I PLACED A NEW SHOWER HEAD THAT CONSERVES WATER. : : Eric, : : A new 40 gallon gas water heater would be have a first hour rating of 67 gallons. A slight upgrade to a high performance 50 gallon heater would have a first hour rating of 89 gallons.: : For showering, you should have a shower head that uses 2-3 gallons per minute. If the hot water runs out very quickly, check to see if the incoming cold water tube is still there. If the tube does not fill the tank from the bottom, it will seem like almost no water at all. The tube should be almost as long as the tank is high.: : Regards, : : Terry Love : : HI, ERIC!: Terry gave you the right answer, I am certain. Just remove the nipple at the cold water inlet, remove the old broken *DIP TUBE* and insert a new one. A new one should be $5 – $10 (I believe Plumbing Supply on internet has them.) : BUT — it appears that you have an EXCELLENT reason for communal showering! Maybe you dont want the problem fixed? Better think about it.: GOOD LUCK!!: DARREL
