OUWxGuesser
10/12/2007, 12:36 AM
Here's the scenario:
Wife and I live alone in a home that has a 60g gas water heater (overkill for 2 of us, but it's what the house has). While the water is plenty hot, if the water goes unused for a period of time, typically a half-day or so, it comes out lukewarm (even if you wait a minute or so for it to cycle through the water in the pipes).
Example: Little water usage tonight. Tomorrow morning, wife gets in shower and is treated to a luke-warm shower. An hour later, I get up and take a shower. Water is plenty hot.
How does the thermostat on a water heater work? Is it simply heating the water up for a period of time as it enters the tank... and thus cools with time? Or does it actively warm the water 24/7 keeping a steady temperature? I'm wondering if its just that we don't go through that much water on a 60g tank.
The ultimate question is whether to call the repairman. I already drained the tank and rid it of sediment. I also installed foam insulation around the warm water piper where I had access above the water heater. Next step (assuming the thermostat is ok) is to add that wrap insulation around the main body of the heater. Probably a good idea considering the energy rating on it is 1 point below the least efficient in this size :mad:.
Wife and I live alone in a home that has a 60g gas water heater (overkill for 2 of us, but it's what the house has). While the water is plenty hot, if the water goes unused for a period of time, typically a half-day or so, it comes out lukewarm (even if you wait a minute or so for it to cycle through the water in the pipes).
Example: Little water usage tonight. Tomorrow morning, wife gets in shower and is treated to a luke-warm shower. An hour later, I get up and take a shower. Water is plenty hot.
How does the thermostat on a water heater work? Is it simply heating the water up for a period of time as it enters the tank... and thus cools with time? Or does it actively warm the water 24/7 keeping a steady temperature? I'm wondering if its just that we don't go through that much water on a 60g tank.
The ultimate question is whether to call the repairman. I already drained the tank and rid it of sediment. I also installed foam insulation around the warm water piper where I had access above the water heater. Next step (assuming the thermostat is ok) is to add that wrap insulation around the main body of the heater. Probably a good idea considering the energy rating on it is 1 point below the least efficient in this size :mad:.