No hot water

PDF]Tankless Electric (RTE) Troubleshooting - Rheem

www.rheem.com/docs/FetchDocument.aspx?ID=87d15e35-5adf-4e9f...
Tankless Electric (RTE) Troubleshooting. Technical Competence .... For four chamber units (RTE18 & 27) go to paragraph 4T. 9. Conduct OHMS resistance ...

Rheem RTE 27 Series ' Use and Care Manual

https://www.manualowl.com/m/Rheem/RTE-27-Series/Manual/296033
Rheem RTE 27 Series ' Use and Care Manual - Page 1. Use & Care Manual Electric Tankless With Installation Instructions for the Installer Water Heaters The ...

Check plumbing.
Bad single-handle faucet cartridge can can hot never to arrive at tap.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Crossover.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Troubleshoot-Rheem-Tankless-water-heater.html

Install 30 amp breaker and run 10 gauge wire from breaker box and install electric water heater for $300 total.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-circuit-breaker.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Luke warm water is the result of top element bad and the bottom is the only one heater. The best solution I can reccomend is to change both out due to the fact the bottom element may go bad and since you have to change one you might as well change both.

Turn power and water off, drain heater down and once water is drained out change them out. Once new ones installed turn water on to fill heater and open faucets and get air out on the hot side of each faucet once water is flowing out of each faucet you are now ready to turn power back on.

1) Guesses: Sounds like a bad single-handled faucet cartridge, or low water flow at faucet, or clogged water filter.
Replace faucet cartridge, clean the aerator, and/or clean sediment out of pipes below sink, and clean water filter at tankless unit each month.

2) For exact measure of problem:
Typical faucet can have 2 gallon per minute flow rate.
2 gpm flow rate means faucet fills 1 gallon container in 30 seconds. Test faucet using 1 gallon container and a cooking timer to get flow rate.
Clean aerator to improve flow rate. Compare kitchen flow rate with other faucets in home.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Low-hot-water-pressure.html

Most homes have 1/2" diameter pipe running to kitchen faucet.
100 feet of 1/2" diameter pipe holds 1.2 gallons of water. This assumes no sediment build-up inside pipes.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Water-heater-recirculation-system.html

Assuming only hot is turned on: If faucet is 100 feet away from water heater, and pipe diameter is unobstructed 1/2" diameter, and faucet has 2 gallon per minute water flow, then hot water should arrive in 36 seconds.
50 feet away, and hot water should arrive in 18 seconds.

If kitchen has single handled faucet, and the handle is raised in the middle, then equal amounts of hot and cold water are drawn at same time. This doubles amount of time for hot water to arrive.

If single handle faucet has a bad cartridge, then faucet can have crossover.
Crossover means that cold water can enter the faucet even if faucet is turned to hot.
Bad single-handled faucet cartridge can delay or stop the arrival of hot water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Crossover.html

Tankless require maintenance including cleaning combustion parts yearly, de-lime heat exchanger frequently, and clean water filter each month.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Tankless-maintenance.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Bosch_Overcoming_fluctuating_temps.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/Troubleshoot-Rheem-Tankless-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more help.

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And take advantage of fixya expert assistance live.
For a price, expert works with you while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
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Typical Rheem fury electric water heater manual
http://globalimageserver.com/fetchDocument.aspx?id=17bb6286-4eb8-4e44-813e-6ccfafda4404
Rheem fury water heater page. Click docs and specs tab to see pdf manuals.
http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=09DF2BDD-5E11-4D32-B574-84ACFB8A4619

More resources:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

Water heaters by Rheem have not changed that much over the years. the link below will give you some good information about electric water heaters in general. As water heaters age, the heating element will lose efficiency due to deposits and general build-up of minerals in the tank. Turning up the temp may not be a good idea since the problem is actually caused by a coating on the element. Also make sure that cold water is not bleeding into shower valves thru other single lever faucets. While shower is running, listen to and feel the water lines connected to sink faucets in other rooms for water transferring thru valve. You can actually hear water running at faucet while shower is on if faulty. If other vaucet valves are leaking thru, repair those first before you do anything to the water heater as that is cause of loss of hot water. Good luck.




http://www.rheem.com.au/images/pdf/owners_dom-elec_121996C_0707.pdf

Before calling service technician, open following link for Rheem troubleshooting resources.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Troubleshoot-Rheem-Tankless-water-heater.html

List of causes MIGHT include one of following:
Bad household circuit breaker that powers electronics, or loose wire inside outlet where tankless plugs in.
Tankless fuses and control board.
Water flow rate too low. Minimum .8 gallon required (depending on model)
Tankless inlet filter clogged.
Household aerators clogged at faucets.
Crossover at single-handled faucet
If installed, there can be crossover at mixing valve.
Faulty household check valve, including check valve on re-circulation system if that system is installed.
Restriction in household water line, such as clog at elbow.
Unequal pressure in household hot and cold lines, caused by restriction in hot line. When single-handled faucet turns on, the cold water pressure is higher so hot does not flow and tankless will not turn on.
Loose wire connection inside tankless.
Unit temperature set too high.
Unit temperature set too low.
Water temperature is very hot coming out of tap, so more cold is added, but that reduces amount of hot water flow, so tankless turns off because flow rate is too low.
On some tankless, if water is preheated by solar or other indirect source, the burner will not activate.
High mineral content in water > delime tankless yearly
Misaligned temperature sensor
Low gas pressure. Wrong type of gas. Undersized gas line.
Too many faucets on at same time.
Faulty tankless water valve. Water valve stuck.
Fluctuating household water pressure, for example MUD and PUD district water pressure problems or water well pressure.
Faulty household pressure reducing/regulating valve if installed.
Faulty household pressure tank, if installed -or- pressure tank needs to be installed.

Ordinary tank-type electric water heaters are fully repairable by homeowner.

A) Basic info on Rheem
Rheem electric water heater website:
http://www.rheem.com/products/tank_water_heaters/electric_water_heaters/
Find age of Rheem: look 2nd and 3rd digit of serial number, for example 06 is 2006

B) Water heater has some hot water.
That says certain things: upper element is working, water heater electricity is working, reset button is not tripped, and heater is not experiencing run-away overheating event.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html

C) That leaves 4 suspects that cause lower amount of hot water.

1) TP valve is running hot water out of tank -or- leaking faucet is running hot water out of tank.
Check for leaks
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-TP-valve.html

2) Lower element is burned out.
Test lower element using inexpensive multi-meter from Home Depot.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
Replace element with same wattage shown on label, and clean out sediment:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater.html

2) Upper or lower thermostat is bad.
Replace both thermostats for about $25.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

3) Burned or shorted wire located between upper and lower sections of tank.
Turn off power. Open covers on side of tank. Remove insulation. Inspect parts for signs of high heat and burning. Especially check lower element. Tighten any loose wires. Replace part that shows signs of burning.
Put insulation and cover back over thermostats so cooler outside temperature doesn't cause thermostat to misread tank temperature.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

You posted under Rheem 40 gallon tank-type electric water heater.

You have some hot water so that says specific things:
-Upper element is working.
-Electricity to water heater and circuit breaker are good
-You don't report a leak so TP valve is good
-You are not experiencing overheating event
-ECO reset button is not tripped
-Insulation and covers are in place so thermostat not exposed to cooler temperatures that would cause thermostat to misread temperature and cause overheating.

That leaves 6 suspects listed in order of difficulty:
1) Leaking faucet or broken water line that is running hot water all the time and tank cannot keep up.

2) Thermostats set too low. Turn power OFF, open covers and check each thermostat.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-adjust-temperature-on-water-heater.html

3) Loose screw, loose wire at upper thermostat, lower thermostat, or lower element. Turn power OFF and tighten screws, and look for signs of high heat and burning, especially on lower element.

4) Upper or lower thermostat. Replace both thermostats for $28 and see if that corrects problem.
Parts available at home center, hardware, or plumbing supply
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

5) Defective wire between upper and lower sections of tank: If this is the case, and water heater has 2" foam insulation, then tank usually replaced since insulation is too dense to drop another wire. Call for manufacturer for warranty information. Do a full troubleshoot using multimeter.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Water-heater-manufacturers.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

6) Lower element is burned out. Test lower element. Replace lower element. Rheem elements are 4500 Watts and are available at home center, hardware, or plumbing supply
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-element-and-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

There is 2 ways to do this.
The first way is to turn off the power. Turn off the incoming water (cold) to the heater. Go to a faucet close to the location. Turn off the cold water supply under the sink. Open the hot water side of the faucet. Allow any water to drain from the faucet. Make sure that the water coming out is not under pressure. You should be able to tell by how it come out. Easy, or forceful. Now go to the heater and open the bottom drain valve. The reason it does not drain very easy is because you have a vacuum. Similar to having a soda bottle full of water and turning it upside down. It will drain but it will "Glug" and drain slow. Opening the hot side of the faucet relieves the vacuum and it should drain o.k. When you are done with your repair, leave the hot side of the faucet open and turn on the incoming water to the heater on. Let it fill till you get a steady stream of water from the faucet. This "Burbs" all air out and ensures the tank is full prior to turning on the power. When you get the steady stream, turn off the faucet and restore power. In some cases, the heater may sweat because you are heating very cold water. This is normal and will only happen this one time.
Now if you want to know the second way, let me know. I've done it dozens of times with plenty of success and minimal mess.
Good Luck