My Reliance 606 40 gallon water heater only heats up enough hot water to fill a bathtub. We've drained it, the pilot light is fine, it heats up the water really hot, but it just doesn't seem to be able to heat very much water at a time. Any ideas as to what is wrong and what I can do about it?

Reliance Water Heater Literature ' Owner's Manuals ...

www.reliancewaterheaters.com/resources/instruction-manuals

Welcome to the Reliance Water Heaters Owner's Manual and Installation ... 9 40 EKRT - 40 Gallon Tall Self-Cleaning Electric Water Heater - 9 Year Warranty . ..... 10 50 DHPST - 50 Gallon Electric Heat Pump Water Heater - 10 Year Warranty .

How to light the pilot on a Reliance 606 water heater ...

? 3:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU2PsFVd2ug
Jul 12, 2011 - Uploaded by kilroywashere123
How to light the pilot on a Reliance 606 water heater ... How to fixwater heater, will not stay lit - sealed combustion no hot water - Duration: ...

Reliance Water Heaters - Consumer Affairs

www.consumeraffairs.com > Homeowners > Bath & Plumbing

Rating: 1.6 - ‎84 votes
I purchased a Reliance 606 water heater in 2010. ... That they don't TELL you there's areset button or that I'm having conspiracy thoughts ... After several attempts, I was able to relight it. ... It's heading to the junk pile and I will purchase a new reliable (NotReliance) ... Checked breaker and changed breaker still no hot water!

Could be a bad thermocoupler.

1) If water flow stops when tap is off, then Sound of water running: could be factory-installed heat trap inserts or nipples: These things cause noise.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Low-hot-water-pressure.html#trap
http://waterheatertimer.org/9-ways-to-save-with-water-heater.html#heat-trap
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html

2) If sound of water continues when tap is off, then there is a broken pipe or leak somewhere in plumbing system.

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

If I understand correctly, the pilot light is not staying lit.
You light the pilot and water in the tank reaches temperature.
Once hot water is gone, then pilot light has to be lit again.

Gas pressure is good, and gas is flowing.
Thermostat is working at high end because it cuts off heating.
Vent is working because tank heats up.
Air intake is working.

Gas control thermostat might not be reading low temperature. Replace gas control valve.
Pilot tube might be dirty. Clean burner parts and combustion chamber, and air intake, and vent.
Backdraft might be blowing out pilot. Check for constant updraft by running water heater 5 minutes, and then light match under vent hood and see if smoke goes up.
Very hot air can put out pilot, especially when water heater located in attic. Add ventilation.
Improper vent might have water dripping back down into combustion chamber and putting out pilot light and rusting out the parts. Inspect for rusted parts and water.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#troubleshoot
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Pilot-light-will-not-stay-lit.pdf

The problem requires looking at manual and service handbook, except handbook doesn't show most recent water heater.
My first check point would be gas supply, and then vent draft, and then air supply.
Take off front cover and try lighting again to make sure air supply is not problem.
Review lighting instructions.
If there is no gas, and gas is turned ON, then gas control valve is suspect.

On-line manual for Reliance 909 gas
http://www.reliancewaterheaters.com/lit/om/manuals/186486-002.pdf
Reliance 2006 service handbook:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Reliance-2006-Service-Handbook.pdf

Other resources:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#troubleshoot
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Test-water-heater-vent-1400.jpg
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Water-heater-in-attic-800.jpg

Electric water heater typically makes 21 gallons hot water per hour.
Gas heater makes 41 gallons per hour.
If you use a timer on electric heater, it will make enough hot water for shower in about 15 minutes summertimer and 30 minutes wintertime. So incoming water temperature is a factor.

If your water heater is not full of water before turning on electricity, then elements will burn out.
Also the ECO might be tripped out: open top cover and push in red reset button.
How to troubleshoot electric water heater:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

Hi,

To change a gas hot water heater thermostat you will need to first buy a new gas valve for your hot water heater. The gas vaive and the thermostat are integrated into one unit.

To replace the thermostat on a gas hot water heater you must follow these procedures....

1. Turn off the incoming water and drain the water heater.

2. remove the pilot tube, the burner gas tube and the thermocouple from the gas valve. Turn off the gas line and remove from the gas valve.

3. get a pump pliers or a wrench in behind the gas valve and turn the whole assembly CCW to remove it from the tank.

4. After appliying pipe dope or tape to the new gas valve threads, turn the new gas valve into the tank by turning in a CW direction. Be careful not to damage the small wires to the ECO. They are the little red wires on the back. If you break them the assembly is irreparably damaged.

5. reinstall the gas line, thermocouple, burner tube, and the pilot tube to the gas valve.

6. Fill tank with water. Make sure to open a hot water faucet and purge all air from the tank.

7. Check for leaks where the gas line hooks up with soapy water.

8. Relight pilot light and check operation.

9. Set the new temperature setting to a medium setting and then adjust the temperature to your likeing from there and adequate time for heating completely.

heatman101

I have had a similar issue with my Reliance heater. The safest thing to do is replace the entire gas control. You will need the model no. and the serial no. to find the correct one. May have one in stock at some place like Ace Hardware, I found mine on the internet after getting the part no. from the Reliance web site parts dept. May be $75 and up. if you are on propane, there will be a setting in the new control to set for propane The orifices in the burner etc. are already set there. Be careful, it is gas. To change the control is easy, you will need a large pipe wrench to wrap around the whole thing and unscrew it. Drain the heater first, open a hot water faucet to aid in this. And be sure to flush the water heater before you re- light. Lots of videos on the internet on the proper steps. And of course turn off the water supply and the gas supply before you start.

The first thing I would do is turn up temp control on gas valve.Control is located on front of gas valve at the bottom front of heater.They usually have a indicator dial on front with an arrow pointing direction.Turn dial to higher setting when burner is not on and this should turn burner on and provide hotter water. The control is normally turned clockwise to increase temperature.If control is already turned all the way up then water heater may need to be replaced.Depending on water quality in your area heater may have a large amount of mineral build up and it may not be capable of producing enough or hot enough water. If this the case all I can suggest is to try to drain tank and flush some of the deposits out. If you have installation manual it will give you instructions on how to do this. If not see if you have working shut off valve on cold water line ,if it works shut it off and connect drain hose to drain valve on bottom right side of gas valve. Put hose to floor drain or sump basin if you have one. Turn control knob on top of gas valve from on to pilot,this will leave pilot light on but prevent burner from working while draining. Open drain valve ,flow rate may be slow or not at all. Open hot water side of some faucet to provide air to help draining. You may try opening water supply valve to heater a few times to aid in draining. If you can get it to drain,shut drain valve off when done,turn cold water supply back on and shut off hot water outlet. Then when tank is full open hot water vavle to bleed air out of heater and piping. Turn control knob on top of gas valve back to on position. This should bring burner back on .It will take about 1/2 hour to heat. If you can't get it to drain or this doesn't help you might consider getting a new 40 gallon heater. Hope this helps. Thanks

Replace your thermocouple ...