Plumbers?

Seriak · #1 10-09-2013, 01:22 AM

I have a gas hot water tank that runs out of hot water a lot quicker than usual. The only thing I can research is a possible broken dip tube. I was going to check that this weekend, but unlike the US, Homedepot and Rona don't seem to carry them here. Anyone know where I can find one in Calgary or have another idea why I run out of water so quickly.

Magickiwi · #2 10-09-2013, 01:32 AM

Broken dipstick is the most likely answer. The box stores should stick them. Maybe try at a plumbing distributor if you can't find them.

Could also be sediment or calcification build up in the tank itself.

Seriak · #3 10-09-2013, 01:45 AM

I flushed the tank the other day and nothing really came out. Don't think it's sediment!

Proteus · #4 10-09-2013, 01:49 AM

Canadian tire stocks them

Seriak · #5 10-09-2013, 01:54 AM

Hmm don't see anything online. Maybe I will just have to go into the store.

Delphinus · #6 10-09-2013, 03:03 AM

How old is the tank?

Seriak · #7 10-09-2013, 03:24 AM

11 years

Delphinus · #8 10-09-2013, 03:34 AM

Seems to me they're supposed to last longer than that, but IME anything after 10 years is "anything goes". I don't know anything about dip tubes, interesting, will have to read up on that. I just kinda thought that the tanks just got less and less capacity as they got older and then poof one day they start leaking and then you go get a new heater.

I kind of like the idea of an on-demand/inline heater instead of a tank ... when the time comes to replace my tank I was thinking I'd look into that.

Good luck!

The Codfather · #9 10-09-2013, 03:36 AM

Its more than likely the dip-tube. Just remember that if you changed the setting on the tank to anything higher than normal, return it to normal after replacing the tube, or you're back to square one pretty quick.
I redid the dip-tube in my tank 5 years ago, it is still the original tank, something that will have to be done periodically. The tubes used to be made of copper, not crappy plastic......

The Codfather · #10 10-09-2013, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Seems to me they're supposed to last longer than that, but IME anything after 10 years is "anything goes". I don't know anything about dip tubes, interesting, will have to read up on that. I just kinda thought that the tanks just got less and less capacity as they got older and then poof one day they start leaking and then you go get a new heater.

I kind of like the idea of an on-demand/inline heater instead of a tank ... when the time comes to replace my tank I was thinking I'd look into that.

Good luck!

Make sure you do your homework on that Tony, not as good as one would think......lots of problems with a lot of units.
Some are not that bad though.
You're lucky if you get 5 years out of the new tanks with out any service, but it does truly depend on the water conditions. I hooked a water softener up to my system, this is probably the best thing you can do in a household system.