No water from hot water heater ??

[rvtips]

I have a Suburban 10 gal water heater,I removed the anode to replace it,It was out for a week.When I put the new one in and filled the tank,I opened the hot water at the bathroom sink,lots of air came out and some water,after a while it stopped. Now I only get water out of the cold water faucets.
I opened the pressure valve on the w/h and water came out.
Two years ago there was a leak at the back of the w/h,I removed it and found the bypass valve cracked and leaking,I live in the SF bay area and don't have to winterize it. So I just removed it.
is there a check valve just for the hot water,if so where is it ?
Phil

[Mike Canter]

It sounds like there is something that was floating inside the hot water heater that has now moved to the outlet and blocked it up. If you have and outside faucet then you could take the anode out again and leave it open then open the hot water faucet for the outside unit and hold a garden hose up to it and see if you can blow whatever it is back out of the line back into the water heater and maybe out the drain hole.

[rvtips]

That is what I was thinking about doing,only I think I will use the hot water faucet in the bathroom because it is the closes to the w/h.
Thanks,I will let you know what happens.
Phil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Canter It sounds like there is something that was floating inside the hot water heater that has now moved to the outlet and blocked it up. If you have and outside faucet then you could take the anode out again and leave it open then open the hot water faucet for the outside unit and hold a garden hose up to it and see if you can blow whatever it is back out of the line back into the water heater and maybe out the drain hole.

["007"]

Most water heaters have three valves did you open all of them?

[Robi.1014]

Phil,

Yes, the HWH has a check valve that easily clogs-up due to debris (calcium, etc.) that forms in the HWH.

The check valve (CV) is not part of the HWH bypass valve system. Its purpose is to prevent back-flow of water into the HWH when there is no water pressure on the input of the HWH.

The CV is integral to the output port/connection of the HWH. This fitting is probably copper or brass. The CV within the copper fitting is a piece of plastic. The amount of orifice/opening is quite small, hence it is easily plugged-up with debris. When it plugs up, the flow rate of hot water falls dramatically.

When my HW stopped flowing, I disconnected the piping that made up the "bypass" system and thus gained access to the CV fitting's internals. Rather than remove the CV fitting, I was able to break the CV plastic piece (removing it) ... thus I don't have a CV function anymore. Then I re-assembled the bypass valving.

[RVhauler]

According to your post, you removed the by pass valve two years ago. Have you been usi ng the HWH all this time without the by pass valve and if you have then how did you replumb the HWH?

[rvtips]

Like I said,it was two years ago,yes the W/H has been fine up to now.
I don't remember hoe I did it,but it was very easy with the W/H out.
Phil

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVhauler According to your post, you removed the by pass valve two years ago. Have you been usi ng the HWH all this time without the by pass valve and if you have then how did you replumb the HWH?

[rvtips]

I never turned any thing off.
I only replaced the rod.
Phil

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007" Most water heaters have three valves did you open all of them?

[Midniteoyl]

Leave the bay open to the squirrels?

[Robi.1014]

Phil,
Sorry for a repeat of my feedback above, but a slowing and then stoppage of HW flow points to a clogged HWH output check valve.

[rvtips]

Well I got a water hose set up to put pressure water from the bathroom faucet back into the w/h,water did come out of the drain,put the rod in and started to fill the w/h,got lots of air and water,more and more water,then it STOPPED just like before I back flushed.Got to the back of the w/h and removed the c/v,I could blow a little air thru it.
I knocked the guts out of it and put it all back together,now I have good water pressure hot and cold BUT no check valve.After reading your post,It looks like yours works fine that way.
Phil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robi.1014 Phil, Yes, the HWH has a check valve that easily clogs-up due to debris (calcium, etc.) that forms in the HWH. The check valve (CV) is not part of the HWH bypass valve system. Its purpose is to prevent back-flow of water into the HWH when there is no water pressure on the input of the HWH. The CV is integral to the output port/connection of the HWH. This fitting is probably copper or brass. The CV within the copper fitting is a piece of plastic. The amount of orifice/opening is quite small, hence it is easily plugged-up with debris. When it plugs up, the flow rate of hot water falls dramatically. When my HW stopped flowing, I disconnected the piping that made up the "bypass" system and thus gained access to the CV fitting's internals. Rather than remove the CV fitting, I was able to break the CV plastic piece (removing it) ... thus I don't have a CV function anymore. Then I re-assembled the bypass valving.

[Robi.1014]

Yep. Actually, the flow-rate out of my HWH into various faucets increased a bit. Now go take a nice hot shower!!