Installed new gas water heater... Now Shower Temp. Fluctuations?

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Coleman

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Hello,
New member here. Look forward to participating! Question:
I just installed a new Rheem 50 gal gas water heater in my basement. Replaced my 20 year old Bradford White.
Same exact size and dimensions, so was a easy installation. Only difference was I used flexible Shark connectors on the hot/cold water inlet/outlet. Now... my upstairs shower has slight temperature fluctuations as I take a shower. It never did this before with the Bradford White... so I assume it has to be the new Rheem? Am I missing something here? Thanks!
 
something is wrong. Need to put temp gauge on hot outlet and take readings during flow.
 
Coleman said:
Hello,
New member here. Look forward to participating! Question:
I just installed a new Rheem 50 gal gas water heater in my basement. Replaced my 20 year old Bradford White.
Same exact size and dimensions, so was a easy installation. Only difference was I used flexible Shark connectors on the hot/cold water inlet/outlet. Now... my upstairs shower has slight temperature fluctuations as I take a shower. It never did this before with the Bradford White... so I assume it has to be the new Rheem? Am I missing something here? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Use a different shower and see if the problem follows.
 
breplum said:
something is wrong. Need to put temp gauge on hot outlet and take readings during flow.
Click to expand...
Not sure where to "put Temp gauge on hot outlet" ? Do you mean on the hot water pipe exiting the water heater or actually measure the hot water temp. exiting the shower? Thanks
 
Coleman said:
I do have another shower on the same floor as the problem shower... I will try this. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Took a shower on the same floor but another bathroom and had the same fluctuation is water temp.
Any ideas what my problem might be?? Thanks
 
Turn the cold water off to the water heater and go to the kitchen and make sure water doesn’t flow from the hot side. You should be able to relieve the pressure and the water stop. If it doesn’t stop then that’s a problem.
 
Twowaxhack said:
Turn the cold water off to the water heater and go to the kitchen and make sure water doesn’t flow from the hot side. You should be able to relieve the pressure and the water stop. If it doesn’t stop then that’s a problem.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply... I followed your instruction exactly. Turned off the incoming Cold water valve at the Water heater. All Hot water from the kitchen faucet stopped 100% once the water heater pressure was released... so I assume this is not my problem. Now where do I look? Thanks again!
 
The dip tube may be compromised in the cold side inlet of the water heater.
 
Twowaxhack said:
The dip tube may be compromised in the cold side inlet of the water heater.
Click to expand...
Interesting... I never thought this was a consideration on a very new Water Heater. Are Rheem water heater Dip Tubes defective often?... This specific water heater has a Mfg Date of 2022 and was installed new in a house for only 6 months then replaced because the new homeowners wanted a tankless water heater. The Rheem sat dry and unused for 2 years before I installed it in my house.... Maybe this caused a problem? Thanks again for the idea Twowax!
 
Coleman said:
Interesting... I never thought this was a consideration on a very new Water Heater. Are Rheem water heater Dip Tubes defective often?... This specific water heater has a Mfg Date of 2022 and was installed new in a house for only 6 months then replaced because the new homeowners wanted a tankless water heater. The Rheem sat dry and unused for 2 years before I installed it in my house.... Maybe this caused a problem? Thanks again for the idea Twowax!
Click to expand...
It’s not common anymore, there was a period of time babk in the early 90’s where just about all manufacturers had defective diptube.

But since your unit was used, there’s no telling…..
 
Twowaxhack said:
It’s not common anymore, there was a period of time babk in the early 90’s where just about all manufacturers had defective diptube.

But since your unit was used, there’s no telling…..
Click to expand...
I'm going to check it out... (beats watching the Olympics on TV ;o) ) If the tube looks good... any other "Plan B" ideas? Thanks
 
Coleman said:
I'm going to check it out... (beats watching the Olympics on TV ;o) ) If the tube looks good... any other "Plan B" ideas? Thanks
Click to expand...
No ideas right now with current info. Do you have any mixing valves between the heater and the showers ?

I learned that a male was allowed to box women……..so I’m boycotting the rest of the Olympics. I’m not into being lied to and I’m not into watching men beat on women.
 
Yup... The World is a strange place... but then again... It is in France. The Crossdressing/Gender mocking of the Last Supper is what put it WAY over the edge for me. The world is a moral mess for sure.
Nope... no mix valves.. just straight shots to the showers two stories up. Is it possible the Dip Tube became detached and lying on the bottom of the tank during the installations/uninstallation ?
 
Twowaxhack said:
No ideas right now with current info. Do you have any mixing valves between the heater and the showers ?

I learned that a male was allowed to box women……..so I’m boycotting the rest of the Olympics. I’m not into being lied to and I’m not into watching men beat on women.
Click to expand...
Dittos for my wife and I! Absolutely disgusting and insane!
 
Did you, by any chance, downsize the lines from 3/4" off the tank to 1/2" with the shark bite lines, and if so, did you leave the white restrictor in place? Or, if you are running 3/4" off of the supply lines same question about the insert. I don't know if that restriction would be enough to cause your problem, but as you have stated, the other shower works the same way, so most logically, it is starting at the tank, and the only thing you said you changed is the supply lines. The dip tube should be okay as it really isn't exposed to many breakable conditions during shipment (but you never know), and the vacuum breaker is functioning properly, etc. We will all be curious to see what the resolve is here.
 
tomt30960 said:
Did you, by any chance, downsize the lines from 3/4" off the tank to 1/2" with the shark bite lines, and if so, did you leave the white restrictor in place? Or, if you are running 3/4" off of the supply lines same question about the insert. I don't know if that restriction would be enough to cause your problem, but as you have stated, the other shower works the same way, so most logically, it is starting at the tank, and the only thing you said you changed is the supply lines. The dip tube should be okay as it really isn't exposed to many breakable conditions during shipment (but you never know), and the vacuum breaker is functioning properly, etc. We will all be curious to see what the resolve is here.
Click to expand...
He installed a used heater. There’s no telling what was done or not done to a second hand heater.
 
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