A brand-new electric water heater should solve a major household problem, not create a new one. But one homeowner said their replacement tank stayed "ice cold" for 18 hours after installation.
After the installer returned once, Reddit commenters pointed to a few possible setup mistakes — and the point at which a customer should stop waiting and push back.
Here's what to know
A homeowner on r/Plumbing said a failed water heater was replaced with a new electric unit, but the new tank still was not producing hot water. In the Reddit post, the poster said they tried flipping the breaker and then waiting, yet after 18 hours the water remained "ice cold."
Commenters were unconvinced after the installer came back and reportedly said the setup was correct and the homeowner "just didn't wait long enough." One person said the water should have "been hot within hours, like 4 hours," while another offered simpler advice: "Call the plumber back again."
For homeowners already facing a replacement, a heat pump water heater can also come with a major financial benefit. Typical federal estimates show a household of four can save roughly $550 per year on electricity compared with a standard electric storage model.
More background
Several replies focused on a known issue with electric tanks: problems that can happen if the unit is powered before it has fully filled with water. One commenter said the heater may have been "dry fired and burned up the elements," while another said turning it on before the air was bled out could have "broken the elements."
A different commenter pointed to three other possible causes: wiring that came loose in the junction box, a bad breaker, or the heater being energized before the tank was full. That person suggested checking for "a red/maroon button" behind the element panels, although other commenters said the installer — not the homeowner — should be the one doing that.
What can be done?
When the original poster asked whether they should try resetting the elements themselves, the prevailing advice was to stop troubleshooting and have the company handle it.
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After commenters suggested the elements may have been damaged, the homeowner asked: "Hmm ok, would that mean they have to replace it all over again?"
For anyone replacing a failed tank and weighing longer-term options, Cala is one company focused on smarter electric hot water. Its customizable smart heat pump water heaters help homeowners decrease their energy bills by heating water exactly when it's needed. That kind of timing can reduce waste from constantly reheating stored water. For homeowners deciding what to install after a breakdown, Cala offers a water heater designed around savings and performance.
Where can I learn more?
These articles cover water-heater breakdowns, performance problems, and plumber disputes, and how homeowners handle them.
• A homeowner's Rinnai unit runs scalding hot for the plumber, then turns lukewarm again.
• GE's new heat pump heater dies in under 6 months, and warranty delays follow.
• A retired plumber says the word is getting out on heat pump water heaters.
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