hot water pump help

[bird]

OK folks, through the years, my hot water tank has ceased to work.  I just go downstairs, hit the red reset button on the actual unit and everything is fine. Well, I successfully almost electrocuted myself tonight.  I went downstairs to push the reset button.  I couldn't find the "red" reset button.  In fact, that whole part of the unit was black. If I were of sound mind, I would have realized that the whole unit was chard for some reason. But, instead, I thought that the loads of sawdust pumping through the air had covered up the panel. So, in all of my infinite knowledge, I took a metal brush over their to clean the panel.  Needless to say, sparks ignited immediately.
      So, I'm faced with something I've never seen before. The actual panel on my hot water heater that hosts the temp. control and reset button is completely charred....  I mean it's black coal by now.  The whole unit is no longer existent!!!!!!  I've never seen anything like this happen before. The reset button, temp control, and a few other things are on a space that's about two by six inch panel on the actual hot water tank.  The whole thing was fried when I went downstairs. I mean, the whole thing looks like a lump of charcoal.  What happended??????
     Can anyone help me out with this one?  It's a far cry from wrenches, but, I'm hoping someone has some insight about this. I hate to be demanding, but, time is of the essence in this situation, as I'm trying not to burn my whole house down.
  Thank you so much for your help.
cheers,
bird.

[Papaw]

You should cut the power to the unit right away!

Do you have the experience to trouble shoot the problem? At best you need a new control unit, but more likely you need a new water heater.

[Neals]

Shut off the power to the unit as Papaw said. That should eliminate the fire risk. Perhaps the breaker should also be checked. It may be faulty depending on how the charring happened.

[bird]

Yeah, I finally figured out how to cut the actual fuse/ circuit off.  So, I did that. But, I'm very concerned about how the whole panel on the hot water tank got "fried."  I've never seen that happen before.  I not particularly savvy when it comes to electric things.  I'm not completely dumb when it comes to this, but, I was completely appalled when I went downstairs to push the red reset button and found out that the whole thing was completely burnt down.  I've never seen that happen before.  I really hope you folks are wrong..... because it will probably cost me a fortune to get a whole new unit.....    I don't have the money for it.  So, I guess I best get used to cold water!!!!!!   
      Thank you both for getting back to me so quickley!   I just can't imagine what happened that would make that entire panel "fry."  Does anyone know why that would happen?
cheers,
bird.

You should cut the power to the unit right away!

Do you have the experience to trouble shoot the problem? At best you need a new control unit, but more likely you need a new water heater.

[Papaw]

You have had a problem for a long time if you have had to reset the control many times. It may have had an overload or short in it, that is why it "kicks off". The first time that happened was the time to repair or replace it. Resetting doesn't fix anything, just lets you ignore the problem.

[ray]

Do you have " hard water ", water with lime ,calcium or iron in it ? If so the lime, calcium or iron will settle to the bottom of the tank, and ground out the heating elements. Some times  the sediment will block the flow of water around the element causing it to over heat and trip the control.
Open the drain valve on the tank, if little or no water comes out ,your tank has to much sediment in it. If you can't find a way to get the sediment out you will have to get a new water heater----sorry.

Ray

[johnsironsanctuary]

Talk to the guys at the hardware store. Maybe they can cut you some slack on the price and work out a payment plan that you can live with. You might look at the 'mobile home size'. Just be grateful that you didn't burn down the whole building!

I just searched Charlottesville craigs list, It's the Habitat for Humanity store. Kinda big, but it's cheap. Good Luck!
http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/ppd/2798604239.html

[amertrac]

years ago we had a water heater thermostat go bad the water seal where it entered the tank leaked into the control unit and shorted it out. but it blew a fuse . you better check as to what size breaker for it to stay on long enough to burn. our heater was old .I  understand the newer units are in a sleeve not directly into the tank.how old is the heater? maybe it was due to retire. maybe your gas co. will give you a break as a new customer   JMHO  bob w.

[scottg]

 I have installed but more important, repaired many water heaters.

First, you took a wire brush to a water heater? While it was still electrically charged??
 NEEEEEEEEEEEHHH We're sorry.  You will not be allowed to work on it.
      You must find someone else who can.

 Practically any one will take one look at it and say flat out, buy new one. $1000 installed.
This is because there is a lot more profit in selling you one then fixing your old one.
But I happen to know you will freeze to death first.
 
  I am going to give you hope, because we like you.
You will have to find someone who will at least look closely and try to save it, if its not gushing water all over the place. If the tank is leaking, there is no hope.
 Otherwise you can fix it at least while you look for a scratch n dent or a Habitat model.
 

There are only a few parts to a water heater. A tank, two elements and two thermostats.
There are many different kinds of elements but only 2 kinds of thermostat made and ether kind of thermo can fit any heater.   

 
Thermostats burn out more often than any other part on a water heater.
If its been acting up for years and nothing worse has happened (as in big ugly smoke and gushing water and well, fire.)  then its entirely likely one thermostat will get you back in business.

There are two of those thermostat controls. I'm assuming the top one was the one giving trouble since the lower one is simpler and has no reset button.
 If the element(s) are gone, the breaker would trip instantly.  A dead short to ground inside a tank full of water will do that real quick unless the breaker itself is bad.  If you could turn the breaker on and off its not likely a bad breaker. Breakers can be had for 2 dollars if there is a problem there. 
 
 The top thermostat is the expensive one.  Almost 40 dollars unless you get a break.
   It will cost you at least 50 dollars to get anyone to your house to look at it.
  But for $100 you ought to get by for a little while. If you can find a kindly electrician/plumber who lives down the street or something.

  That doesn't mean you're off the hook though.  Once a heater starts dying ts time to start looking.
  I got my current one (previous one was 20 years old) for $400. 50gallon quick recovery.
  There was no Habitat store and I couldn't find a scratch and dent and had to have one.   

 When you install a new water heater, never ever try to reuse the copper hookup tubing.
They ---never--- seal the second time. Choke up the extra 30, trust me.
  yours Scott

[bird]

I wish I would have known that!!!!  I guess I should have!


quote author=Papaw link=topic=3300.msg20063#msg20063 date=1327489962]
You have had a problem for a long time if you have had to reset the control many times. It may have had an overload or short in it, that is why it "kicks off". The first time that happened was the time to repair or replace it. Resetting doesn't fix anything, just lets you ignore the problem.
[/quote]

[bird]

Yeah, I have NO IDEA what I was thinking with the wire brush deal.... I guess I thought electricity would not be conducted through a wooden handle. Basically, I wasn't thinking. I do a lot of dumb things...  normally it's life decisions, and not "repair" related things.  My boys at the store told me to just go ahead and buy a whole new hot water heater. I'm taking their advice. First of all, I would prefer that my house didn't burn down. secondly, my friends told me I could spend a bunch of money replacing various parts and still have the thing not work.
      So, a new tank it is. I better start trying to sell some tools!!!!  My friend, Troy, said he'd come over, take the old one away, and put the new one in.  Of course, there isn't a single tank on the market that's the same height as the one I have. So, I guess I'll have to build a platform for the new one to sit on. Troy said that would work. He said, "whatever you do, don't start cutting anything. You'll cut your thumb off and never be able to hitch hike again!!!"
     Poor Troy. I said, "Troy, aren't you SO GLAD that I'm your friend?!!!!"  He's gotten stuck doing all kinds of stuff for me. It's good to have good friends!
Speaking of good friends, you folks ROCK!!!   I am very thankful and blessed to have you folks as my friends. I never thought I'd be thanking God for a group of friends that I know only via a computer! You are all very important and special persons, and I thank you for that.
cheers,
bird.

[EVILDR235]

I replaced my 50 gallon electric water heater about 5 years ago. It cost me $350.00 at Home Depot. The new ones are very light in weight. I used my hand truck to get in the house by myself and I am a sickly old geezer. Good luck with that.

EvilDr235