: : Have a Reliance 501 52 gallon hot water heater

: : It used to supply enough hot water for at least three people to shower. Just recently it started running out of hot water before one person had showered.

: : It has two heating elements so I am guessing that one of them has gone bad.

: : Question 1
: : The heater was installed less than a year ago by the previous owner. So I don't don't have a reciept and don't know where it was purchased. Is there any possibility I might still be able to get this covered under warranty ?

: : Question 2
: : What do you think is wrong ?

: : Question 3
: : I am willing to tackle this project on my own but have never taken a water heater apart before. Are there any good instructions on the web somewhere ?

: : Cheers,
: : Richard.

: Richard, There is a serial # on the heater. call a dealer for your heater and read it off to him. he can tell you if it is under warrenty.Question 2..Call a licenced master plumber and have him take a reading on each element. The ohms reading will tell you if one is burned out. You may have a bad dip tube.also do you have any undeground plumbing? you could have a leak undergroud. Question # 3.. If you haven't done this before please do not try and tackel it your self. one crossed wire and your heater is a potential bomb. I strongly sugest you pay a few dollors and call a licenced plumber and if it is replaced have the work inspected if there is an inspector in your area. Hope this Helps. Dale

Sounds like good advice Dale. The link below has some good tips also. Terry

• How To Replace a Water Heate