Richmond Electric Hot Water Heater - Red Sticky Stuff and rod. Some pics. Advice please.

[Hotwater4Lifr]

My wife has been telling me that she doesn’t think our hot water pressure is normal. I haven’t noticed a difference. I do think we loose hot water faster.

The heater is not a year old.

You can see the red stuff around where the rod is accessed. I figure I’ll try to change the rod and flush the tank.

Any clue on what’s going on?

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

They send these heaters out from the store on the lowest temp possible to
prevent skumbags from attempting to sue them..... its probably only set at
a wimpy 120..... So then when icey bitter cold winter water comes into the unit the temps crash quickly
You probably would be wise to just turn up the top element to somewhere around 135 and see
it the problem goes away..... it should not be an issue but (attempt this at your own risk)

If raising the temp does not work
Odds are You probably have a bad lower element....... You can test the elements
by just taking off the lower panel and insulation and feeling the steel wall by the
lower element and see if it feels hot to the touch...... maybe turn off the breaker
to the heater first if you are afraid of being shocked .... if it is cold to the touch
then its probably burnt out on you......

or you have a broken off dip tube in the unit which requires a lot more
trouble investigation.....

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

or you have a broken off dip tube in the unit which requires a lot more
trouble investigation.....

I got to wondering how common failed dip tubes are. https://www.everyonelovesbacon.com/...on-symptoms-of-a-broken-dip-tube-in-a-water-/ says

Most dip tubes don’t break suddenly—they slowly degrade over time, especially in older water heaters or models made between 1993 and 1997, when a defective batch of plastic was commonly used.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

I got to wondering how common failed dip tubes are. https://www.everyonelovesbacon.com/...on-symptoms-of-a-broken-dip-tube-in-a-water-/ says

They are pretty rare indeed.. I have only changed out 2 over the last 5 years...

 

[Fitter30]

Buy clamp on amp meter. Harbor Freight has them for under $30.to clamp around wiregoing to heater. Can check voltage and amps.