Hot Water Help

[Lavender54]

I have a Force 10 electric water heater with a mixer (white knob in photo). When I winterized the system at the end of last season I installed a bypass (see picture) and drained the tank. Today I reinstalled the cold and hot water leads, filled the heater with fresh water, powered the unit and then failed to get hot water through the system. The water heater is producing hot water - opening the drain delivers hot water to the bilge. The hot water seems to make it as far as the mixer (can feel the hot water in the piping running to the mixer), but the only thing exiting the mixer is cold water. I fully opened the mixer and still no change in water temperature. Any thoughts?

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

I also have a Force 10 but it does not have a mixer. So if you have hot water to the mixer and not after, seems clear that is your problem. Why not take it off and install a short by-pass to replace it then check to see if you get hot water through the system and through all your hot water faucets ? If so, either try repairing or replacing the mixer or simply live without it. If the pink winterizing stuff was still in the mixer when you powered it on, it will have swollen and block passage of water. Good luck

 

[Lavender54]

I also have a Force 10 but it does not have a mixer. So if you have hot water to the mixer and not after, seems clear that is your problem. Why not take it off and install a short by-pass to replace it then check to see if you get hot water through the system and through all your hot water faucets ? If so, either try repairing or replacing the mixer or simply live without it. If the pink winterizing stuff was still in the mixer when you powered it on, it will have swollen and block passage of water. Good luck

Hi Claude, Thanks for the response. I'm pretty sure the mixer is the problem, but I'm also trying to figure out what I don't know. During winterization I did not run the anti-freeze through the hot water heater and so there was no anti-freeze in the mixer. I disconnected the hot water out line (red) and connect it with hose to the water supply from my tanks (blue line). In the picture you can see the pink fluid in the clear tube between the two lines. I drained the water heater and, since the hot water out line is physically below the mixer I assumed that any water in it would flow out the opening left by the hot water line. Am now wondering if I didn't get the water out of the mixer and whether it was damaged over the winter, though there is no evidence of cracking or leaking on the exterior of the mix unit. I did notice that the control valve was very stiff - my assumption that it is somehow not allowing the hot water to pass through the mixer into the system.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Mixer valve could be jammed. Perhaps it can be taken apart ? Why not remove it to have a look ? Maybe blow some air in it from the discharge side. And you could call or email Force-10 . They were helpful when I had a problem with the anti-scald.

 

[Lavender54]

I received a response from Eddie Breeden at Hunter. He was able to provide me with the documentation for the Watts Regulator Thermostatic Mixing valve. The documentation showed me how to adjust the temperature by loosening the locking cap - this may help. The troubleshooting chart under "unable to achieve required flow" suggests two possible causes: too much pressure drop at fixture or valve/filters blocked by debris. I suspect their is some sort of blockage. I drained the tank for the winter and I'm wondering if sediment in the tank dried out and when I repressurized the system the debris moved through until it hit the mixer valve. The cold water side of the mixer is working - but that water comes from the tanks, not the hot water heater. I'm wondering if I drain the tank if that may help clear the blockage. I'll have to study the valve connections before I consider trying to remove it.

 

[artboas]

I have the answer

I received a response from Eddie Breeden at Hunter. He was able to provide me with the documentation for the Watts Regulator Thermostatic Mixing valve. The documentation showed me how to adjust the temperature by loosening the locking cap - this may help. The troubleshooting chart under "unable to achieve required flow" suggests two possible causes: too much pressure drop at fixture or valve/filters blocked by debris. I suspect their is some sort of blockage. I drained the tank for the winter and I'm wondering if sediment in the tank dried out and when I repressurized the system the debris moved through until it hit the mixer valve. The cold water side of the mixer is working - but that water comes from the tanks, not the hot water heater. I'm wondering if I drain the tank if that may help clear the blockage. I'll have to study the valve connections before I consider trying to remove it.

Been there, done that.
The mixer valve is a spring return shuttle valve (of sorts)
What happens is that calcium and the crud that was used to seal the pipe threads when installed gets into the plunger mechanism.
You can either buy a new Watts valve, or fix the one you have.
You will need a beefy wrench & a vise, but it does unscrew & come apart.
Once you open it up, you will immediately see the problem. Just a stuck plunger.
Clean it all up & reassemble.
This drove me nuts when it happened originally, and it was at spring commissioning: same as you

 

[Lavender54]

Re: I have the answer

Art, Thank you for sharing your experience and encouragement. I'll give it a shot and, if I get my act together, I'll post some photos!

 

[Lavender54]

Been there, done that.
The mixer valve is a spring return shuttle valve (of sorts)
What happens is that calcium and the crud that was used to seal the pipe threads when installed gets into the plunger mechanism.
You can either buy a new Watts valve, or fix the one you have.
You will need a beefy wrench & a vise, but it does unscrew & come apart.
Once you open it up, you will immediately see the problem. Just a stuck plunger.
Clean it all up & reassemble.
This drove me nuts when it happened originally, and it was at spring commissioning: same as you

Art, Worked like a champ - hot water running fine. First photo shows valve disconnected and you can see debris in hot water out line. Second photo is the hot water out line with debris and then the filter (clogged), followed by clean filter and clean hot water out line - all good! Thank you again.

 

[artboas]

Glad to help

Art, Worked like a champ - hot water running fine. First photo shows valve disconnected and you can see debris in hot water out line. Second photo is the hot water out line with debris and then the filter (clogged), followed by clean filter and clean hot water out line - all good! Thank you again.

You'll be fine for a few years now!

 

[Andrew Baer]

Have the exact same problem on my Hunter 41DS. Figured it was the mixing valve and was thinking about taking it apart next weekend. Now that I have seen this forum it has confirmed the problem. Thanks all for the diagnosis and the photos.

 

[Lavender54]

Have the exact same problem on my Hunter 41DS. Figured it was the mixing valve and was thinking about taking it apart next weekend. Now that I have seen this forum it has confirmed the problem. Thanks all for the diagnosis and the photos.

Andrew - happy to hear that the thread is helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck.