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Question about a Powermiser hot water heater

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wkilleffer

wkilleffer

Jedi Knight
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This question might be best left to a home improvement forum, but everyone here seems to know about that as well, so here goes...

I have an electric Kenmore Powermiser water heater that's about 15 years old. Back in the colder part of the year, it started showing symptoms that one of the two heating elements was bad. I tested it with a resistance meter, but was never sure. I bought replacement elements.

The trouble is that I can't get the old elements out. I bought the purpose-made wrench at Home Depot, and have just about torn it up trying. It's like they're rusted in there or something.

I'd spray PB Blaster or Deep Creep on them, but don't want to contaminate the inside of the heater. Don't want to get a new one yet either. It behaved very well over the summer, but it's getting cooler now and I want to be ready.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you,
 
Well. mine is natural gas, but fom what my old one looked like, and from what others have said about the longevity of the typical hot water heater, I'd be looking for a deal on a new one...
I think I'd agree about not using the penetrant oils.
 
i am not sure what kind of "purpose built tool" we are talking about, but if you can get one ot thoes batt operated impact screw/drill guns, ie dewalt, makita, and chuck the bit in that and give it a shot? it is amazing what those things can do.


mark
 
SAWZALL! SAWZALL!!!! just ask Jaybird!
 
Well, I got a long wrench from Harbor Freight that might do the trick if it will stay on the element.

The purpose-made tool is called a water heater element wrench. It measures an inch-and-a-half, if memory serves. It's long, and the non-wrench end has a hole in it for the included metal bar used for leverage.

I have to differ on the longevity of water heaters. We've been careful about the water pressure in our homes, so the heaters tend to last at least 20 years without leaks. This one shows no sign of leaks. I drained it, and it wasn't terribly dirty. We have friends who had the same electric water heater for 50 years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It finally died and parts were unavailable.

I don't mean to come across as arguementative, but I'd rather keep wheezing old machinery alive as long as practical rather than replacing it. Sound familiar? It's about time I posted a question about my antique Cold Spot freezer.
 
--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif But it don't make no difference about the source of the water. The replacement cost is just going to keep going ; UP', UP' UP'!.--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif-Keoke
--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

---Case in point: 40 Gal, gas fired heater circa 1950 cost ~ $40.00. Today bottom of the line $323.00, Home Depot.- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
 
keoke, dosnt matter how old a unit is when it comes to hard well water, dont ask me how i know, it destroys anything metalic, the g.e. electric unit chart says for a 3 person household,with two baths,a dishwasher,and a washing mach, youll need a 65 gal. unit. my cat alone can use up those 40 gals. u b talkin bout. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif my wife can use up 50 - 60 gals. just washin her feet. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif and me, well i got a new rubber ducky! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
keoke, but seriously i just installed an "on demand" hot water heater for a client, id seen them in europe years ago ,it doesnt keep boilin water all day when no one is home just to keep a preset temp. wasting energy,turn on the hot water at the sink,washer,shower etc. and it makes hot water for as long as ya need it. when you stop usin hot water its totaly off. so now your not burning fuel of any sort,the last 2-3 years this system has taken off in my neck of the woods, these units are small 18"x14"x4" can be installed just about any place, easy to set up.cost? well look em up on ebay i dont see anything that can compare /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
Yeah Anthony, They nice but you will need one at each users source and at a cost of ~$800.00 ea it is a hard sell.We use the Tagahki in most of these applications where they are ganged and a recirculation sytem is also installed, lots $$$$$$$$$$$$$ when you are done.Futher, if it"s an old house it will also, to function properly, require a Copper repipe.Even so,over the life of the two systems your per/yr operational costs are only going to be ~35% lower. Solar is a much better deal
??.--Keoke
P. S. Never trust GE!- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
i am not sure what kind of "purpose built tool" we are talking about

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny shaped wrench that fits over the end of the element....I wouldn't worry about contaminating the inside of the tank ainces part of the problem is probably calcium buildup....when I decided to replace my elements (after 13 years) there was calcium buildup everywhere that I had to clean off/out of the tank.
 
2 words: water softener. :smile:
 
---- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif Best investment you can make to preserve the plumbing bits in the house.- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif---Keoke
 
keoke, a unit per each use sink/washer,bathe etc. is not needed "rheem" makes single units that can support entire houeholds,do you feel a 40 gal. conventional unit can do this? run 2 showers and a washing machine at the same time? immah no tink sooo! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif true the initial investment might be higher but long term savings is what id be looking at. my neighborhhod homes are all well water fed. each having a water softener of one type or another costing up to $8000.00 ive seen every one of them there not at all what there cranked up to be and expensive to maintain. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
Sure I know Dat!, I was commenting on them little under the sink things "U" was going on about that no body has any room for unless they give up the dirty clothes hamper .Even so the centralised replacement types still need a recirculation system to make em work right.-Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif But it don't make no difference about the source of the water. The replacement cost is just going to keep going ; UP', UP' UP'!.--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif-Keoke
--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

---Case in point: 40 Gal, gas fired heater circa 1950 cost ~ $40.00. Today bottom of the line $323.00, Home Depot.- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Poor analogy unless you adjust for inflation. Does that really need to be pointed out?
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif But it don't make no difference about the source of the water. The replacement cost is just going to keep going ; UP', UP' UP'!.--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif-Keoke
--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

---Case in point: 40 Gal, gas fired heater circa 1950 cost ~ $40.00. Today bottom of the line $323.00, Home Depot.- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Poor analogy unless you adjust for inflation. Does that really need to be pointed out?

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, if you compare 1950 dollars to today's dollars, that $40.00 water heater is now a just about right at $323.00. I went online with the consumer price index calculator, and $40.00 in 1950 equated to about $336.00 for 2006. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
OH! Yeah they print that mess up just to make the consumer feel good. But he pocket book be hurtin just the same.--Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I recently bought one of those little instant hot water units that goes right under the sink at a plumbing supply company "going out of business" sale...keeping it for the bathroom I'll eventually put in the GarageMahal.
 
Ditto on the softener.

My parents have an electric water heater which still works great. They installed it after the moved in....in 1962....and bought it used.

If it is that hard to get the elements out, sounds to me like you may have corrosion such that if you apply enough force to remove them, the tank will be damaged. A bigger wrench isn't the answer here.
 
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