Water Heater Temperature

[CommanderBip]

Recently installed a new Rheem Marathon electric hot water heater and set the temp at 130degF. I have only lukewarm water in the morning hours, and VERY hot water for the rest of the day. How can I make it maintain the set temperature? I don't see how something like a recirculating pump would help if the origin water is not hot enough?

 

[waybomb]

I would start looking for a faucet or a cross connecting valve that's leaking cold water into the hot water side.

 

[CommanderBip]

I would start looking for a faucet or a cross connecting valve that's leaking cold water into the hot water side.

Okay, will do that. I forgot to mention that the water heater is connected to my geothermal unit desuperheater. It is a single connection to the tank's bottom inlet, and set at 120degF (I was told my my HVAC guy to leave it at that setting). There is no pre-heat or aux storage tank.

 

[waybomb]

Yikes. That's above my pay grade. Not even sure what that is. City boy here. I'll have to read up on a desuperheater.

 

[bczoom]

When you say "very hot", what's the temp?
I am NOT a hot water but isn't there 2 heating elements in that water heater that alternate? Just wondering if one isn't working properly and the other is trying to compensate (or over compensate).

 

[waybomb]

I read up on it. So it's taking the high side heat and transferring to incoming water, before the water heater? Is that correct? Water flow is from well, through your geothermal unit, then through the water heater, and then to load. Doesn't sound as if there would be any issue with the desuperheater. If it were to completely fail, you just wouldn't get the recovered heat, correct?