My hot water out of the faucet has suddenly started to be REALLY hot. I have a Bradford White electric hot water heater model MI80R6DS13. This happened before about 8 months ago. I had a service man come in to install a water treatment system so he said he could drain it and replace the element...so I said ok. It seemed to stop the problem at the time but now it's happening again and this time it's a lot hotter. I checked the temperature setting on each element and they are both set at the letter "A" which is the coolest setting possible. Could it be the element or do I need to drain it again, or could it be the thermostat. Which ever it is any tips on isolating the problem and even how to perform the fix myself would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

If its not running out of hot water after showers and such, but just really hot, I would say it sounds like a bad thermostat.

Check your model# again, I can't find any information on that one you posted.

Jake

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Ok, yes I did mistype the model number. It should have been MI80RDS13. Also, this after noon I went to take a shower and I only had luke warm water. Unfortuantely, I was to be somewhere so I couldn't look into it. Now I just went to check it out and I opened the small door where the top element is at and notices a little red "reset" button. I pressed it and it clicked once and then I hear what sounds like water heating up. I checked the bottom element but there was no red button there so I assume they are both controled by the same reset button. I assume this is a breaker and this must have been "thrown" because it over heated the water...are my assumption correct? Does this help point to the thermostat? Is it unsafe right now and should I manually be turning off the unit after an hour of heating up the water? Also and most importantly...where will I find the thermostat and what might it look like?

Once again thanks for all your help!
Chris

I think that your model# should be M180R6DS, I went to the Bradford-white website and found it.

You will need to replace the upper thermostat, I have seen this happen on the Kenmore water heaters as well.

Here is the website:
http://www.bradfordwhite.com/specmanparts_res_elec.asp

You will have to order it from them directly,
Part#265-40287-00

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

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when you check the thermostat check to make sure the elemnts are not shorted i had this once the heater stays on till the thermostat trips and shuts it off Jay