No water supply to water heater

[simsfmly]

Looking for help. Seems like my hot water heater is not getting any supply. We noticed yesterday hot water was barely coming out; cold was fine. Able to pull panel today, no leaks or crimps. Emptied hot water heater, turned water back on. Nothing. If I turn the red knob on the Nautilus to 3 o’clock, water comes out strong from the hose on nothing but hot. Back to 12 o’clock, goes to a trickle, then stops. Pretty stumped.

 

[simsfmly]

Heard from my repair guy the check valve is bad and needs replaced. That’s what I’m looking for now

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I'd check if it is in winterization mode first. That will bypass all water to water heater.

 

[simsfmly]

So I got the check valve off. Not the problem. Water input is good, but it’s not getting into the tank. Can’t get enough leverage to break the bottom connection free to look at it.
Now my stairs don’t squeak, so there’s that

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Can’t get enough leverage to break the bottom connection free to look at it.

What are you referring to? Please post a picture.

And...did you check the winterization mode? Post image of your levers and image of back of water heater tank.

 

[simsfmly]

 

[simsfmly]

yes, checked winterization mode. This is the view of the back of the tank taken from under the steps. Took the top check valve off. The bottom one, where the supply is attached, I couldn’t get loose to look at.

 

[BryanValRox]

Simsfmly,
Not sure I am following 100% but, it should boil down to this. Can you identify the supply hose that feeds the heater?
Is that the bottom one that you can’t get off? If it is, feels like to me that would be the area of focus. I would be trying to get that line off and validate that I have free flowing water at that point. If you do, then something has to be restricting the inlet fitting of the heater or could the tank be full of sediment that is slowing the rate at which water enters the tank.

If you don’t have water from the supply hose at that point, it could mean you have a valve problem on the panel or a restricted fitting or hose some where on panel or line leading to the heater.

 

[simsfmly]

You’re spot on. Water is not getting into the tank. I can get the supply hose off (bottom), put it in a bucket, turned water back on and it flows. It is being stopped at the brass fitting that the supply hose attaches to. ⅞” brass fitting that I can’t remove from water heater (got the 1” check valve off at the top). Is that bottom fitting a check valve also???

 

[BryanValRox]

You’re spot on. Water is not getting into the tank. I can get the supply hose off (bottom), put it in a bucket, turned water back on and it flows. It is being stopped at the brass fitting that the supply hose attaches to. ⅞” brass fitting that I can’t remove from water heater (got the 1” check valve off at the top). Is that bottom fitting a check valve also???

So, as I understand it, installation of a check valve in the bottom cold water inlet is optional. So are you able to take a small piece of wire and see if you can insert it into the bottom fitting and into the tank? This would help validate if it is restricted or not.
I also understand that there is a plastic tube inside that inlet fitting that helps with water circulation inside the tank.
So, feels like the next step is to come up with a plan to remove that bottom fitting for inspection.
With water at the supply line, you have narrowed it down to that inlet fitting, which could very well could be a failed check valve or perhaps something is restricted in that internal plastic tube.
Keep us posted.