Electric Water Heaters Have Heating Elements That Can Fail: Here's How To Deal With Them Quickly

 

When an electric water heater fails to heat to its usual temperature, the causes are, in most cases, one of three conditions. Either the heating element, temperature thermostat, or dip tube is not functioning properly.  Each of these components will be discussed in this article providing all the procedures necessary for electric water heater troubleshooting.

 TESTING HEATER ELEMENT

 

 

1. Turn off the power to the water heater at the main electrical panel.

2. Remove the two metal panels on the upper and lower side of the tank.

3. Carefully remove the insulation over the heating elements and the plastic safety guards.

4. Remove the safety guards.

5. Test both the upper and lower heating elements for continuity with an Ohmmeter or multimeter by connecting a test lead from the meter to each of the element terminals. If the ohmmeter needle doesn’t move or no reading is given, that indicates that the element is defective and must be replaced. A good element will have an ohm reading between 10 and 16.

 HOW TO REPLACE WATER HEATER ELEMEN

Turn off water

Turn off the water at the valve on the supply line to the tank.
Turn off power at the breaker box 

Drain tank

1. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the water heater tank

2 Open the pressure overflow valve at the top of the tank.

3. Open the drain valve at the hose and begin draining the tank. If the upper element needs replacing it is only necessary to drain the tank just below the element. After allowing the tank to drain approximately 10 minutes, using an 1 ½ inch socket tool, loosed the element only slightly. If water begins to leak out, re-tighten the element and allow the tank to drain for another few minutes and try again. If no water is leaking from the slightly loosened element, slowly loosen it further to be assured the water level is below the element. If the lower element needs replacing, it will be necessary to remove most all the water from the tank. Since this is the case, I would suggest draining all the water.
Remove the element

Remove the two wires fastened to the water heater element. Using the 1 ½ inch socket, completely remove the element.

Install new element

1. Prior to installing the new element, make sure it has a rubber seal below the hex portion of the element. Insert element and tighten with the 1 ½ inch socket. 2. Reattach the two wires. It doesn’t matter which wire goes to which screw.
 

Remove garden hose

1. Remove the drain hose after tightening the drain valve securely.
 

Refill the water tankwater heater

1. Close the pressure relief valve

2. Open a hot water tap nearest the water heater

3. Open the inlet water valve and allow the tank to fill completely. When water begins to run out of the opened  tap, the tank is full.

4. Turn off the tap.
 

Check for leaks

Inspect the replaced element for leaks
 

Replace the panels

1. Replace the plastic protective cover over the thermostat and element

2. Replace the insulation.

3. Install the panels
 

Turn on the power