How To Repair The Heating Element In Your Water Heater

The heating element is responsible for heating the water in a water heater. It is a powered chemical element which means you will not plough it on or off via a switch or thermostat. When an electric heating element fails, the best option is to supercede it rather than repairing it.

1 of the signs that your hot water heater heating element is not working is the water takes besides long to rut or doesn't rut at all. While this chore may announced complicated, most homeowners take successfully done it themselves. Follow this guide to learn how to replace the heating element in your electric water heater.

Offset by Understanding Electric Water Heater Wiring

Before touching any part of your water heater, you should start by understanding the electric water heater wiring . Electrical water heaters accept ii heating elements, a thermostat, and a high limit.

The high limit switch is vital to the safety of your home as it will shut off the ability if the water becomes too hot. If you do not know where these parts are located on your heater, consult your possessor'due south transmission or call a professional to assist yous.

How to Supersede Electric Water Heater Heating Element

1. Shut Off the Power to Your Water Heater

You need to shut downwards the ability to do whatsoever work on your water heater. You can flip the excursion breaker off or remove the fuse in your electrical panel. The power needs to stay off until you are washed with the work. You should besides shut down the cold h2o inlet valve, so it doesn't deliver the water to the heating element. You lot'll notice the close-off valve for the cold water supply just above the heating element.

two. Locate the Heating Chemical element

Yous'll find the heating chemical element directly above the water supply connections. It will exist a cylindrical rod with 2 cables plugged into it. On most water heaters, you'll encounter a circular opening where the heating element goes.

Water Heater Element — Image credit: https://image.fabricated-in-china.com/

You lot should likewise know that electric water heaters have two heating elements. One is located in the upper access panel and the other in the lower role. I of these elements may have a thermostat, while the other has a timer. It'south always all-time to shut down both the upper and lower heating elements, so you don't have any problems with electricity during your maintenance appointment.

3. Exam the Heating Element

At this point, you lot'll need to use a multimeter to exam your water heating chemical element . Turn off the ability at the main billow to your water heater. Now, put 1 probe of your multimeter through the heating chemical element screws and impact the other probe on each of the spiral terminals.

If both are reading 120 volts, you'll know that they're consummate. If 1 is missing and the other isn't, you'll need to replace either the upper or lower heating element. You can also exam your thermostat or timer at this bespeak with your multimeter if you lot'd like.

4. Bleed Water from Heater

Before opening up the unit, you will desire to acquire how to drain the water heater , making it easier to work with. Bleed the tank or plough off the cold source for the water heater. To bleed, find the drain plug underneath one of your hot water faucets and simply open it. If you do not have a bleed plug, you can shut off your house's cold water supply line. This is located but above the water heater, against your house's wall, and next to your pressure relief valve.

Drain Water from Heater — Paradigm credit: https://world wide web.kurahome.com/

five. Remove the Heating Element

Y'all should remove the heating chemical element past turning it counterclockwise using a water heater chemical element wrench. The heating element is located on the bottom of the heater and should be piece of cake to observe. It will near likely have a hose or wires attached to information technology, so practise not be surprised if you see something later y'all accept off the panel.

Later on removing, set up the heating element aside so you tin can work with information technology without fear of damaging it.

6. Install a New Heating Element

You know that if a heating element is already damaged, you can't replace it. So the next step of action is to find a new element that you can utilise in place for the former one. Earlier ownership the new heating element, you need to ensure the specifications friction match the erstwhile one. A heating element without the same voltage will not fit into your tank unless you accept the right tools for it.

To replace the h2o heater elements, you must follow the same procedure yous used to remove the previous element. Yous should starting time plow off the ability to your chemical element. Even if you accept the new chemical element, it'due south still best to use caution, given that you lot are working effectually electricity here.

Afterwards, disconnect your onetime element from the wires and screw in the new one where the sometime was positioned.

7. Refill the Tank

The only way to know if everything works as before is to examination. To practice this, you'll need to make full your tank with eastward-juice. If the flow is besides dull, you might need to remove a minor spiral or two from the top of your atomizer and suit them so that they fit snugly in the holes.

You might as well hear some water heater noises if you left the hot water faucet on. This is non something to worry near because equally the tank fills with water, it forces the air out hence the noise. Let all the air to get out equally the water tank fills before you plough off the hot water faucet.

8. Reconnect Your H2o Heater

It'south not time to confirm if your new heating element is working. You need to reconnect the wires of the heating element to the electrical heater's terminals (or wires) and likewise ensure they are secure by tightening their screw.

ix. Plow on the Water Heater Again

Plow on your water heater once more by switching it dorsum on. Monitor your new heating chemical element for any unusual signs or signals. Y'all may notice foreign odors, bubbles, or other signs of the heating element not working properly. If you lot observe any kind of these signs, then yous need to stop using your water heater and supercede an electric h2o heating element again.

You should as well turn on the circuit breaker and ensure there's no leakage. If everything is okay, then you need to replace the plastic safety cover and encompass the access panel. Let it rest for almost an hour and verify if your unit is heating every bit it should. If everything is ok, congratulations; y'all've successfully replaced the heating element.

FAQs Nigh How to Replace a Heating Chemical element in an Electric Water Heater

How do I know if I have a bad heating element?

The virtually common symptoms are no warm h2o, very little hot h2o, or even steam coming from your heating element. If you lot observe any kind of these signs, you demand to stop using your water heater and supplant the heating element over again. You should likewise turn on the excursion breaker and ensure there'south no leakage. If everything is good, then you lot're ready to become.

Is it easy to supercede an electrical heating element?

To answer this question, absolutely yep! Especially if you just follow the steps that we've provided, and more importantly, use our recommendations on how to replace a heating element of an electric water heater. Replacing an electric heating element is easier than replacing a gas heating element, that's for sure. Just brand sure yous have the replacement role in hand before yous get-go to practise anything else.

Concluding Verdict on How to Replace a Heating Element in an Electric H2o Heater

Replacing a heating element is not a very difficult process even for the rookie, merely you need to ensure that you get the correct replacement role. Always make sure that you follow our recommendations and accept your time when replacing an electric heating element. It will save you from many headaches later on.