Checking Heating Element Water Heater

All the tests that you will perform will be done with the power turned off.

Checking heating element water heater.

Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting. If the water heater is hot run hot water in the building with the water heater electrical power off until water flows lukewarm or colder. Turn off the breaker switch to the hot water heater at the breaker box. Choose which heater element you d like to test first.

You will also need to check the water heater thermostat with digital multimeter tools. Remove the rectangular shaped cover plate running up the front of the heater to get access the. Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat. This is so whether testing upper or lower heating element.

Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater. To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver. Take 1 of the wires off of a water heater element. If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it.

The element is bad and must be replaced if the needle on the face of the multimeter moves. Touch one probe of the multimeter to each terminal on the lower thermostat. Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater. Remove 1 wire it doesn t matter which one by finding its loose end and unraveling it from around the metal element.

If the heater is an electric unit. Disconnect the water heater from power source. How to check heating elements in hot water heaters. Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at.

Drain the water from the water heater. How to check a heating element in a water heater step 1. Each of a hot water heater s elements has 2 electrical wires running to screws that hold the element in place. Wait for the.

This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests. Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals. The reading on the multimeter should be zero. The lower thermostat has only two terminals.

Attach a garden hose. If it does not have a.