Checking Heating Element Water Heater

How to check heating elements in hot water heaters.

Checking heating element water heater.

Locate the water valve at the bottom of the water heater. Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater. Testing a water heater heating element 1. Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals.

The lower thermostat has only two terminals. If you want to test a thermostat on an electric water heater you will also need to check the heating element. Take 1 of the wires off of a water heater element. How to check a heating element in a water heater step 1.

You will also need to check the water heater thermostat with digital multimeter tools. If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it. Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting. Disconnect the water heater from power source.

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. This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests. Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at. All the tests that you will perform will be done with the power turned off.

Turn off the breaker switch to the hot water heater at the breaker box. Remove 1 wire it doesn t matter which one by finding its loose end and unraveling it from around the metal element. The reading on the multimeter should be zero. To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver.

Wait for the. Attach a garden hose. Touch one probe of the multimeter to each terminal on the lower thermostat. This is so whether testing upper or lower heating element.

If the heater is an electric unit. Remove the rectangular shaped cover plate running up the front of the heater to get access the. Drain the water from the water heater. Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater.

Each of a hot water heater s elements has 2 electrical wires running to screws that hold the element in place. Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat.