Checking Heating Element Water Heater

Remove the rectangular shaped cover plate running up the front of the heater to get access the.

Checking heating element water heater.

The lower thermostat has only two terminals. If it does not have a. This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests. Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals.

All the tests that you will perform will be done with the power turned off. How to check heating elements in hot water heaters. If the heater is an electric unit. The element is bad and must be replaced if the needle on the face of the multimeter moves.

Choose which heater element you d like to test first. To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver. How to check a heating element in a water heater step 1. Remove 1 wire it doesn t matter which one by finding its loose end and unraveling it from around the metal element.

Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater. The reading on the multimeter should be zero. Testing a water heater heating element 1. Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater.

You will also need to check the water heater thermostat with digital multimeter tools. Disconnect the water heater from power source. Wait for the. Attach a garden hose.

Each of a hot water heater s elements has 2 electrical wires running to screws that hold the element in place. 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. If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it. Drain the water from the water heater.

Locate the water valve at the bottom of the water heater. Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at. If you want to test a thermostat on an electric water heater you will also need to check the heating element. Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting.

Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat. Turn off the breaker switch to the hot water heater at the breaker box.