Checking Heating Element Water Heater

Locate the water valve at the bottom of the water heater.

Checking heating element water heater.

This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests. The lower thermostat has only two terminals. Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater. Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater.

Attach a garden hose. Testing a water heater heating element 1. 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.

Choose which heater element you d like to test first. Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting. To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver. Turn off the breaker switch to the hot water heater at the breaker box.

Touch one probe of the multimeter to each terminal on the lower thermostat. All the tests that you will perform will be done with the power turned off. Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat. Wait for the.

The element is bad and must be replaced if the needle on the face of the multimeter moves. Each of a hot water heater s elements has 2 electrical wires running to screws that hold the element in place. Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at. How to check heating elements in hot water heaters.

Drain the water from the water heater. If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it. Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals. Take 1 of the wires off of a water heater element.

How to check a heating element in a water heater step 1. If you want to test a thermostat on an electric water heater you will also need to check the 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.

You will also need to check the water heater thermostat with digital multimeter tools. Disconnect the water heater from power source.