Checking Heating Element Water Heater

Attach a garden hose.

Checking heating element water heater.

If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it. The reading on the multimeter should be zero. Touch one probe of the multimeter to each terminal on the lower thermostat. Remove the rectangular shaped cover plate running up the front of the heater to get access the.

All the tests that you will perform will be done with the power turned off. 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. Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater.

This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests. Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat. Drain the water from the water heater. Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals.

Remove 1 wire it doesn t matter which one by finding its loose end and unraveling it from around the metal element. How to check a heating element in a water heater step 1. If the heater is an electric unit. You will also need to check the water heater thermostat with digital multimeter tools.

How to check heating elements in hot water heaters. To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver. 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.

Locate the water valve at the bottom of the water heater. If it does not have a. This is so whether testing upper or lower heating element. Take 1 of the wires off of a water heater element.

Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting. Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater. Turn off the breaker switch to the hot water heater at the breaker box. Choose which heater element you d like to test first.

Testing a water heater heating element 1. Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at.