Checking Heating Element Water Heater

If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it.

Checking heating element water heater.

How to check a heating element in a water heater step 1. If it does not have a. This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests. Wait for the.

Choose which heater element you d like to test first. 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. The element is bad and must be replaced if the needle on the face of the multimeter moves.

Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting. Drain the water from the water heater. Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater. Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals.

Locate the water valve at the bottom of the water heater. You will also need to check the water heater thermostat with digital multimeter tools. The lower thermostat has only two terminals. Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat.

This is so whether testing upper or lower heating element. Disconnect the water heater from power source. Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at. Take 1 of the wires off of a water heater element.

Remove the rectangular shaped cover plate running up the front of the heater to get access the. How to check heating elements in hot water heaters. Touch one probe of the multimeter to each terminal on the lower thermostat. The reading on the multimeter should be zero.

If the heater is an electric unit. Remove 1 wire it doesn t matter which one by finding its loose end and unraveling it from around the metal element. Testing a water heater heating element 1. All the tests that you will perform will be done with the power turned off.

Attach a garden hose. Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater.