How do I check my hot water element? - Heating & Cooling

The elements never run at the same time, it would take to much energy for a standard residential heater. Instead, they rotate powering up back and forth depending on the hot water demand. If you getting 208 to 240 volts on the top element and nothing is happening, the top element is bad and needs to be replaced. If you can swing 30 bucks, replace both elements and both thermostats at the same time. This way you know that everything is new. Check out this generic water-heater wiring schematic.

Check the elements, if you have access to a meter to check them. If they are getting power to elements and you have no hot water.
The elements are not working correctly. I had some elements check out ok till the thermostat's turned on and the elements didn't heat.
Sounds like the elements are bad.

1-First check for power to water heater and remove acces panels on heater to check power at thermostats. Thermostats have a reset button on them that trip and can be pressed to reset.

2- If none of the above have changed any thing and you have power you may have elements gone bad.

If an element is gone at top you will get scalding hot water then go to cold.

If an element on the bottom is gone you will get luke warm water then will get cold.

Check your panel breaker to make sure its on. If it is, it's possible that the upper thermostat or element has burned out in your heater.
First remove the upper thermostat cover plate and check the high limit switch button. If it has tripped, press it to reset it.
Check for power at the input terminals of the upper thermostat. (usually marked L2 and L2) If no power is present then check your circuit breakers or wiring to the water heater.
If there is no hot water then the upper thermostat should be applying power to the upper heating element. Check for voltage at the upper heating element. If there is power at the heating element but the element is not getting hot then the heating element needs to be replaced.
If there is no power at the upper heating element then the upper thermostat needs to be replaced.

Hope this helps.

Sounds like bottom element may be bad but usually reads open circuit if bad. Also tan k would run about 8 gallons hot water then go cold. lots of warm water usually means bad dip tube.
Check if tank is hot at bottom element when not used for a while. If bottom element is still cold then bad element.
If bottom element is hot - (all water in tank is hot then you have a bad "dip tube" This is allowing incoming cold water to mix with outgoing hot water. The dip tube is usually A part of the cold water nipple or B located under the cold water inlet nipple.

under the handle of the faucet reached by removing the covering cap and single screw is a plastic geared device which limits the travel of the handle to the hot side carefully reorient so handle will turn a little farther and reinstall handle screw and cap

Absolutely no hot water indicates the top element or thermostat on the heater. Check to make sure that you have 240 volts on the top two terminals of the top thermostat. If you do then check the top element for voltage. It should also read 240 volts between the two screws. If you have 240 volts there shut off the power, drain the heater to a point below the top element and change the top element. When the element is installed turn your WATER back on and let the air bleed out of several hot faucets in the house. When the faucets stop spitting air you can turn them off. Check for leaks around the element. If you have no leaks turn the power back on the the heater and replace the covers.

That should get you 'back in hot water' in two hours.

Mike

check the temp setting on hot water heater

if it is electric and 2 elements one could be out

You will have to take a multi meter and check continuity on elements

Purchase new element and replace


if it is gas increase tem

If the water does not heat, then you have to troubleshoot to find the problem. With a voltmeter determine if 240VAC is actually getting to the water heater. Take care here - a defective circuit breaker can give a false 240 volt reading - check for the 240 volts across the upper element (i.e. when the 240 volts has a live load on it, not just an open circuit test).
Also, remember, the upper element has priority over the lower element, and if the water is cold, the upper element will try to turn on and this locks out the lower element (only one element is allowed to heat at any given time). The lower element comes on ONLY after the upper thermostat is satisfied. Therefore if the upper heating element is burned out you will never get any hot water. If you suspect this, TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE HEATER and take a resistance check of the upper element.