How To Test a Hot Water Heater Element

Home appliances that heat water for use in sinks, dishwasher, washing machine, and shower are hot water heaters.Turn up the heat if the water in your home doesn't get very hot.It is possible that one of the heating elements in the water heater is malfunctioning.A multimeter is a small tool that can be used to test the electrical current running through metal.

Step 1: The hot water heater's breaker needs to be turned off.

While you are testing the element, the hot water heater must not be active.The electric breaker is a metal box that is attached to a wall.It can be found in the basement, laundry room, or large storage closet.If you don't know which breaker controls the power to the water heater, turn off all of the double breakers.

Step 2: You have to remove the metal cover to see the thermostat.

There is a metal plate near the base of the hot water heater.To remove the screws holding the metal plate, use a head screwdriver.You can see the thermostat and heating elements under the plate.There is a metal cover and screws nearby.Put the screws in a small bowl if you are worried about them rolling under the appliance.

Step 3: If your heater has insulation and plastic cover, pull it out.

There is fiberglass insulation underneath the metal cover of many hot water heaters.Set it aside when you pull it out.There is a plastic cover over the thermostat.There is a tab on the top that you can pull to release the plastic covers.Remove the plastic cover from the thermostat by pulling up on the tab.Some water heaters do not have a plastic safety cover.Skip this step if yours does not.

Step 4: Make sure the power is off by using a non-contact voltage detector.

The electric power in the room where the hot water is located should be off before you start working.Touch the tip of the voltage detector to the wires that lead into the thermostat to see if the electrical current is going towards the water heater.The outlet is active if the detector lights up.The power has been turned off if the detector doesn't light up.You can get a non-contact voltage detector at any hardware store or home improvement store.The tool is about 13 cm long and looks like a pen.A metal prong comes to a point.

Step 5: Take a look at the ends of the metal elements in the open panel.

The elements extend several inches inside of the hot water heater.The base ends of the metal elements are visible if you look inside the open panel.Each metal base has a small plastic plate screwed into it.The majority of hot water boilers have 2 elements.It may only have one element if you live in an apartment or small home.

Step 6: The multimeter should be set to the lowest setting.

A multimeter is a tool that can be used to determine if current can run through your water heating elements.The multimeter has a plastic body and metal prongs that are attached to it via wires.The dial on the multimeter's body should tell you how much power the tool is using.The dial should be turned to the lowest setting.Different models may have different lowest settings.To make sure the tool is working, tap the 2 metal prongs.Purchase a multimeter at a local hardware store or home improvement store if you don't already have the tool.

Step 7: Take the wires out of the element.

There are two electrical wires running to the screws that hold the element in place.Pick which element you want to test first.If you want to remove one wire, you have to find its loose end and untangle it from the metal element.It is necessary to do this so that you can only test the element itself and not the other parts of the water heating element.If the wire is wrapped tightly around the water-heater element, you may need to use a pair of needle-nose pliers to remove it.

Step 8: To test for flow, hold the multimeter prongs to the element screws.

The multimeter should be placed at the base of the water heater.The water heating element has screws in the center.Take the second prong and place it at the center of the water heating element's second screw.There is no risk of electric shock since you have turned off the power.

Step 9: Look to see how many resistance the multimeter reads.

The resistance should be indicated by a dial or a digital panel.The element senses between 10 and 30 ohms of resistance if it is working well.The water heater element needs to be replaced if the needle does not move.The element isn't working if the digital multimeter shows a very low number.

Step 10: If the first element is working well, test the second.

If the first element is working well, try the second one with the multimeter.Maybe it's the malfunctioning element.You can replace broken elements if you know which is broken.Ask the manufacturer if they can send a repair service to fix it for you.

Step 11: Attach the wire and cover the exposed panel.

To tighten the wire that was removed from the screw, use your needle-nose pliers.Press the insulation into place around the thermostat when you snap the plastic cover back in place.Attach the screws you removed earlier to the metal panel.The screws need to be tightened until the metal panel is firmly in place.The power breaker needs to be turned back on to restore the flow of electricity to the room.

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