How to Fix an Electric Hot Water Heater

Electric water heater

Electric water heaters utilize heating elements connected to thermostats to control the heat of the water within the tank. If an electric water heater is producing only cold or lukewarm water, either the thermostat or the the heating elements will need to be replaced. Both are located in easily accessible side panels on the heater tank and a moderately experienced do-it-yourselfer can install replacement parts in a matter of hours.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Garden hose
• Voltage tester
• Channel-type pliers
• Replacement gasket
• Pipe joint compound
• Replacement heating element
• Replacement thermostat

Instructions

How to fix an electric hot water heater

1. Determine which heating element--there are usually two, one at the top and one at the bottom of the heater--needs to be replaced. Turn on a hot water faucet. If the water is lukewarm, replace the heating element at the top of the tank; if the water is cold, replace the bottom heating element.

2. Turn off the water heater's power at the main breaker panel, twist closed the shutoff valves and use a screwdriver to remove the access panel on the side of the tank. Drain the tank of all water by attaching a garden hose to the hose bib on the side of the tank. Open hose bib (some water heaters twist open while others require the bib to be opened with a screwdriver) and drain the water into a floor drain.

3. Locate the heating element uncovered by the removal of the access panel. Use a voltage tester to make certain the wires are receiving no current, then disconnect the heating element's wires and use channel-type pliers to unscrew the element. There will be a gasket in the opening from where the element was removed: grasp the gasket and pull it out.

4. Coat a replacement gasket with pipe joint compound and slide over the new heating element. Screw the new element onto the tank and reconnect all wires. Turn on all the hot water faucets in the house and turn on the heater's shutoff valves. Turn off the faucets when the water runs smoothly. Set the thermostat temperature with a screwdriver, press the thermostat reset button, and replace the access panel. Restore power to the water heater.

5. Replace the water heater's thermostat if replacing the heating element does not solve the problem of cold or lukewarm water. Turn off the water heater's power at the main service panel, remove the tank's side access panel and use the voltage tester to make certain there is no current.

6. Locate the thermostat and disconnect all of its wires. Remove the old thermostat, put the new thermostat in place, and reconnect the wires. Set the thermostat's temperature with a screwdriver and press the thermostat's reset button. Replace the access panel and restore power to the water heater.

Tips & Warnings

• Make certain that any replacement heating elements or thermostats are of identical voltage and wattage to the element and thermostat you are replacing. Find the voltage and wattage on the nameplate on the side of the water heater.

• Do not attempt to repair an electric water heater without first turning off the heater's power at the main service panel.

References

• Fixitclub.com

Resources

• This site provides detailed information on repairing electric water heaters.