How to Test an Electric Water Heater
If you seem to running out of hot water easily, there could be a problem with your electric hot water heater. A water heater works to heat water and store it. When the hot water faucet opens, the stored water runs out and the heater refills. As new water comes into the heater, the thermostat senses a drop in temperature and completes an electrical circuit to the heating element. If either piece fails, the water cools then does not reheat. Testing these pieces will let you know if its time to replace one. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Multimeter testing unit
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Instructions
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Test the Thermostat
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1
Shut off the power to your heater. Go to the electrical service panel, find the correct switch and move it to the off position. For added security, post a sign warning anyone else in the house that you are working on the heater and to not to turn it on.
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2
Unscrew and remove the access panel on your heater.
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Turn the thermostat dial counterclockwise to lower the temperature. Use a small screwdriver to move the dial. Run the water in the sink for several minutes to drain off the stored hot water.Wait an hour and then check to see if the temperature of your water has changed. If you get hot water, the thermostat is not working correctly.
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Use a multimeter to test the thermostat terminals to make sure they are working properly. The multimeter is set to RX1 (resistance times 1). If you are unsure what meter to use, ask the clerk at the hardware store. Follow the instructions provided with the meter. Disconnect the wire to the thermostat to test the terminal. The terminal is the piece where the wire attaches to the thermostat. Generally, the tester should show 1 for a working terminal and 0 for a nonworking terminal.
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Replace the thermostat if either test fails.
Test the Heating Element
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Ensure that the power is off on the heater, following step one in section one.
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Remove the access panel on the water heater.
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Disconnect the wires to your heating element.
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Use a multimeter to test the element mounting bolt and element screws. In this case, the multimeter is set to RX1000 (resistance times 1,000). Touch one probe of the meter to the bolt and the other to the screws one by one. The bolt holds the heater in place and is located at the back. The screws hold the faceplate of the heater in position and sit in the corners at the front of the plate. If the meter displays anything but an open circuit, the heating element will need replacing.
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Tips & Warnings
Most water heater will have two thermostats and two heating elements. One will be located at the top of the unit, the other at the bottom. Be sure to test both sets of thermostats and both heating elements.
