How to Replace the Top & Bottom Elements on an Electric Hot Water Tank
Electric water heater elements heat up inside of a hot water tank and supply hot water to every faucet when needed. When only one burns out, hot water will still be present, but it won't last very long. When both of the elements burn out, all you will have left is cold water, and the elements will need to be replaced. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Drain hose
- Adjustable wrench
- Flat blade screwdriver
- Elements--available at every hardware store
- Volt meter
Instructions
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1
Turn off the power to the heater at the breaker box If you are unsure of which breaker it is, turn the power off at the main breaker.
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2
Turn off the main water supply where it comes in to your house.
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3
Remove the cover over the elements. Some are screwed on and the screws will need to be removed with your flat blade screwdriver, and some are just clipped on and can be squeezed at the sides and pulled off.
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4
Set your voltmeter to read ohms and touch each probe to one of the two wire terminals on each of the elements. If the element is burned out, there will be no reading at all, which means it is an open circuit, and therefore, a burned out element. This is a sure test to make sure the element is bad and not something else in the electrical circuit.
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5
Attach the hose to the drain valve on the water tank and run the hose to the nearest sewer or drain. Open up the drain valve on the water heater and allow it to drain out completely.
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Using your flat blade screwdriver, remove the screws from the wire terminals on both elements and pull off the wires.
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Draining the water tank will allow you to change the upper element first. Remove the bolts that hold the element inside the water heater with your adjustable wrench by turning them in a counterclockwise rotation. Some model elements have a central hexagonal nut. In that case, position the wrench over the nut and unscrew the entire element. Pull out the old element and discard.
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Push the new element into the hole and bolt it back into place. Make sure the bolts are tight. If it has a center hexagonal nut, hand thread the element back into place until it can no longer be turned, than tighten it down firmly with your wrench.
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Connect the wires to the electrical terminals on the element, then replace the cover. When the tank has fully drained, repeat this procedure on the lower element.
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When the wires have been reattached to the lower element, and the cover is back in place, close the drain valve, remove the drain hose and fill the tank back up with water.
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Refill the tank completely until the water stops running in through the pipes, which you will be able to hear. When there is no more running water, flip back on the main breaker and allow the elements to heat up.
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Tips & Warnings
Never flip on the main circuit breaker until the tank is completely full. Failure to allow the tank to fill up completely and cover the elements will burn them out almost instantly when you turn the power back on.
