How to Change an Electric Water Tank Heating Element
Water heaters use gas or electric power to heat water running into a commercial or residential structure. The water run into the tank of a heater is warmed by heating elements which resembled the heating elements inside a conventional oven. The heating elements heat to a preset temperature as warmed water is used while new water fills the tank. Over the course of a water heater's lifetime, the heating elements can fail and have to be replaced. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Garden hose
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Heating element
- O-ring
- Pliers or channel-locks
Instructions
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1
Turn off power to the water heater. Go to the main breaker panel and secure power to the water heater. Then turn off the water supply to the water heater.
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2
Attach a hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the water heater. Run the hose to the outside of the house and turn the drain valve on. Allow the tank to drain completely. Turn the water supply back on to rid the tank of any remaining sediment. Turn the water supply off again.
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3
Unscrew the cover panel located near the bottom of the water heater with a Phillips head screwdriver. Unscrew the electrical leads from the exposed part of the heating element.
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4
Unscrew the heating element from the water heater and discard it. Pull the O-ring off where the element screwed into the water heater.
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5
Position the new O-ring and insert the new heating element. Screw the heating element into the water heater with pliers or channel-locks until a tight seal is formed.
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6
Replace the wires and cover panel on the heater tank. Turn the water supply on and wait for the tank to fill, then turn the power to the tank back on. Wait at least 45 minutes for the water to heat again.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not touch the water draining from the tank as it could scald.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
