Electric Hot Water Heater Thermostat Replacement

When an upper heating element or thermostat fails the entire water heater stops producing hot water.

Electric hot water heater thermostat replacement.

Replace the safety cover s and access panel s. When a lower heating element or thermostat fails the top thermostat and element will continue to heat water in the upper half of the tank but you will notice the hot water quickly runs out or is only lukewarm. 19 remove the 2 wires on the bottom element. If the water isn t heating up the culprit could also be the thermostat.

How to replace an electric water heater thermostat. 18 replace the top thermostat and be care to pay attention to the wire locations for me i used the rheem sp11698 electric thermostat. Gas water heaters use a different type of thermostat system. If your water heater is leaking it must be replaced immediately.

Instead you get only cold water. You can test them with the power off using an ohmmeter to measure resistance or with the power on using a voltmeter to measure voltage. Reconnect the wires make sure the thermostat is flush against the tank. Restore power and allow the water heater to work for one hour before testing the hot water.

An electric hot water heater has two thermostats controlling two separate heating elements one in the upper half of the tank one in the lower half. Electric water heaters have one or two elements and each is controlled by a thermostat. 20 using the water heater socket remove the bottom element by turning counter clockwise. If you suspect a heating element has also gone bad see how to replace a water heater element.

If the hot water heater is not working one of the thermostats may be bad. Usually when the upper thermostat goes bad you will have no hot water at all while a bad lower thermostat makes itself known when there is only a small amount of hot water before the tap water goes cold. Gas water heater thermostat replacement. A common sign of trouble with any water heater is often a higher utility bill.

You may need to repair your electric hot water heater. You step into the shower and turn on the hot water faucet all set for a nice hot shower.