Electric Water Heater Thermostat Troubleshooting

Several types of electric water heater issues can cause problems with water temperature.

Electric water heater thermostat troubleshooting.

The lower thermostat just controls the lower element. Electric water heaters have one or two elements and each is controlled by a thermostat. An electric water heater that s leaking from the bottom is typically because of normal condensation a leaking electric heating element gasket or a small amount of water being expelled through the overflow pipe because the t p valve is opening to release excess pressure in the tank. Further it does not discuss gas or propane fuel types nor plumbing related issues.

When the upper element works and the lower one does not you have a low supply of hot water. Not the microprocessor types that are starting to appear in stores. When there s no hot water the problem can stem from lack of power a faulty electric thermostat or a faulty upper electric heating element. Ran out of hot water.

The water could be hot enough to cause burns or it could lead to. Before checking any electrical parts of a water heater shut off the power to the heater s circuit by turning off the appropriate breaker in your home s service panel breaker box. Extreme caution is required. Troubleshooting thermostats in a hot water heater requires that the power be turned back on.

How electric water heaters work. You can easily repair and replace if necessary the controls and heating elements of most common residential 120 208 and 240 volt electric water heaters with traditional line voltage controls. Symptoms can range from no hot water to inadequate hot water to water that s too hot. Scalding hot water from a tap presents a serious problem for homeowners.

Electric water heaters use either 120 or 240 volt power 240 volts is more common to energize metal heating elements that protrude into the water heater tank through the side wall. 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. Electric water heaters are high voltage 240 volt appliances that are dangerous to work with when the power is on. Most water heaters have two heating elements one near the top of the tank another located further down.

Troubleshooting an overheating electric hot water heater. An electric thermostat is set at the factory and not. If you touch any bare wires or terminals you will receive a severe shock that can be deadly.