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RTGwalt

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Posts posted by RTGwalt

    Water Heater Question

    in Handyman

    Posted

    I have service hundreds of water heaters and can tell you the operation of the unit. Lets start with how the unit operates.

    1: Most units have 2 thermostats and 2 heating elements, upper t-stat controls the upper element and lower t-stat controls lower heating element. Simple right.

    2: When hot water is needed the upper t-stat closes the contact and the upper heating element heats the top part of your water tank. This is done first because heat rises and it takes a shorter time to heat the top half of the tank.

    3: When the upper t-stat is satified ( reaches temperature ) the lower t-stat takes over and heats the bottom part of your water tank.

    4: If you have hot water and it runs out quick the problem is you bottom heating element or the t-stat, because you only have half of the tank getting up to temp. If your upper t-stat or element were bad it would never get up to temp and your lower element would never turn on.

    To check this you need a phillips screw driver and a Ohm meter/ Amp meter.

    First shut off the power to the unit from the circuit breaker. Next remove the covers on the side of the tank to expose the t-stats and the elements.

    Check to make sure the power is off, once you have no power remove one wire from the heating element. You are going to set the meter to read Ohms. Put your meter leads on each of the screws on the heating element.

    If the element is ok the meter should read an Ohm value depends on the Wattage rating each will be different.If the meter reads OL for over limit the element is open and is no good needs to be replaced.

    Do this check for each element.

    Right down the model and serial number of the unit if parts are needed and do an internet search for replacement very common parts can be found easily.

    One more thing to tell you. You will need a very large socket to remove the element 1 1/2" or bigger. Sears usually has them.

    This is real important when removing the old element SOMETIMES the old element gets bent and makes it very difficult to back out the hole. You will need a long skinny screwdriver to bend the element back to get it out of the hole. Once you get the new element you will see what I am talking about. The element goes into the tank and is bent back in a 180 degree parallel with it's self back towards the hole. Sometimes it warps and is not parallel anymore so it won't come out the hole.

    Once you are all back together check one leg ( wire ) of the elements for Amperage flow. This will tell you if the element is heating up properly. Remember check top on first then lower later.

    Good luck!!!!!!!!

    :icon_goodsign:

    Learned something new today.

    Thanks for sharing!!

    You da MAN!!!

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