Troubleshooting Water Heater

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jerryb52

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Lake Worth, Florida
How do I go about toubleshooting my water heater?

There was hot water yesterday afternoon and then in the evening there was none.

When checking the continuity of the heating elements, do I need to disconnect the electrical conductors?

I do very little service work. All I've ever done with water heaters is get power to them and tie them in.

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

first step is to make sure you have power to the water heater. turn off the power and disconnect both hots supplying the water heater. make sure they are clear from each other and ground and re-energize---check the voltage on these leads--240 volts?
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Just test for voltage at the heater element first.If you have your 120 or 240 volts then replace element.If not check at the splice where your wire goes in.If no voltage there check the breaker.If there is voltage going to heater and none to element push the reset button and rejeck at element.If still not working replace the thermistat.Really not much to a water heater.Most larger ones have 2 sets of heaters that are set to heat bottom first then top element.Since your water is cold it is the bottom one that is not working.
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

My father in law is a retiere plumber. He once told me about a call he got for no hot water. He turned on a faucett, and after a few seconds he had hot water. 2 seconds later the water was cold again, and it just stayed cold.

The problem: The dip tube inside the water heater fell off. The water going out of the heater was being siphoned right off the top of the heater (same place where the cold water comes in). All the hot water was just sitting at the bottom of the heater. :D

Happy Hunting:
Steve
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

if only botom element is out, water will get hot but not be enough for much. if completely cold look for electrical problems, although there are some single element WH's.

if you are going to change the element (assuming it is), before draining water, open lower hose connection (with hose attached) with full water pressure, then turn off supply and open hot water pipe fitting for drainage. blows out some of the debris that is usually responsible for the lower element going out. power off obviously until refilled completely with water.

if an element is gone, there is no electrical continuity from post to post at element electrical connections.

paul
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Bless your hearts my children
I usually charge for teaching the novice how to do something.

I find it hard to believe that electricians have been working for years and don?t know how to check a water heater. Lessons are as follows:
1- It ain?t no hot water heater. It is a cold water heater. We don?t heat hot water we heat cold water.
2- To check a water heater is so easy that an educated electrician can?t figure it out. All you need to check a water heater is a Phillip, a straight screwdriver and a clamp-on ammeter.
3- Take off cover and clamp meter around conductor at the top element. Look at meter and if you read close to 18 amps let it satisfy.
4- Repeat step 3 for bottom element.
A simple formula that we all should know is E=I*R. knowing this makes it easy to discern that is current (the amps) are flowing the element is good.

If one is blown turn off water and relive pressure at sink. Close valve at sink. Have new element ready and change quickly no draining required. Have changed many of an element in apts cause power was turned on before water.

Forgot to add use the straight screw driver to adjust thermostat from low to high and back to low. The top element has to be satisfied before bottom will work

[ March 10, 2005, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: jwelectric ]
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

I've always measured the resistance of the elements. It should be pretty low. Open is no good. I suppose there could be a failure where the element doesn't open completely and there's some resistance but it still doesn't work, but I've never seen that.
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Originally posted by jwelectric:
Have new element ready and change quickly no draining required.
Click to expand...
I might be just an uneducated electrician but how do you open an 1.25" hole in the side of a full water tank without making a mess? :roll:
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Bob, Bob, Bob,

You turn it over on it's side. Just make sure the hole is facing upward. :D
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Originally posted by physis:
Bob, Bob, Bob,

You turn it over on it's side. Just make sure the hole is facing upward. :D
Click to expand...
DOH! I shoulda known that. ;)

It can be tough standing the 120 gal units back up after though. :eek:
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

By using the ammeter there is nothing to take off and is really quick. Twist the top thermo up watch for amps. Turn it all the way down and repeat for bottom, time spent less than two minutes.

Fill a gallon milk jug full of water and turn it upside down, see how the water comes out? The same thing happens to the water heater. I have changed hundreds of them and never drain the tank. Charge the same $$ as any one who sits and waits for tank to drain.
Caution!!! This doesn?t work well if changing both elements. To change both elements simply recharge the tank.

Had a building with eight units and all eight top elements burnt when power was turned on with out water. With water on, turned off valve opened relief valve in bucket close relief, all eight in less than a hour.

[ March 10, 2005, 05:26 PM: Message edited by: jwelectric ]
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Well, if you can do it that way JW I like it just fine. But I think Bob's gonna stick with the turn it over method. :D
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

How will you know what to replace with that amp meter ? no amps = ? just means no current ,does not mean element is bad.If it reads amps you most likely have hot water.No amps could mean anything from breaker ,thermastat,element,wiring,bad connection.
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Brother Jim, if 240 volts is present at element, thermostat is calling, no current is flowing then the circuit is open. This equates to an open element.

This little trick is quicker than taking the cover off and 100 percent more reliable than a resistance check. I have seen the ohm meter lie. I have also seen the element pull 3 to 5 amps. Wonder how this one would read on an ohm meter.

Of course the first check is for voltage and most would agree to this. The testing procedure from this point on is what I am talking about.

Think about it. Take cover off, test for voltage, clamp on meter and twist the thermostat. The testing phase is over. (pause while listening) You are welcome.
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

100 percent more reliable than a resistance check
Click to expand...
Well, not in my experience.

I have also seen the element pull 3 to 5 amps. Wonder how this one would read on an ohm meter.
Click to expand...
For 240v. it would read 48 to 80 Ohms.

I've never seen a half burnt element but I wont argue that they don't exist.

Edit: It's worth noting that the current measured is going to reflect terminal resistance as well as element resistance.

[ March 10, 2005, 06:27 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Yes if you check for 240 at element first,but you left that part out.What is likelyhood if you have 240 at element and no heat that its anything but the element ?I would pop cover off and put wiggy across element first.Really dont need that amp reading.And no voltage means a break in a series loop
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Originally posted by jwelectric:
Fill a gallon milk jug full of water and turn it upside down, see how the water comes out? The same thing happens to the water heater. I have changed hundreds of them and never drain the tank.
Click to expand...
But the water does come out. :eek:

Charge the same $$ as any one who sits and waits for tank to drain.
Click to expand...
Ya but you would only get it once from me. :D

Bob
 
Re: Troubleshooting Water Heater

Ok BOB but i will be done long before you figure out how to pick your 120 gal tank back up off its side.Yes it will leak some water.A towel or 2 should take care of that easy.Use Bounty paper towels LOL.How long do you think it takes to drain 120 galond ?Will you pay the plumber to wait or just ask him to make 2 trips ?
 
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