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Having completed testing electric water heater components in the previous article, here we discuss how to replace a bad electric water heater heating element. This series of articles describes how to inspect, operate, diagnose, and repair electric hot water heaters. Reproduction of this web page electronically at other websites is prohibited. If you cannot find information you need here or if you have comments, questions, suggestions for inspecting and diagnosing water heaters Contact Us

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

How to Replace a Burned Out Electric Water Heating Element

1. Turn off electrical power to the water heater. Failur to turn off electrical power can result in fatal electric shock, and it will certainly burn up any water heater elements that are still good when you drain the tank. Do not turn elecrical power back on until the tank has been repaired (elements replaced, no leaks) and the tank has been re-filled with water.
2. Close the cold water supply valve that feeds water into the water heater tank and
3. Drain the hot water tank tank. See How to Drain a Hot Water Tank for details.
4. Disconnect the electrical wires connected to the water heater element that is going to be replaced.
5. Remove the heating element. Some water heater elements screw into a large threaded opening on the water tank (as in our photo at left). (We use a large socket wrench to get these elements out as it's easier than bumping around with a wrench.) Other electric water heater elements are held in place by a steel plate and several smaller bolts. Often you will see that the old heating element was in trouble - sometimes we see that it has partly disintegrated.
   
   This is a great time to take your old heating element for a ride - to the hardware store to buy a replacement water heater element of the same voltage, wattage, and length. That way you can be sure the new heating element will fit.
6. Clean the threaded opening (we use a toothbrush) and if you're replacing the lower element, this may be an opportunity to remove scale from the tank bottom. (See scale removal details at at Water Heater Noises)
7. Use teflon pipe dope or similar pipe thread sealant rated for hot water, applying it to the opening threads and to the threads on the new water heater element.
8. Screw in or mount the new water heater element. If you like, test the heater element for continuity using the diagnostic procedure described at How to Test Electric Water Heating Elements.
9. Reconnect the electrical wires to the new heater element terminals. No, it does not matter which wire goes to which terminal in this case - electricity can flow in either direction.
10. Re-fill the water tank with cold water. It will be easier and faster to fill the tank if you open the cold water inlet valve feeding the water heater and then open a nearby hot water faucet in the buiding until water flows freely out of that faucet.
11. Turn on electrical power to the water heater.
12. Good luck! After waiting for the tank to heat up, possibly a half hour or so, you might have hot water now.

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WATER HEATERS
AGE of WATER HEATERS
ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES
  Electric Shower Heaters
  High Efficiency Water Heaters
  Indirect-fired Water Heaters
  Instantaneous Water Heaters
  Multiple water heaters in parallel
  Multiple water heaters in series
  Range Boiler Water Heaters
  Side Arm Coil Water Heaters
  Solar Water Heaters
  Tankless Coil for Hot Water
  Tankless Water Heaters
ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS
ANTI SCALD VALVES
ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
  Identify Electric Water Heater Parts
  Electric Water Heater Checklist
  Electric Water Heater Controls List
  Water Heater Anode & Dip Tube Check
  Hot Water Temperature & Pressure Valve
  Electric Water Heater Repair Guide
  Electric Water Heater: No Hot Water
  Electric Water Heater Reset & Temp Set
  Test Electric Water Heater High Temp Cutoff
  Test Electric Water Heater Elements
  Replace Electric Water Heater Element
  Drain a Hot Water Heater Tank
HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS
HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT
INDIRECT FIRED WATER HEATERS
ODORS IN WATER
OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS
MIXING VALVES
RANGE BOILERS
RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers
Relief Valves - Water Heaters
SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS
TANKLESS COILS
Water Heater Noises
WATER HEATER PROPERTIES
  Electric, Gas, Oil Water Heater Efficiency
  Water Heater Life Expectancy Comparisons
  Water Heater Operating Cost Comparisons
  Water Heater Purchase & Maintenance Costs
  Water Heater Water Quantity Comparisons
  Water Heater Recovery Speed Comparisons
  Water Heater Safety Comparisons
Water Heater Scale - De-Liming Procedures
WATER SOFTENERS

• Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education, publications, report writing materials, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.

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