How Do You Change The Elements In A Hot Water Heater Without Draining The Tank

How To Replace a Water Heater Element

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Sometimes a water heater chemical element needs to be replaced. Only because the heating element is no longer working, doesn't hateful that yous need to buy a new water heater. The task of replacing a water heater element may seem hard, but most homeowners can brand this repair themselves.

If your h2o heater is boring to rut, runs out of hot water, or doesn't deliver hot water at all, in that location's a good chance that one or both of your heating elements are not working properly. In this article, we'll show yous how to determine if your element needs to be replaced, and how to do the repairs yourself.

Replacing a Hot Water Heater Element

If your water heater is half-dozen years or older, you may want to consider purchasing a new one. Water heaters typically have a life span of half-dozen to 10 years, and then if your heater is older, you can await that it'll be experiencing bug sooner than later. Not only will you save money on repair costs, but since new h2o heaters are more than energy efficient, you'll also reduce your monthly energy expenses.

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Checking Your Water Heater Heating Chemical element

Before jumping in and changing your h2o heater heating element, you should bank check to see if the element is, in fact, the issue. It's not uncommon to change the element, only to notice out that the problem wasn't the heating element at all.

To practise this, first check to meet if the circuit billow has tripped or been accidentally turned off. If the breaker is fine, y'all'll adjacent need to bank check the reset button on the temperature cutoff. The reset button on a water heater is located above the thermostat within the upper acccess panel. It'south typically a carmine button. Once you reset the button and the water heater trips again, the problem is most likely your heating chemical element.

If you own a multimeter you lot can check the chemical element for continuity. Information technology'due south very simple to do and the best way to know if your water heater's heating element should be replaced. This curt video takes y'all step-by-step through the process.

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Preparing to Change Your Water Heater's Heating Element

Heating elements are likewise called immersion heaters, because they are fully immersed within the water of the tank. It's important to note, that heating elements are only used on electric water heaters. Gas water heaters heat the water using an entirely dissimilar method.

Heating Element Mode

In that location are 2 dissimilar styles of heating elements:

Screw-in: This is the type we volition exist covering because they are the most common heating elements. They typically are used on all newer water heaters, and the element is screwed into place.

Commodities-in: There are several different styles of bolt-in elements, if you have an older h2o heater it's possible that this blazon is installed. The chemical element is secured into place by 4 bolts. Universal adapter kit are available if you want to adapt a screw-in element into a bolt-in element.

Heating Element Location

Electrical water heaters have 2 heating elements. There'south an upper element, which is located behind the upper access panel, and a lower element. The lower chemical element is typically the one that needs to be replaced.

As the sediment within your tank accumulates, it volition settle at the bottom where your lower element is located. The sediment surrounds the element and causes it to lose it's effectiveness. Eventually, it will either break or completely short out.

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Purchasing New Heating Elements

When selecting new heating elements, information technology's recommended to purchase ones with the aforementioned voltage, wattage, and way (screw-in or bolt-in) as the element you are replacing.

The voltage of the new element should always match the old chemical element. However, you could use lower wattage to extend the life of the element. Go on in mind, the element will also generate less heat. Never purchase more wattage than your previous element.

The voltage and wattage is usually stamped onto the element, or it tin be found on the water heater's nameplate. If you tin't find it, you lot tin can always do a uncomplicated online search using your water heater's model number (establish on the name plate). If all else fails, or you feel more comfortable, you lot can remove the element and accept information technology to your local hardware store.

Types of Water Heater Elements

There are 3 types of water heater elements. If your water heater is nearing the end of it's service life, yous may want to install the least expensive, high watt density element.

Notwithstanding, if your heater is newer and you live in an area with difficult water, you should consider the other more expensive options. Permit's take a closer look at each:

High Watt Density Heating Chemical element

High Watt Density Elements are the nigh common water heater elements and tin can be used in all replacement scenarios, assuming the wattage and voltage friction match. In most cases, a high watt density element will be the same type that came with your original h2o heater.

High watt density elements are prone to corrosive build-upward and take a shorter life span. You tin expect these elements to be the least expensive of the iii types.

LASCO 40-1015 High Watt Density 1500-watts 120-volt Electric Water Heater Element with Screw In 1 1/4-Inch Thread, 8-Inch

LASCO High Watt Density Element

The LASCO 40-1015 High Watt Density 1500-Watt, 120-Volt Electric Water Heater Element has a screw-in base with one-ane/4 inch thread.

Low Watt Density Heating Element

Depression watt density elements are well suited for areas with difficult water. Many are made with a fold-dorsum design to allow for more than heating space. Even though these are a lower watt density, in that location isn't a loss in efficiency. This helps them reduce the lime scale build-up that's common in areas with difficult water.

Provided you accept the same wattage and voltage, you tin employ a depression watt density element to replace a high watt density element. In virtually cases, these elements will be more expensive than the loftier watt density elements discussed in a higher place.

DERNORD 240v 6500w Foldback Heating Element Water Heater with Low Watt Density

DERNORD Depression Watt Density Element

The DERNORD Foldback is a low watt density heating element. It is available in 4500-watts and 5500-watts.

Lime Life Element

These premium elements carry a express v-year warranty. Lime life elements are ultra low watt density and have a loftier quality nickel and stainless steel surface that discourages the build-upwardly of lime scale.

These elements are an first-class pick if yous live in an area where you experience intermittent water supply levels, equally they resist dry firing. Lime life elements are usually the about expensive element, however, once installed, they often volition out live the life of the water heater itself.

DERNORD 240V 5500W Ripple Water Heater Element Screw-In Lime Life - Ultra Low Watt Density

DERNORD Ultra Low Watt Density Element

The DERNORD Ripple is an ultra low watt density heating element. It is available in 4500-watts, 5500-watts, and 6500-watts, and resists limescale deposits.

Necessary Supplies

In order to modify an element you'll demand the post-obit:

Garden hose
H2o heater element wrench
Voltage tester
New heating element with "O" ring

Plumber with tool belt and wrench

Replacing a Heating Chemical element

Replacing a h2o heater heating element is a relatively simple task. However, keep in mind that yous volition be working with both electricity and water - two things that practise not safely mix. If you do not feel comfy, y'all should contact a qualified plumber. Your priority should always be safety.

How to Supervene upon a Heating Chemical element

Footstep ane: Turn OFF the Power

Turn the circuit breaker OFF at the electrical panel. Apply a voltage test to cheque that the power is no longer reaching the water heater. You'll exist working with electricity and h2o, so it'south critically important that the h2o heater is turned off.

Step 2: Attach a Hose to the Drain Valve

Adhere a hose to the drain valve and open up the valve. At this betoken, we exercise Non want to drain the tank, only to make sure that the drain valve is not clogged.
If your tank is clogged, you'll need to accost this issue first.
Exercise NOT drain your tank at this time.
Meet beneath for directions on how to change a heating chemical element without draining your tank.

Step 3: Turn OFF the H2o

Plow OFF the water supply to the h2o heater by endmost the common cold h2o inlet valve (most commonly located to a higher place the water heater).
Release the hot h2o force per unit area by allowing air into the tank. To practise this, open a nearby faucet. Only open up the hot water tap, not the cold. Be sure to get out the tap open.

Step 4: Remove the Access Panel Embrace

Use a screw driver to remove the comprehend of the access panel. The upper panel houses the upper water heater element. The lower panel houses the lower element.
There's usually insulation between the console door and the thermostat. Set the insulation aside in a dry identify.
The thermostat should have a plastic cover. Gently remove the embrace.
Check the wires with a volt meter to ensure that in that location is no power.
Inspect the wiring. Has whatever of the wires been damaged? Are there whatsoever melted parts? Wiring can be damaged if sediment has acquired an element to overheat. Any damaged wiring must be repaired.
Loosen the screws and disconnect the 2 chemical element wires from the heating element.

Stride 5: Remove the Heating Element

Use a heating element wrench to remove the element. It's designed specifically to remove electric water heater elements, and has a wide oral cavity that fits over the exposed part of the element.
While the tank is still full of water, slightly loosen the element in a counter-clockwise motion. The h2o's weight will assistance go along the tank in place.
One time you lot're confident that y'all tin loosen the heating element, drain the tank by opening the bleed valve. Depending on the size of your tank, this could take up to an hour.
Remove the element. In that location will be a prophylactic gasket or "O" ring that seals the tank. Be sure you lot remove the "O" ring with the element.

Footstep half dozen: Install the New Heating Chemical element

Wipe down the threads and gasket area of the new element to ensure that they free of clay and droppings.
Adhere the new "O" ring onto the new element. NEVER use the old "O" ring.
Gently push the element into the tank and tighten it with the chemical element wrench.
Attach the 2 wires to the element and secure them in place by tightening the screws. Double check that the wires are secure and will not slip.

Step vii: Refill the Tank

Close the h2o heater's drain valve.
Plow ON the h2o to the water heater.
Do NOT turn the power ON at this time. The tank must be total of water before turning on the ability or you will damage the heating elements.
Cheque the newly installed element for leakage. If leakage is present, turn off the cold water supply and tighten the chemical element. Information technology may be necessary to remove the chemical element and reposition the "O" band.
Every bit the tank fills, the water volition begin to sputter from the open faucet tap (left open in Step iii). The water is pushing the air out of the line. In one case there'south a steady flow of water, the faucet tin can exist turned off.
Replace the plastic thermostat cover, insulation and access console encompass.
Once the tank has filled with h2o, you lot can turn the power back ON to the water heater by flipping the circuit breaker ON.
Since there will near likely be air in the hot water lines, it's not uncommon for the hot water faucets throughout the house to sputter. This will get abroad in a curt flow of time. Withal, if you adopt, you can open each faucet until you accept a steady menstruum of water.

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How to Supersede a Heating Element Without Draining the Tank

Information technology is possible to modify your water heater's heating element without draining your tank. Although, go on in listen that it can be a flake more challenging. If you lot'd like to requite it a try, the video below will show you how.

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