Electric water heater element test procedure questions & answers:

This article answers common questions about how to test electric hot water heater heating elements, what readings to expect if using an ohmmeter.

This article series describes how to inspect, operate, diagnose, and repair electric hot water heaters.

Q&A on How to Test an Electric Water Heater Heating Element

These questions & answers about how to test an electric water heater element to see if it is working were posted originally

at ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT TESTS - be sure to see that article.

On 2017-12-17 by (mod) - The major problem of water overheating is scalding burns to building occupants,

Anonymous,

The major problem of water overheating is scalding burns to building occupants, in extreme cases causing death.

See SCALDING TEMPERATURES & TIMES

Also see ANTI SCALD VALVES & TEMPERATURE CONTROL / MIXING VALVES

"Best quality thermo stant" is not a phrase I understand.

It sounds as if you're asking quiz questions. Good luck on the test.

On 2017-12-17 by Anonymous

How we under stand best quality thermo stant

What is the major problem of water heater is over heating

On 2017-09-24 by (mod) - electric hot water was tested at 2 am

Sandra,

I can't say much useful about the test that you performed because I really don't understand what was done.

However it is the case that when you are using hot water, because cold water is entering the water heater at the same time that you were taking hot water out, the response time of the water heater will be different.

No conventional tank type water heater can provide continuous hot water. That means that the quantity of hot water you have is principally determined by the size of the water heater tank.

you can read in this article series that there are several ways that you can increase the hot water quantity if that's what is required.

On 2017-09-24 by Sandra

An electric hot water was tested at 2 am. It took 3 mins to reach the maximum temperature of a scalding 143 degrees ( no water was used for the previous 8 hours). Would it take the same amount of time to reach 143 during the day if water was used for bathing and laundry?

On 2017-07-26 by Raghu

Testing of electric geyser

On 2017-03-14 by (mod) -

Check the reset button on the thermostatic control

On 2017-03-14 by Andrew

my water heater does not make hot water, and ive checked all the electrical current and it reads just fine. i cant hear any noise coming from it and its only about a year old. would my heating coil have gone bad? and should i hear any noise coming from the water heater?

On 2016-08-08 by (mod) -

I suspect that one of your heating elements is defective, perhaps the upper one, or the wiring is incorrect or there is a bad thermostat or thermostat setting;

The dip tube is important as it delivers incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank; otherwise the incoming cold will quickly chill the hottest water that's found at the top of the water heater or cylinder tank.

On 2016-08-07 by Denny

My electric water starts hot then turns Luke warm. I have replaced the elements the and thurmestates and the dip rod but I still get the same resultes

On 2016-07-25 by (mod) -

It's possible that water or moisture is causing a (DANGEROUS) short circuit and tripping the breaker; Any short such as a nicked wire, wires touching metal, wires touching one another, or a failed thermostat or failed heating element that is internally shorted can cause the problem.

If your wiring is aluminum there could be a circuit problem.

If your circuit breaker is one of several problem brands (BAD CIRCUIT BREAKERS at InspectApedia.coml) that could be the trouble.

And of course you've checked that the breaker amp rating is properly matched to the heater, right?

On 2016-07-25 by Mark

I have a electric water heater and the breaker keep s shutting it off. i checked the elements and the were fine. but where the wires go into the heating elements there is all kinds of condensation and i was wondering if this was the reason the breaker keeps shutting it off.

On 2016-03-13 by (mod) -

Wayne, I'm not sure what reading you're seeing nor how your tests were performed. But watch out: if you turned on the heater before it was re-filled with water that'd be the end of the heating elements.

On 2016-03-13 by Wayne

I replaced both elements and both switches I'm getting reading on every terminal but not producing no hot water at all.

On 2016-02-28 by (mod) -

Check for power to the lower element, check the lower element thermostatic control and if present, reset switch.

Also you can check the element itself (with all wires disconnected) to confirm that it's functional, as per the article above. Keep me posted.

Daniel.

Dee:
Any bare, live electrical wire or component carrying electricity that connects to metal connected to earth will produce a short to ground. That can occur in a heater element if it corrodes through or is mechanically damaged.

Anonymous:

if you ran your electric water heater while it was empty of water most likely you burned-up the heating elements. They'll need replacement.

On 2016-02-28 by Roy Collins

i just replaced both elements on a GE 40gallon electric water heater. I am pulling a total of 18.5 amps. Those amps are from the top element. I am not getting amp draw from the bottom element even with fresh cold water in the tank. I don't think the bottom element is working.Suggestions please.

On 2016-01-27 by Dee

What causes an element to short to ground?

On 2015-08-27 by Anonymous

how can i fix my automatic water heater in which without presence of water, heater will not run.

Question: lightning strike damaged the water heater wiring/element

I just replaced the lower element today. The test by continuity to both screws was ok but from one (1) screw to ground was not. Bad element; short circuit. Lightning had struck a large pine tree in the front about 40 yards from heater two days ago.

All breakers did their job well by shutting down the power to heater and the breaker in heater shut down also. - Lloyd 3/23/12

Reply:

Tanks Lloyd, that's helpful details.

Question: Keith thinks you cannot use a VOM or DMM to test water heater elements by checking resistance

You cannot ohm the elements, since if open the water will show continuity.
A much simpler, faster , more accurate method is check for voltage 1st, and see if any amp draws going on! if not its bad! - Keith Grayson 12/10/11

Reply:

I don't think you've got it correct, Keith, and too, it's safer to test water heater elements with electricity to the unit OFF.

The standard test of the condition of an electric water heater element is the resistance test described in the article above.

If the heating element is dead shorted out it will show continuity - that is not an OPEN circuit, it's a CLOSED one. Continuity in this case means close to zero resistance - which is not normal for a water heating element and thus would indicate trouble.

An OPEN circuit is one that is not continuous - so we would see infinite resistance. This is a more common mode of electric water heater element - the element just burns up and becomes an open circuit. Of course to avoid confusion these tests are done with electrical wires to the heating elemen t removed.

Take a look at DMM DIGITAL MULTIMETER HOW TO USE for a nice article on how to hook up and use a digital multimeter or a VOM to check for voltage or for circuit continuity or for resistance.

Question: GE water heater flooded by Hurricane Sandy - can we just turn it back on to see if it works?

Our 50 gallon got flooded by about 2 feet of water. The lower elements got wet. is it safe to flip back on the breaker to see if by chance the heater is still working? - GE Hot water heater flooded 11/19/2012

GE hot water heater is electric, with the power coming in from the top of the tank.

Reply:

GE water heater,

Before turning on electricity electrical components need to be dried and inspected, lest you otherwise cause a short circuit that could be dangerous.

Worse, if floodwaters submerging the heater were unsanitary, say with sewage contaminants, the heater insulation icontaminated as well.

With power OFF to the heater so you don't get electrocuted, you or your electrician can remove the access covers to expose, dry, and inspect the wiring and connections. At the very least, start there.

For details on how to get a flooded water heater back into service - if it can be re-used, see FLOOD DAMAGED WATER HEATER REPAIR

It it were mine, I'd replace the unit.

On 2014-10-17 by Weird problem - Resolved A check valve in the submersible pump line was draining the water heater faster than the element could heat it

Problem was NOT the water heater. A check valve in the submersible pump line was draining the water heater faster than the element could heat it, then kicking back on refilling the water heater with cold water. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.

On 2014-10-13 by Weird problem

Element and thermostat are new, 1500W 120 V element measures 11 ohms, and measures ~12 Amp on both black and white wires attached to element. But the water doesn't get hot. The tank is clean inside. This defies my logic. Any ideas?

On 2013-04-08 by (mod) - DC power for an electric water heater

Bill,

Thanks for the interesting Question. I think I'd ask the heater manufacturer before changing the power supplied to the device. Much solar equipment operates at a lower voltage range, right?

There are of course DC powered water heaters in some special applications. Check the wattage that you can deliver at lower voltages.

Or uses a DC to AC converter. We convert in both directions depending on the application. IN other words, I don't know and will research the question further.

Most of the DC appliances we see are in the 12-24V range.

On 2013-04-08 by bill

is there any reason why an over the counter, standard heating element cannot be powered by a dc source (eg solar) of similar voltage (eg 90 to 120VDC)? Would the thermostats function the same as well?

On 2013-03-29 by (mod) - what kind of water heater rust is it?

Andy, I can't say from just your brief note; but if by "rust" you mean exfoliating rust where the heating elements screw into the tank body, the tank is probably shot.

On 2013-03-29 by andy

rust from upper and lower heat elements. Is it time to replace tank?

On 2013-03-16 4 by (mod) -

Nicholas,

You're probably ok. Check out the ohms table in the article above. YOu need to read the table while knowing the voltage level of your geyser (water heater) and it'd help if you had an idea of the intended wattage. For example

a 1500 Watt rated heating element intended for use at 208V will have a resistance of around 29 ohms.

On 2013-03-16 by nicholas martin

is 29 ohms acceptable on a element of a geyser?

On 2013-03-02 1 by lance flethcer

Just wanted to say thanks. Great information to test my non-working electrical water heater. The test show a bad upper element.

On 2012-12-08 by before i buy a new one

before i buy a new one i would turn it on thru main panel (circuit breaker) if it trips then their is a short and get it replaced

On 2011-12-27 by Ron Byrd

Thanks for having such a great site. You have been a great help!!

Thanks

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