Electric water heater heating element replacement questions & answers:

FAQs on how to remove and replace a bad electric hot water heater heating element or electrode.

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

Q&A on How to Replace & Wire an Electric Water Heating Element

The sketch at left of the parts surrounding an electric water heater heating element is modified from illustrations provided by American Water Heater Co. [1] These parts are identified (click to see an enlarged sketch)in order as shown in the sketch as

[Click to enlarge any image]

These questions & answers about how to replace the heating element in an electric water heater were posted originally

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

On 2018-02-27 by (mod) - which wire goes to which side of the electric water heater element?

George

It should not matter one bit which wire connects to which side of a standard electric water heater heating element.

I will include an example of the simplest, most-basic electric water heater heating-element wiring. This is from electric water heater wiring instructions from AO Smith that you can see

at AO SMITH ELECTRIC WATER HEATER WIRING INSTRUCTIONS [PDF]

I have marked the heater element in red. You'll see that it is symmetrical - that is, you would simply connect the element terminal that is closest to the individual wire.

On 2018-02-27 by George

A friend of mine replaced my heating elements, he took the wires off(one white and one blue that goes on the elements) he didn't mark which went were, does it matter which screw the wires go on?

The tank has a top n bottom element whith the same color of wire, one white one blue how can I tell Wich is hot and ground on the elements? Or don't it matter?

On 2017-04-04 00:12:21.031482 by (mod) -

Trevor, you'll reduce electricity consumption and see longer time required to heat your hot water.

On 2017-04-03 23:13:24.871335 by Trevor

Can I replace a 4500w water heater element with a 2500w one.This would be be beneficial as I am off the grid.

On 2017-03-09 by (mod) - I can't get the Promax water heater element out

Darn, Lester, that's tough.

I am assuming the threads of the element are corroded and so you're having trouble turning the element. It can also be hard to reach into the recess of the heater cover to get a good bite on the element with a wrench.

Try

1. soaking the threads in a thread-loosening penetrating oil

then wait 30 minutes

then

2. Measure the size of the nut that forms the outer, graspable portion of the heating element and pick up a socket that will fit over that nut - use the socket with a 1/2" extension and socket wrench and you'll probably be able to turn and remove the element

INspect the receiving threads on the heater. If they're badly corroded so that a new element won't seal, you'll have to replace the heater.

Else use a teflon sealant on the new element threads.

On 2017-03-09 by Lester

I am replacing top and bottom heating elements but the top heating element I cant get it out of my promax electric heater . It's been in top for abt 9 yrs never been replaced until now. Any suggestions on how to remove items from

On 2017-02-20 by (mod) - don't know how to take the element out

Watch out: Turn OFF power to the heater so you don't get killed.

Then I'd do a search on brand (Whirlpool) and model number water heater to pick up an installation manual for the heater. That will give proper identification of what each wire is doing.

Or take a look at the manuals we provide at WHIRLPOOL WATER HEATERS -

also see AMERICAN WATER HEATER

Wiring is pretty simple on most electric water heaters but as I don't know what you've got I'm not willing to bet your life on guesses. You know that there are fatal shock hazards, right?

Take photos and label the wires so you can put them back where they belong.

On 2017-02-20 by Jeff

I have a 1999 electric hot water heater 50 gallons whirlpool trying to change the elements but a bunch of wires in the front of the element don't know how to take the element out can you help

On 2017-02-05 by Stephanie - Rheem Model # PROE50 M2 RH90

This is a follow-up to my previous post of 2/2/17. The water heater is okay. The plumber said that there was not enough water drained out of the 50 gallon heater (when he drained the pipes supplying the upstairs shower to repair the shower valve) to allow the top element to be out of the water.

He said the sound I was hearing (running water) as he was draining the pipes was probably air in the tank. When I turned the circuit breaker back on after allowing the tank to refill with water, I was back in business with hot water. Just thought this addendum might be helpful in case anyone else had a similar experience.

I had a plumber out to replace a faulty bathroom faucet. I'm on a well. There is no expansion tank on the hot water heater because we have a pressure tank under the house. I turned off the water main so he could drain the pipes, but the plumber said it wasn't necessary to close the cold water supply line to the electric hot water heater, so I didn't.

As the plumber was draining water out of the hot and cold pipes to replace the upstairs bathroom tub faucet, (I was downstairs), I heard what sounded like running water.

I ran into the laundry room and isolated the sound to the hot water heater (which was still energized with the cold water supply still open but with no water flowing to the water heater, since the plumber told me not to shut off the water line to the heater).

I asked the plumber about the running water sound and he said he was draining water from the pipes

. When I asked him about the heating element still being energized with no water coming into the tank because I did not close the water valve to the heater and could the upper element be dry fried since it may be out of the water, he again said that it would not be a problem, that he did not drain out that much water.

Erring on the side of caution, I decided to quickly run outside and throw the breaker for the hot water heater. I came in and the sound from the water heater had stopped once power was cut off.

Ok, here's my question. From the time I heard the running water sound to the time the breaker was thrown to cut power to it, about 2 but no more than 3 minutes had elapsed. 1) Was the sound I was hearing simply water draining out of the tank?

You never hear water running in the heater when it has water coming into it and water being pulled from it. 2) Could the hot water element (upper) have been dry fried because it may have been out of water for that short period of time?

The element location on the Rheem Model # PROE50 M2 RH90 is about 12" from the top of the hot water heater (which is 50 gallon capacity), and I don't know how long the plumber had been draining the pipes before I heard the running water, so the upper element could have conceivably been out of water when I heard the running water noise.

Am I looking at now replacing the upper heating element on the Rheem and yet another bill? Thanks for any feedback. I'd appreciate it.

On 2016-10-23 by (mod) - no power in the wires to the heating element

Sounds as if there is a wiring error or you're not using the test instrument properly.

See DMMs VOMs SAFE USE OF.

On 2016-10-22 by Barb

Put in new element on bottom power is on but there is no power in the wires connecting the element.

When we take wires off it shows power in just the wires not connected to element

On 2016-06-15 by (mod) -

Perhaps only the upper heating element is working.

On 2016-06-14 by Anonymous

Replace element and thermostats hot water is not scalding and only lasts five minutes

On 2016-04-18 by (mod) -

Sure, Gary. In ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT REPLACEMENT or in

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT TESTS

Watch out: NEVER turn on the power to an electric water heater before it is water-filled or the elements will be fried right away.

But you can disconnect the elements from electrical wiring (TURN POWER OFF FIRST) and then do a resistance test.

On 2016-04-17 by Gary

Can I check to see if water heater elements are good before connecting the water heater to a power source?

On 2016-03-17 by (mod) - If you turned on the electric water heater before the tank was completely full it's possible that the heating element(s) were destroyed.

Susan

If you turned on the electric water heater before the tank was completely full it's possible that the heating element(s) were destroyed.

Otherwise, give the electric water heater 30 minutes to heat up the re-filled water AFTER you've purged air from the system.

On 2016-03-10 by Athensusan

Changed heating element, tank filling up, water not hot

On 2016-01-25 by KevinHomeAlone

Understood for safety to do so in order before drain water out of water heater!

The question is…Connect hose and the problem is outside is freeze here up north,
alternate way is bathtub ? Will this work flow water out of tank travel to up the tub
about 24 inches up…with out water pump? you know!

On 2015-11-23 by (mod) - fish out pieces of the old heating element

Michael, I would try to fish the old element out of using a hook stiff wire and needle nose pliers. But if I could not get the element out I would leave it in the heater where I don't think it will do harm.

On 2015-11-22 by Michael Ward (Mlwraven@comcast.com)

Changing heating element today on take that is just few years old when I unscrewed old element with no problem I noticed the metal element was not connected to it which would explain why it quit working. Is there a problem with installing the new one with that element in there because I would have no clue on how to get it out.

On 2015-05-28 by (mod) -

Anon

Please use our email found at the page bottom CONTACT link to send me photos or the video so that we can comment further. I agree that this sounds unusual.

On 2015-05-27 by Anonymous

I installed Bradford/White 6 gallon electric water heater 120 volts. Two months later it leaked out through the 2 screws on the element and flooded a building causing damages. I have looked for everything on elements leaking from the screws but have found nothing.

Talked to the rep for Bradford/White and sent him a video of the leak he said it looks like a manufacture defect.

The rep said it should never leak through the screw because of the way the element is manufacture. Any info on elements leaking from the middle. Water heater was removed because tenant needed water and now manufacture will not send someone to check it out. Thanks for any info.

On 2014-09-13 by (mod) -

Kevin, chances are the element is covered with minerals or is otherwise deformed. Try wiggling and force . Pieces may fall to tamk bottom.

On 2014-09-13 by Kevin

The water heater element won't fit to pull it back out of the hole? How can I get it out?

On 2014-06-18 by (mod) -

Doris, give it a shot. Remember to turn off electrical power. Generic replacement elements or an OEM one can work. Just match te old one you've removed.

On 2014-06-13 by Doris

I have a Mor Flo electric hot water heater and it has only 1 element (model number ZHEFR42STR) Is there a schematic to show how to relace the element or is it easy enough to do I know about draining the tank and I have a shut off valve to the hot water side out

On 2014-03-30 by tom

is the bottom thermo disc 240 and top or top 240 and bottom 120

On 2014-03-10 by (mod) -

Super.

On 2014-03-10 by scott

Thanks for you input. Installed them yesterday, took a nice long shower this morning.

On 2014-03-10 by (mod) -

I think you are ok Scott. I'd be more worried about elements that are too long, contacting something that should not be. I think replacement heater elements may be shorter intentionally to make them work inside more water heater models.

On 2014-03-09 by scott

I bought new elements for my water heater with identical electrical ratings but shorter in length. does this matter?

On 2013-03-18 by (mod) -

Hussain check the diagnostic procedures in the article above.

Jeff: check the rating range for the heater element given on the package; Also check the ratings stamped into the element itself - both the old and new.

On 2013-02-19 by hussain

may water heater always trip of
how can solve this problem

On 2013-02-07 by Jeff

Can I replace heating element that are 240 volts with ones that are 208 volts?

On 2013-01-28 by Charlie

What can you do with the old element? Is it recyclable?

On 2013-01-06 by Art

How do you know which element is bad on the hot water heater?

On 2012-12-18 by (mod) -

Rick, presuming the heater has power, replace the defective or questionable controls or heater elements.

On 2012-12-17 by rick

if you have done all of that and it still dont work then what do yo do

On 2011-10-17 by (mod) -

Thanks for the nice note, Anon. We work hard on making information accurate and clear, and welcome questions that help us clear up any confusion or fill in any gaps in our data.

Daniel

On 2011-10-17 by Anonymous

good easy to understand info.

...

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