Electric water heater heating element replacement guide:

How to remove and replace a bad electric hot water heater heating element or electrode - details.

Having completed testing electric water heater components in the previous article, this article explains 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.

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]

1. Access door covering the heating element, typically held in place by two sheet metal screws (blue)

18. insulation (gray)

2. plastic cover over the thermostat assembly (green)

3. Thermostat assembly (upper)

5. Electric heating element (red arrow - this is what you are replacing)

6. Electric heating element gasket (purple arrow)

No number: yellow arrow points to the heating element mounting location. Clean this area and its threads during heater element replacement.

Watch out: as manufacturers of water heaters point out, you can be killed or seriously injured if you do not follow instructions provided by the water heater manufacturer and described in the water heater's installation, usage, and maintenance manual.

Below we describe the general procedure for replacing and wiring electric water heater heating elements. Be sure you consult your individual water heater's installation guide for details.

• Turn off electrical power to the water heater. Failure 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.
  
  Watch out: Do not turn electrical power back on until the tank has been repaired (elements replaced, no leaks) and the hot water tank has been re-filled with water.


• Close the cold water supply valve that feeds water into the water heater tank and


• Drain the hot water tank tank by connecting a hose to and opening the drain valve located near the tank bottom. See WATER HEATER DRAIN PROCEDURE for details.
  
  If this drain valve is damaged, leaky, or in poor condition, we recommend that you replace it - it's not a costly part. Be sure to use teflon tape or pipe dope on any threaded plumbing parts you are replacing. Leaks are not permitted.

• Remove the access covers over the heating elements. [Photo above] You will have to fold insulation outwards, or if the insulation is plastic foam as in our illustration, just remove the insulating block and set it aside.
• Remove a plastic thermostat cover found under this insulation (gray cover in our photo) - that protects the thermostat electrical connectors from touching the water heater thermostat cover, and then disconnect the electrical wires connected to the water heater element that is going to be replaced.
• 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 1.5" diameter socket wrench to get these elements out as it's easier than bumping around with a wrench.
  
  Turn the screw-in heating element counter-clockwise "leftie-loosie" to remove it. ) 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.

Other electric water heater elements may be secured with a bracket, shown in our sketch above.

Remove the sealing gasket that prevented leaks between the heating element face and the water heater tank face.

Watch out: keep this gasket until you have confirmed that your new water heater element came with a new gasket.

• Buy a replacement electric water heater element: 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.
  
  The "length" determines how far the heater element sticks into the water tank.
  
  Size matters. An electric water heater element that is too long may not fit or it may contact the dip tube or other water heater components - an unsafe condition.
  
  The sketch of an electric water heater element ready for installation is provided by American Water Heater [1].
• 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 NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE)
• Prepare the new heating element for installation: 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.

• Screw in or mount the new water heater element. Turn the heating element clockwise using the same socket wrench you bought earlier (no one has one, right?) Clockwise = to the right "rightie - tightie". Wipe off any water droplets before reinstalling the new heating element - that will make it easy to check for leaks when you have re-filled the water tank.
  
  Watch out: When installing the new water heater element, be sure to replace this gasket with a new one that comes with your new heating element - otherwise the heater will leak. Clean the water heater tank face where the new gasket will sit before installing the new heating element.
  
  If you like, test the heater element for continuity using the diagnostic procedure described at ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT TESTS.

Electric water heater thermostat and heating element wiring diagram

Be sure that any electrical wiring that you disturb or disconnect is reconnected as it was originally.

We label parts or make a sketch to avoid confusion later on. Check for proper water heater thermostat and heating element wiring connections by reviewing the installation manual that pertains to your water heater.

Abbove we show a typical wiring diagram for a two-element electric water heater at which both heating elements operate simultaneously.

Below we show the water heater thermostat and element wiring details from a Plumber's Pack Water Heater Repair Kit using Thermo-o-Disc thermostats.

This electric water heater repair kit includes two electrodes and the upper and lower thermostats as well as replacement plastic covers for those devices.

The kit fits most models of electric water heaters made by American Water Heaters, A O Smith, Bradford White, Craftsmaster, General Electric or GE water heaters, GS Wood (some models), Kenmore, Lochinvar, Maytag, Mor-Flo, Reliance, Rheem, Richmond, Ruud, Sears and State - in other words many major water heater brands.

[Click to enlarge any illustration or photo]

But your electric water heater wiring may differ in that it may have only one heating element, or the two-element heater may operate the heaters individually (non-simultaneous), or your unit could be a 120V heater (less common at residential buildings) or even a three-phase installation (more likely at larger heaters and commercial installations). [1]

Continuing with the steps in replacing the heating element for a typical electric water heater: re-connect the electrical wires

Illustration, adapted from AO SMITH ELECTRIC WATER HEATER WIRING INSTRUCTIONS [PDF], shows the water heater element in red.

• Reconnect and secure the electrical wires to the new heater element terminals.
  
  No, it does not matter which wire goes to which heating element terminal in this case - electricity can flow in either direction. [Other electrical connections DO matter very much, as we warn above.]
  
  But we recommend that you re-connect the electrical wires exactly as they were in the original water heater element installation - that will minimize bending and forcing wires into a new position in the heater, thus minimizing chances of breaking a wire or damaging its insulation.
  
  Remember to replace the plastic cover that protects the wires and terminals before pushing the insulation back in place and then replacing the water heater element cover.
• Close the water heater tank drain valve.
• 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 building until water flows freely out of that faucet.
  
  Watch out: as American Water Heater and other manufacturers warn, if you turn on electrical power to the heating elements when they are not already immersed in water, the element will be destroyed! [1]


• Check for leaks around the heating element before you continue.
• Make sure that the water heater tank has completely filled with water by turning on hot water at a nearby faucet - you should feel water (cold of course) coming out of the faucet. Then it's OK to turn on electrical power to the water heater and allow it to re-heat.
  
• Turn on electrical power to the water heater
  
  After waiting for the tank to heat up, possibly a half hour or so, you should have hot water.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2020-06-25 - by (mod) - I replaced the heater elements but still have no hot water

Ted

We have a series of diagnostic suggestions for no-hot-wter for an electric water heater starting at

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER - NO HOT WATER

Let's start there, and don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions as you need.

On 2020-06-09 by Ted Lambert

What if u replace both elements and still don't have hot water.what could it might be wrong

On 2020-06-06 - by (mod) - problem with threads at water heater element mount opening

Andy

That's certainly frustrating.

1. Check the actual thread gauge between the opening on the water heater and the threads on the heating element.

You can buy a little thread gauge (it has a collection of little numbered saw-toothed measuring devices, each with a thread gauge number on it) or you could try a finely-marked ruler to count the threads per inch on both opening and element.

2. If the threads are the right gauge it's possible that the threads at the start of the opening on the water heater are damaged OR that the threads were not cut properly on the new heating element.

**Sometimes** I've been able to salvage that problem by working carefully (on JUST the initial threads) with a sharp triangular file and with even a small sharp screwdriver blade to clean the thread gaps in the opening.

There are, of course huge thread cutting devices that can re-cut threads on both items but you may not want to go to that expense.

Shown below is the OriGlam Screw Thread Pitch Cutting Gauge Tool - note that you need to buy the right gauge: inch or metric, probably "Inch" or U.S. NPT gauge.

On 2020-06-05 by ANDY

I was unable to put the new elemnet in, it just never threaded in right, eventually the gasket broke. Its the right replacement based on serial # from plumbing supply.

It looks like the threads on the new one don't actually come to a start point where i am able to connect to the heater.

On 2020-05-13 - by (mod) - where do the heating element black and red wires go?

Wayne

Black = hot 120VAC

Red = hot 120VAC

together 240 VAC

See the wiring diagrsm for your water heater


Watch out: if you are not trained in proper and safe electrical wiring yiu could be shocked or killed.

On 2020-05-05 by Wayne Harrison

House wiring has black/white/ground. Water heater has black/red/ground. Where does the red go?

On 2019-07-15 - by (mod) - don't push the replacement heating element wattage far above original

Isaac:

There are some possible issues with installing a water heater element whose wattage rating is significantly above the original manufacturer's unit.

1. Proper & safe wire size: A 3800 W heater element on a 240V circuit might require just a 15A #14 copper circuit;

A 4500 W heater element on the same 240V circuit might require about 19A so would require a 20A $12 Copper wire circuit.

If you just stick the 4500w element on the original circuit and if the original circuit is not the proper wire size the either the breaker will trip (or fuse blow) or the if you over-fuse it to avoid that you risk overheating the wire and a house fire.

On the other hand if the circuit is a 20A #12 copper wire on 240V this issue may not pertain

2. The heater element dimensions must fit the water heater; if the new heater is longer, for example, it may touch a dip tube in the heater causing expensive, even dangerous damage;

On the other hand if the new element is about the same length as the original this problem may not occur.

On 2019-07-11 by Isaac

I have electric water heater element isn’t good - this is the description of the old element 3,800 watt 240V. I order a new one online and they sent me one that I’m not sure if will work here is the description of the new one 4500 Watt 240V. I would like to know if I install the new one could be a issue

On 2018-02-27 - by (mod) - which heating element wire goes where?

George

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

Here I will include an example of the simplest, most-basic electric water heater heating-element wiring. This is from

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT WIRING INSTRUCTIONS [PDF] from AO Smith

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?

Reader Question: replacement water heater element not working

(Mar 13, 2013) Amiti said:

My hot water heater only has one element in it, we replaced that element today and hooked everything back up the way it was before.

Now we still have no hot water and i tried to push the reset button on the thermostat butit was already pushed in. I dont know what to do now please help me!!

Reply:

Amity,

IF that you didn't make the common but fatal mistake of turning on the electric water heater when it was not absolutely full of water (that burns out the heater element immediately),

THEN I'm guessing either a wiring error or a bad thermostat.

Start by checking that the unit has electrical power.

Watch out: Be sure the person testing knows how to do so safely as live voltage could kill someone. See DMMs VOMs SAFE USE OF.

Then one of the electric water heater diagnostic articles listed below at "Continue Reading" will help you find the trouble.

Electric Water Heater Element Wiring Instructions & Repair Manuals

Watch out: Improper installation, adjustment, alteration, service or maintenance of any water heater can cause death, serious bodily injury, or property damage.

• [1] AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND USE & CARE GUIDE, American Water Heater Co., October 2001, American Water Heater Co., Johnson City, TN, [manufacturer of residential & commercial water heaters, also manufacturer of Polaris/Commercial water heaters], Tel: 800-999-9515, web search 1/12/2012, original source: americanwaterheater.com/support/manuals/res-elect.pdf
• AO SMITH ELECTRIC WATER HEATER WIRING INSTRUCTIONS [PDF] A. O. Smith Water Products 500 Tennessee Waltz Parkway Ashland City, TN 37015 USA Phone: 800-527-1953 A. O. Smith products, technical support, warranty or service needs Website: www.hotwater.com
• A.O. Smith RESIDENTIAL GAS & ELECTRIC WATER HEATER SERVICE HANDBOOK [PDF] retrieved 2017/11/17, original source: https://www.hotwater.com/lit/training/320991-000.pdf
  
  This manual covers residential gas fired water heaters that are atmospherically vented and use a thermocouple as their electrical source, and residential electric water heaters having one or two heating elements and common wiring configurations.
• BRADFORD WHITE ELECTRIC WATER HEATER INSTALLATION & OPERATION MANUAL [PDF], (2014) Bradford White Water Heaters, 725 Talamore Drive
  Ambler, PA 19002 USA, Website: http://www.bradfordwhite.com Tel-USA: 800.523.2931, Tel-Canada: 866.690.0961 International Sales 215.641.9400, Warranty Department 800.531.2111, Contractor Technical Support 800.334.3393, retrieved 2018/02/27, original source: http://www.bradfordwhite.com/sites/default/files/product_literature/238-44422-00N.pdf
• BRADFORD WHITE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC AND LIGHT DUTY COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS SERVICE MANUAL [PDF] Troubleshooting Guide and Instructions for Service (To be performed ONLY by qualified service providers) Manual 2 38-47104-00A Models covered: M1& M2(HE) UprightModels. M1& M2 Lowboy Models. M1& M2 UtilityModels. M1& M2 Wall HungModels. Light DutyEnergy Saver: LD Upright Models. LD Utility Models. LD Lowboy. LD WallHung. Dairy Barn Deluxe Energy Saver: DB Models.
• GIANT ELECTRIC WATER HEATER MANUAL [PDF] Giant Water Heaters, 40 Avenue Lesage, Montreal-East, Quebec, Canada H1B 5H3 Tel: (514) 645-8893 1-800-363-9354 website: http://www.giantinc.com/
  
  Giant is a Canadian manufacturer of residential, light duty commercial and commercial, electric, gas and oil-fired water heaters.
• HUBBELL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL FOR COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER [PDF] Hubbell Electric Heater Company, P.O. Box 288
  Stratford, CT 06615-0288 USA Tel: (203) 378-2659 Website: http://www.hubbellheaters.com/retrieved 2018/02/27, original source: http://www.hubbellheaters.com/downloads/oms/model_e_om.pdf
• RHEEM ELECTRIC WATER HEATER MANUAL [PDF] Installation, use, care
• STATE ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS, TABLE TOP, MANUAL [PDF] retrieved 2018/02/27, original source: http://www.statewaterheaters.com/lit/im/res-elec/0002917490-0.pdf
• WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC WATER HEATER MANUAL [PDF] retrieved 2018/02/27, original source: http://www.westinghousewaterheating.com/literature/whl-026.pdf
• WHIRLPOOL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER MANUAL [PDF] retrieved 2018/02/27
• WATER HEATER MANUALS - all water heater brands

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Continue reading  at ELECTRIC WATER HEATER HIGH TEMP CUTOFF TEST or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT REPLACEMENT FAQs - questions & answers about this article posted originally on this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT REPLACEMENT
• ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT TESTS
• ELECTRIC WATER HEATER HIGH TEMP CUTOFF TEST
• ELECTRIC WATER HEATER REPAIR GUIDE - home

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