I purchased a condo and we turned the electric on before we turned the water on, it had been vacant for 6 months or so. Granted I had hot water for only a day in a half intially and now its freezing cold, i replaced the element still nothing... should i buy brand new one.
2007-02-18 10:35:21 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If you turned on the electric to the water heater before making sure it's filled completely, then you burned the top element out. It happens almost immediately when the electicity hits the element and it's not covered in water. However, if you replaced that element and made sure the reset, (the little red button in the middle of the top thermostat), is pushed in, then you should have hot water. If not, then you'll need to check the thermostat, or if you don't have test equipment, just put a new one in. It's not rocket science. Just make a drawing of how the wires go, noting color to which screw and take the old one to a good hardware, or heating, A/C contractor. They should have them, Home Depot, Lowe's, Menard's, most all the big home improvement stores will have them as well. Just make sure to get one like your old one. The bottom element won't come on till the top element shuts off, so it most likely didn't get damaged.
2007-02-18 10:45:43 · answer #1 · answered by Corky R 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The only thing is that if it got turned on with no water in the unit it may have shorted out. Check the fuse. Check your main breaker...switch it off for 2 seconds and then turn it back on. If none of this works then you may have to get a new one. But before buying a new one, have a Friend or someone that knows about it to look at it. Don't call a repair man he'll over charge you. Good Luck.
2007-02-18 10:49:29 · answer #2 · answered by makeitmyday123 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Make sure you have power to the element ( water heater ).
If you no power to the elements start back checking, i.e., wiring 9Loose or broken connections are common), breaker ( these high load breakers fail more frequently).
If you have power to the element and no heat than it is possible that the new element is defective.
Also, Make sure there isn’t two elements in the water tank, this is common.
Good luck
2007-02-18 10:53:58 · answer #3 · answered by AlwaysLearning 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not just yet, get a professional to check out the problem first buying a new one may not be the cause. Sometimes other things may be the cause of the element going bad. So just to be on the safe side call someone in to check it out. I don't think it matters wheather or not you turned your electirc on before your water.
2007-02-18 10:45:44 · answer #4 · answered by D.S.C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋