How do you fix an element in a hotwater heater?

Question

I believe my element burned out on my hotwater heater and I need to know step by step on how to replace it. Its practically a 3 yr old hotwater heater and it has a safety tank on top of the heater. I know to turn off the power, and I already unscrewed the plates on the front of the heater. Took out the installation and now I just need to know how to get the elements out.

Answer 1

Actually- it is a HOT water heater. This is a designation used in the trade and stationary engineering business to differentiate between steam, and hot water boilers. Its not a steam boiler- its a hot water heater.

Secondly- here's what you do. Make sure you know what element is bad. turn the power off and disconnect the wires from both elements. get a voltmeter and set it to read continuity. if it doesn't give continuity between the two terminals the heater is bad.
1. look on the rating plate for your heater and see what the KW rating is of each element.
2. turn off the power to the heater
3. shut off the cold water supply to the heater
4. drain the heater from the bottom drain.
5. go to the store and pick up a new element rated to the Kw of the one you need, and while you're there get a heater element wrench.
6. take the wrench you bought and screw out the bad element.
7. put the new element in
8. close the bottom drain valve, fill the heater, and restore power.

Answer 2

Open a hot water faucet and then drain the tank down. Most elements I have senn are held in place by two screws. Clean the gasket area after removing the element. Remember which wire went where. Take the old element with you to purchase a new one.

Answer 3

i just want to add that most water heaters have a 5 year warranty on them and you should not have to pay for the new element. on the front plate of the heater,there is a model and serial number.write those down and take it in to the store.somebody there should be able to read the code,and know how old it is,if they doubt you. if you have your recite,then it will be that much easier

Answer 4

they sell a tool called an element wrench it is just a big socket and it works great for replacing 4500 Watt screw in elements oh ya don't forget to turn off the water and drain the tank and don't worry about mixing up the 2 wires that are on the element it doesn't matter.if the elements are fine replace the upper control

Answer 5

if youve turned off the water and drained out the hot water from the taps, then you need to attach a hose to the drain cock at the bottom of your cylinder and drain out the water to below the bottom of you immersion fitting. once this is done, try undoing immersion with immersion spanner, being carefull not to split it, if it feels far too tight then apply heat to where fitting goes into cylinder and tap immpersion spanner quickly. if this doesnt work, drill hold into middle and using hacksaw blade, cut through from hole to outside of fitting being carefull not to cut into internal thread, after doing this, repeat two or three times untill you can pull fittling out. clean old flange of cylinder and replace with new immersion with new washer. i allways apply a bit of jointing compound on old cylinders. good luck!!!

Answer 6

Sorry I know this isn't helpful, but I have this pet peve and I cannot help but mention it. It isn't a HOT water heater. It is a water heater.

again I'm sorry, I just can't help myself.