How can you tell if your water heater is out or if it is just the heating elemment in it that is going out.?

Question

the water is getting warm but slower than normal.

Answer 1

u take a volt meter and check  the elements......there r 2 ......if ur not getting any voltage to them most likely its the element....

lic. gen. contractor

Answer 2

Usually the heating elements will either work or won't work.

The thermostat also usually starts heating the water really hot and won't shut off until it burns out completely.

That's about all that is on a water heater, The elements (top and bottom on some), and the thermostat.

If you are on well water, sometimes the mineral deposits that accumulate in the tank will get so thick that they cover the bottom element and cause it to heat less and then burn out eventually. You can clean this out by removing the hose drain valve and hooking up a small tube to your shop vac.

Turn power off, and water off. Be ready for water and mineral deposits to come out together. I try to drain out as much water as possible with a garden house before i start sucking debris out with the shop vac.

Good Luck

Answer 3

I would not recommend testing a water heater element with the power on. Its not necessary and its unsafe. First thing you do is shut the power of to the water heater. Take of the two panels to the heater elements and thermostats. Set your multimeter to resistance (OHMS). Remove one of the wires from the element it does not matter which one. Keep one probe on a s***w and the other probe on the other s***w. IF the meter is reading 1.(open) then the element is fine, if its reading 0 (closed) then you will have to replace the Element.

DO the same thing for the thermostat testing all the screws to make sure the electric connection is open. You will only need to remove 1 wire.

Most thermostats have a reset button on them, if the little red button is pushed out its shut off the thermostat, just push it back in.

You will know when the water heater it self is going out because it will start leaking water everywhere. As long as you have 240v to the water heater, the problem with the heat lies on either on one of the thermostats or one of your elements.

Answer 4

To determine which element has failed, check the hot water at a faucet. If the faucet delivers water that’s warm, but not hot at any setting, replace the top-heating element. If it delivers a small amount of very hot water, followed by cold water, replace the bottom-heating element.