It takes several seconds for the copper heating element to burn out. The part which is in contact with the air will get an excessive amount of heat. Dryfireĭryfire problem happens when the water heater elements while working are exposed to the air pockets. When selecting a new water heater, there is an option to buy a unit with the Incoloy type, which lasts longer and has better resistance to sediment buildup.Īnother indication of the sediment buildup on the heating elements is the "sizzling" or "hissing" sound, which develops when water is trapped next to the element, which then boils water to steam. The solution to this problem is to regularly clean the electric water heater element by brushing away the scale buildup. The sediment build-up on the water heating elements will prevent heat transfer to the water at the proper rate, thus overheating and causing the element burnout. If you live in an area with hard water conditions, you probably had problems with the mineral deposits and limescale. Also, when pressing the reset button located right above the thermostat, you could fix the problem. Note: Keep in mind that the electric heating elements with the higher wattage require more Amps and heavier gauge wire.īelow are the most common reasons for the heating element failure, so before troubleshooting, it is always a good idea to check and make sure that the circuit breaker is on and not tripped. Heating elements can break over time because they will turn on and off quite often, keeping the water at the set temperature, either using hot water or not. If water is always cold at the fixture, it looks like both elements are gone and have to be replaced. Even if the upper one is still working, it will heat water only at the top of the tank but will eventually run out fast. If hot water is running for a short time before it gets cold, the problem is with the bottom heating element. To check if there is a problem with the heating element(s), turn on the hot water tap. Note: Professional installation and repair are recommended. How to diagnose a water heater element problem? Even better is the ultra-low watt-density, a premium-grade element that can reduce the limescale buildup and dry-firing. When selecting the best electric water heater for your home, you will have an option to buy a unit with low or high-watt density elements.Ī low-watt density heating element is what you should look for, as it provides an even distribution of heat and lasts longer. It comes with the High Limit Switch reset button, and it shuts down the heater if the temperature becomes too high. The upper thermostat is the main one as it controls the heat generated by both elements. If the thermostat becomes damaged or stops working, water becomes too hot, or there won't be any hot water. The thermostat setting allows a heating element to provide more or less power or lower and higher temperature of the outgoing water. What's the purpose of thermostats?Įach element has a designated thermostat to adjust the temperature, usually between 120 F and 140 F. You can check the voltage and wattage on the rating plate of the water heater. Manufacturers will use various types, different in voltages and watt densities, where 240 volts and 4500 watts are the most common. The water heater element with the flange (bolt-in type) is another type but is used less.īoth types are immersion-type elements, with the U-shape design, heating water when energized and providing energy efficiency close to 100%. Models with a smaller capacity, including point-of-use models, have only one heating element. Most electric water heaters have two heating elements, upper and lower, where the screw-in type is the most common type, as it is easy to install, remove, and service.
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