How to Test Hot Water Heater Elements and Thermostats

Are you tired of taking a cold shower every morning? Is your hot water not quite as hot as it used to be? The problem could be with your hot water heater elements or thermostats. Here’s how to test them and get your hot water flowing again.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Multimeter (also known as a volt-ohm meter)
• Electrical tape

Step 1: Shut off power to the hot water heater. Find your circuit breaker and turn off the switch that controls the hot water heater.

Step 2: Remove the access panels. Most hot water heaters have two access panels, one on the top and one on the bottom. Use your screwdriver to remove them.

Step 3: Test the upper heating element. Using your multimeter, set it to the ohms setting and touch one probe to each of the two screws on the upper heating element. The reading should be between 10 and 20 ohms. If the reading is higher or lower, the element is bad and needs to be replaced.

Step 4: Test the lower heating element. Repeat the same process on the lower heating element. The reading should be the same as the upper element, between 10 and 20 ohms. If the reading is higher or lower, the element is bad and needs to be replaced.

Step 5: Test the thermostats. The hot water heater has two thermostats, one on the upper element and one on the lower element. Use your multimeter to test each thermostat. Set the multimeter to the volts setting and touch one probe to each of the two screws on the thermostat. You should get a reading of 240 volts. If you don’t get a reading, the thermostat is bad and needs to be replaced.

Step 6: Wrap up the wires. If any wires were removed during testing, make sure to wrap them in electrical tape before replacing the access panels.

Step 7: Turn the power back on. Once everything is back in place, turn the circuit breaker back on and wait for the hot water heater to heat up. You should have hot water again in no time!

Congratulations, you’ve successfully tested your hot water heater elements and thermostats. Just remember to be safe and shut off the power before beginning any electrical work. Happy hot water heating!