Attach a garden hose.
Checking heating element water heater.
This is so whether testing upper or lower heating element.
The reading on the multimeter should be zero.
If the water heater is hot run hot water in the building with the water heater electrical power off until water flows lukewarm or colder.
Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at.
Remove 1 wire it doesn t matter which one by finding its loose end and unraveling it from around the metal element.
Choose which heater element you d like to test first.
Disconnect the water heater from power source.
Take 1 of the wires off of a water heater element.
Locate the water valve at the bottom of the water heater.
Turn off the breaker switch to the hot water heater at the breaker box.
Drain the water from the water heater.
All the tests that you will perform will be done with the power turned off.
This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests.
Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals.
The element is bad and must be replaced if the needle on the face of the multimeter moves.
Each of a hot water heater s elements has 2 electrical wires running to screws that hold the element in place.
Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat.
Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting.
The lower thermostat has only two terminals.
Testing a water heater heating element 1.
How to check heating elements in hot water heaters.
Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater.
If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it.
To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver.
Turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater.
If you want to test a thermostat on an electric water heater you will also need to check the heating element.
If it does not have a.
If the heater is an electric unit.
Remove the rectangular shaped cover plate running up the front of the heater to get access the.
How to check a heating element in a water heater step 1.