#Water heater element how to#

Here, the lower heater element is in charge of bringing that cold water up to the right temperature. When cold water enters your water heater tank through the dip tube, it shoots straight down to the bottom of the tank. The lower water heater element works the hardest. It’s positioned in the top part of the tank, so it’s just boosting water to the right temperature just before it leaves the tank for use. It boosts the water temperature inside the tank back up to the set temperature when a lot of hot water is being used (and therefore, a lot of incoming cold water is entering the tank).

The upper water heater element has an easier job.

These electric heating elements are meant to be completely immersed in water. They’re thick loops of metal that allow an electric current to flow through them and heat the water. These are the lower and upper heating elements, both controlled by the water heater thermostat.

How Do You Test a Water Heater Element?Įlectric water heaters rely on two heater elements (electrodes) inside the tank to heat the water to the perfect temperature.

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#Water heater element how to#

Learn how to test water heater elements and get troubleshooting tips in our complete guide.ĭisclaimer: REthority is supported by ads and participation in affiliate programs. If you’re not getting enough hot water, you might suspect the water heater element is the culprit.