DIY Water Heater Testing And Repair - The Family Handyman

If your electric hot water heater is slow to heat, runs out of hot water faster than it used to, or doesn’t deliver any hot water at all, there’s a 90 percent chance that simply replacing one or both of the heating elements will solve the problem. “A burned-out heating element in an electric water heater will stop the water from heating altogether,” says HVAC expert Lisa Purvins.

Water heater repairs are straightforward, and replacement elements are inexpensive ($8 to $20) and readily available at home centers, hardware stores and appliance parts dealers. Here are a few tips to help you if your heater is not working.

We’ll show you how to test the heating elements, remove one if it’s bad, and install a new one. Just keep in mind that water heaters have a typical life span of 10 to 15 years. If your heater is approaching old age, replacement may be smarter than repair.

Learn how to regulate your water heater here.

Other Causes of Water Not Getting Hot

Of course, there are other potential causes of a lack of hot water. Before you test the elements, check to make sure the circuit breaker is on and not tripped. Also press the reset button on the high-temperature cutoff located just above the upper thermostat. Resetting either the circuit breaker or the high-temperature cutoff may resolve the problem, but the fact that they were tripped in the first place may indicate an electrical problem. If they trip again, test the heating elements.

If the heating elements are good, the problem could be caused by a number of other possibilities.

“A faulty thermostat can fail to regulate the water temperature properly,” says Purvins, “In gas water heaters, a pilot light that has gone out or an igniter issue can disrupt heating. Sediment buildup inside the tank can act as insulation, preventing the water from warming efficiently. Another common issue is a broken dip tube, which can mix incoming cold water with heated water, leading to lukewarm or cold water at the tap.”

Testing is complicated for the thermostat or a faulty cutoff switch, but since they’re inexpensive—about $20 for each—you could simply try replacing them.

Also, find out how to save your hot water heater with a new thermocouple.

Video: How to Test Your Water Heater Element