Water Heater Element Testing

Water Heater Element Testing

With the water heater element testing guide below you will need an inexpensive multimeter and a screwdriver.

Testing an elements is a simple and safe procedure. Just follow the steps and safety guidelines below.

How to check an element

Turn the water heater breaker (power) off. If you are not surewhich breaker controls the power, shut off all double breakers.You could have a damaged/burned wire behind the access panel on the water heater that could be touched accidentally, so, be sure that the power is off.

Remove the access panels, the insulation and the plastic safety cover. The safety cover snaps on and off, just give it a tug, it should pop off.

Be careful not to touch any wires.

This is a picture of the upper element, thermostat and limit switch.

The two wires at the very top (above the red reset button) are each 120 volt lines coming from the breaker.

Water heaters operate on 240 volts. You will need to set your multimeter on 240 volts ac. or greater so as not to damage your meter.Check the meter on an outlet in your house that you know is working. 

Place one probe of the meter on one of the lines above the resetbutton (see pic). Place the tip of the other probe on the water heater tank. Scratchthe tank with the end of the probe to be sure you are making goodcontact. (this will give you a ground).

You should not get a reading (the needle should not move).

Check the other line the same way, one probe on the line, the other probe on the tank.

If you get a reading on either line the wrong breaker has been turned off. Find the right breaker and be sure the power is off before going to the next step.

Set the dial on the multimeter to RX1K (see pic).

Touch the two meter probes together. The needle should sweep all the way across the face of the meter. This tells you that the meter is working properly.

When you are testing water heater elements, or any electrical system always be sure your meter is working.

Remove one of the wires from the water heater element. It does not matter which wire is removed.

Place the meter probes on each element screw (see pic).

If the needle on the meter does not move, the water heater element is bad and should be replaced.

If the needle moves all the way across the face, the element should be good. This test is ninety nine percent accurate.

The one time this test is wrong, is when the element has shortedout and fused or welded itself together (a grounded element).

Water heater element testing a grounded element

If your water is getting extremely hot and/or the reset button is popping out you may have a grounded element.

To check for a grounded element, set your multimeter dial to RX1K.

Be sure the water heater power is off.

Place one meter probe on one of the element screws. Place the other probe on the water heater tank or the element base (see pic). The meter needle should not move.

You can find an element replacement guide here, if you need help. your element.

If you are not sure what element to buy for your water heater or for general water heater element information please visit the water heater elements page.

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