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Lets take things in order even if they may start out too basic. Check the breaker, then check the two hot wires where they connect to the heater. You should read 220 across the and 110 if you test and ground individually. If this is all good so far then your heating elements are suspect, you likely have two. Check power going into and then out of each element. If this doesn't help just come back here and tell us what else you have found.
you can check the element itself with an ohmmeter, turn the breaker off to the water heater, remove the wires from the element, (BE SURE THE POWER TO WATER HEATER IS OFF FIRST), then put meter onto continuity, touch both prongs, do you have continuity, then touch one lead to the connection on the element and one lead to the tank body, if you have continuity through the element and tank, the element is broken and will not work.
Hi, I grounded them individually and had 110 each, I check both elements to gnd, no short. Resistance was identical in the elements. The tank reset switch had tripped. I reset it and we have hot water again. Why would it trip? Could one of the elements be bad? The upper portion the tank is HOT, the lower is cold to touch is this normal?
If both elements are working the tank should be hot all over. I think your lower element may have a problem. Raise the temp setting and put your metere back on the lower element to see if it is actually working. This may be what tripped the breaker.
I adjusted the lower thermostat while I rang it out and it is identical to the upper (the resistance). I think the lower element may be working intermittently.
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