View Full Version : Electric water is not working?
crissy2000
Feb 4, 2012, 02:51 PM
Replaced the dual heating elements today after water had gone cold and never turned hot again. Now the electric water heater is not turning on at all. Pressed the reset button and still nothing. Any suggestions?
ma0641
Feb 4, 2012, 07:08 PM
Breaker on? Wired properly?
crissy2000
Feb 5, 2012, 07:05 AM
The electronic hot water heater, after replacing the heating elements won't turn on, hit the reset button, checked the wires, checked the circuit breaker, still nothing. Might be circuit breaker died when it shut off the first time? I did refill the tank but it is so quiet like its unplugged.
hkstroud
Feb 5, 2012, 07:43 AM
checked the circuit breaker
Does that mean you turn the breaker off and then back on?
Have you checked for voltage at each element? Voltage at each element should be 120v to ground. Voltage between legs should be 240v.
drtom4444
Feb 5, 2012, 11:21 AM
Turn off the power to water heater and disconnect one wire from each thermostat labeled #1, usually, where power comes in. The top t-stat has three wires: One wire supplying power, one out to element on top, and one to lower t-stat. Then using your ohm meter set at lowest range (if not auto-setting)test the continuity between the two terminals where power comes in and out to element on each one. It should read zero or a low number like 1 or 2. If not, you need a new thermostat. If these test okay, put wires back on the thermostats and check the elements, which should be good, will read between 10 and 20 ohms. I would imagine that the top thermostat is bad and has no continuity to either terminal out to element or bottom t-stat. There is a wiring diagram here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8010163/water_heater.pdf . Just download it. Sometimes water heaters are wired for simultaneous operation of elements and then they have only two wires to each t-stat, but from what you say I don't think that is the case; it has to be the top t-stat. All top t-stats are labeled 1- for incoming power, 2 - for top element, and 4- for bottom t-stat.
drtom4444
Feb 5, 2012, 11:26 AM
One thing I did not mention is the high limit switch on top t-stat which if open will not allow anything to work. It's the top 4 screws on the t-stat block and where power enters. There is a wire to incoming power then a jumper to t-stat on one side and on other side wires attach and go to each element. Make sure to check it, too. If open you replace it with t-stat. It's all in one piece.