How is the best way to check the heating elements and thermostats on a hot water heater?

Offshore one- If you have a ohm meter, set it on continuty, turn power to tank off,take cover panels off , on the heating element take off one of the wires, put one probe from the meter to each of the screws on the element. See if you have a needle movement to the right of the meter .NOTE ( sometimes this will lie to you , if the element is blown and water will be in it, so it will show that it is good) To get the truth, take one probe to a screw and the other to the metal of the tank, if the needel moves to the right then the element is blown and no good, this goes for top and bottom elements. The way I used to check the thermos. Was to turn power off, open the acess panels set bottom tem adjustment to lowest setting, turn on power ,turn temp. setting up , check with meter to see if yopu have power to both screws on element, if not ,bottom therm. Is probley bad. ( OH SET YOUR METER ON AC POWER SETTING ON 220 VOLTS< Before TOUCHING SCREWS WITH THE PROBES). Repeat the process with the top therm. Except in reverse. Turn power back off and do any required repairs,if you hsave to chang a element , hook water hose to drain spicket on bottom of tank, With Power off) Drain tank down enough to have water below hole the element is in,remove element install new one re hook up wires, ( Before TURNING POWER BACK ON) turn water back on open kitchen faucet on hot water side and let run until it runs out in a good stream of water to make sure tank is full of water or you will blowthe element not covered with water HOPE THIS HAS HELPED< GOOD LUCK GOD BLESS :::: F>B>E>