I was in a hurry to get hot water going after taking the hot water heater out of the utility room when I put in new tile. I drained the water heater to remove and once done tiling, moved the water heater back into place, hooked up and plugged in before I had refilled it with water. The water heater is electric. As soon as I plugged it in, I heard a pop sound. I checked the breaker and it had jumped. I reset the breaker, filled the water heater and plugged back in.

2.5 hours later and I do not have hot water. What was the pop sound I heard when I plugged it in? Was this the sound of me ruining the elements which can be replaced affordably or did I do something worse?

Austinguy - I hate to tell you this but the answer is "YES" YOU blew the elements, probley both of them. Take a ohm meter and with power off to water heater take off cover plates on the heating element there is two screws ( PHILLIPS- #2 ) Losen the screws and remove from the screws, take the ohm meter set to continuty, touch one probe to each screw, the meter needle will move to the right if the element is still good, if it stays put the element is blown.< Do the same with the bottom element. Now let me say this ( IF you had water {FULL} in the tank then I would have told you to hold one probe to one of the screws on the element and the other probe on the metal of the tank it self, ) because if it had blown while the tank was full ,you would have gotten a FALSE READING, Before,It would have showed the element was good because water would be inside of element. That is why you do the second part ,One probe on one screw of element & the other on the tank. When you refill the tank
, open the kitchen hot water foucet on and when the tank is completely full you will have a good running force comeing out , shut faucet off and turn on power, before closeing up cover panels, set ohm meter to 220 volts or above , check top element,probe to each screw,needle should read akll the way across (220) turn thermostate for that one a little past first click,counterwise. Now check the bottom the same way, should be the same as top was,leave temp set from 115 vto 125 degrees, on both elements thermostates replace covers in about 30 to 45 minuts you should have hot water. IT should have only blow out the top element, I hope I have helped ,if I have rate my answer below ::GoOD LUCK & GOD BLESS :: F.B.E. P.S. STAY SAFE< TURN OFF OOWER TO TANK< Before WORKING ON IT!!

Very good answer flying blue eagle