[Midnightldy01]

We have a 2 year old electric water heater and were getting hot water. Then the water turned cold and we can not get anyhot water. There is plenty of water pressure in the house but no not water. We called Rheem and they checked out the parts with my son and said the water heater was working. If it is working why no hot water?

[massplumber2008]

Hi Midnightldy01:

Did your son check the parts using an electrical tester? You need an electrical tester and some knowledge of basic safety precautions to test all the different things that could be wrong here... ;)

To list them out a bit:

1) If you are on a metered electrical device that allows power to flow to the water heater off peak hours, there could be a problem with the device.

2) Could be the fuse or the breaker that feeds power to the water heater. (would need to check fuse and/or reset the breaker back at the electrical panel).

3) If you have a water heater timer, it could be as simple as an ON clip falling off the timer. Let me know if you have a water heater timer. Or could be a loose connection here.

4) It could be that wires have come loose at the junction box at the top of the water heater.

5) It coulld be that the upper thermostat (see image) has tripped the red RESET BUTTON (red circle) due to excessive temperature (or similar issue). This can be checked by removing the upper access panel and pushing in the reset button on the thermostat. If it "clicks" on when depressed then that will restore your hot water, but not necessarily for very long.

6) It could be a defective upper or lower thermostat

7) It could be a defective element (see yellow circle in pic.) To test this, I shut off all power to the water heater and then disconnect the wires going to the element. Then I perform a basic CONTINUITY test across the element terminals. If no continuity then issue is with the element. Note, that there is an upper and a lower element for most residential electric water heaters.

8) And, of course, it could be as simple as a wire come loose at any connection at the water heater.

Anyway, there is a basic list. To determine exactly where the issue is you start at the metering device (if present) or at the electrical panel and you chase the power to the water heater and work through the thermostats and the elements.

Electrical skills are needed here. Safety precautions are mandatory!

Let me know if you have questions...

MARK

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