Troubleshooting Electric Water Heater Problems

The most common issue with a water heater is a lack of power.

Troubleshooting electric water heater problems.

The cold inlet or hot outlet pipes may be loose the t p valve may have failed or inlet valve may be leaking. Remove the access panel insulation and plastic safety guard from each heating element on the water heater. Check the heat setting on both. If when you go to turn off the power at the breaker box it is already switched off then you have discovered the problem.

If you believe you have a leak near the top of your electric water heater it could be one of a few things. Rust build up broken drain valve faulty t p valve condensation. Test the wires to confirm the power is off using a non contact voltage tester. The cure for a hot water problem may be as simple as turning the temperature setting up.

For more information see water heater leaking from the top. Start by ruling out power problems. Water leaking from the bottom. How to troubleshoot electric water heater problems before you start.

Turn off the power. Without electricity the element can t heat up and the water will stay cool. You need to make sure there is power to the heating element. All are easily fixed.

When there is no hot water the problem can stem from lack of power a faulty electric thermostat or a defective upper electric heating element. Turn off the power to the water heater in the service panel. On electric water heaters it is usually located under the access panel on the side of the heater or it may be located on the front. A simple electrical tester will allow you to confirm this.