Replacing Electric Water Heater Heating Element

In an electric water heater the bottom heating element is the workhorse since it is at the bottom of the tank where cold water enters from a dip tube that extends down through the tank.

Replacing electric water heater heating element.

Water heater elements can and do wear out and replacing a bad one is a job you can do yourself. Replace a broken heating element with the manufacturer approved replacement part. Follow the steps in this repair guide. The upper heating element really only contributes when there is a high hot water demand and only serves to heat water in the upper portion of the tank.

Electric water heaters have one or more heating elements that look very much like one of those heaters you put in a cup of cold water to make an instant cup of hot tea. There s an upper element which is located behind the upper access panel and a lower element. A broken heating element produces no heat causing the water heater to produce very little hot water or to run out of hot water quickly. Electric water heaters have 2 heating elements.