How to Repair an Electric Water Heater
Do you ever walk in to take a shower, expecting a warm spray of hot water on you but you’re greeted by a gush straight from the Arctic region? You sprint out to find out that the electric water heater isn’t working.
There may not be enough time for you to call in a plumber to take a look at the issue, so here are a few things you can do to get the ball rolling:
Turn Off the Power
Before you start working on the electric water heater, make sure to turn off power to the circuit. Turn off the breaker from the breaker box.
Check if the Switch Tripped
If the heater isn’t providing hot water, it’s an indication that either a switch has tripped or the heating components aren’t working correctly. If the switch has tripped, switch the circuit off and turn it back on.
Reset Temperature Limit
The second thing to do is resetting the temperature limit for a quick fix. The steps are as follows:
- Firstly, turn off the breaker. You don’t want to operate on the heater while it’s still on.
- Once the power is off to the heater, take off the panel to begin working on it, removing the insulation, and the safety guard.
- Make sure you don’t contact wires or terminals.
- Locate the high-temperature cutoff reset button, which is normally located above the upper thermostat.
- Put back all the parts you removed during the process.
- It’s now safe to turn on the power to the heater.
If the problem persists, all the heating elements will have to be tested individually and replaced accordingly. Consider insulating the heater to reduce power consumption as recommended by the EPA.
Inadequate Hot Water
There’s a chance that the heater is undersized and you could require a large one to fit the needs of your household.
If it isn’t undersized and continues to produce less hot water than it did in the past, it’s a sign that the heating elements inside aren’t working correctly and may be broken. In case you’re getting mild or lukewarm water than hot water, the upper heating element is malfunctioning. If you’re getting hot water but not enough in quantity, the lower heating element is the culprit here.
Still Not Working?
If you’ve tried the above solutions and still haven’t had any success, we suggest not to DIY it any further. It’s time an expert looks into it. The citizens of Fort Worth, TX can reach out to the professionals at Pro Serve Plumbing for our 24/7, affordable plumbing services. You don’t have to wait to get in touch with us, as we work round the clock to facilitate the customers.
And not just fixing your water heater. Our services range from gas pipe pressure testing, slab leak repair to commercial plumbing for your business. Get in touch with us today.
