Water Heaters - No hot water..
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RichieRich
06-02-05, 11:27 AM
today I found out my electric water heater isnt working. No hot water at all. It has a intermatic timer as well. the line cable that goes to the timer was fried/melted so i replaced it. still no hot water. Where should I start troubleshooting. I have read it could be one of my thermostats or my elements but dont really know.I have my timer on the manual overide "on" position but nothing either. Is it possible that the timer is bad and causing this though it has no trippers on the clock and is on the on position.
Ejbogusch
06-02-05, 07:31 PM
You will for sure need the help of a ohm meter to check voltage. I usually start by checking voltage across the two poles at the top of the thermostat or high limit. If you don't have the proper voltage here then work your way backward until you find where the voltage was lost at.
If you have the correct voltage then work your way down the thermostat to the element checking voltage at each step.
Most electric heaters cycle back and forth between the upper and lower element. When the upper thermostat is satisfied then it switch to the lower thermostat and visa versa. Never are both elements energized at the same time. If you have an heating element out the the water heater will be stuck on that thermostat while it waits patiently to be satisfied. It never will since the element is bad so the heater will appear to do nothing.
Elements can be check by either checking for amp pull or for continuity. This should point you in the right direction and be careful not to electrocute yourself.
Also there should be a red reset button on the upper element. Make sure this did not trip.
If you have the correct voltage then work your way down the thermostat to the element checking voltage at each step.
Most electric heaters cycle back and forth between the upper and lower element. When the upper thermostat is satisfied then it switch to the lower thermostat and visa versa. Never are both elements energized at the same time. If you have an heating element out the the water heater will be stuck on that thermostat while it waits patiently to be satisfied. It never will since the element is bad so the heater will appear to do nothing.
Elements can be check by either checking for amp pull or for continuity. This should point you in the right direction and be careful not to electrocute yourself.
Also there should be a red reset button on the upper element. Make sure this did not trip.
RichieRich
06-06-05, 01:14 PM
well it turns out that once i replaced the timer it started working for 5 minutes...then it tripped the breaker...i noticed that the top thermostat was melted...and the reset button did nothing, i tested the top element and it was ok...so i just replaced the melted thermostat and its working ...going on 3 days now ...hope she keeps working. Thanks for your help .