Water Heaters - One or two thermostats?

I have a Rheem 40 gallon electric water heater, and I lost hot water tomight, so I took the thermostat covers off to check the elements, and only the lower element has any wires hooked to it with a thermostat and reset button. Where the top one should be just looks like a plug, no wires or thermostat. Is this possible? I have no continuity on the lower element, so I know it's bad. Do I only have one element? Thanks in advance for the help.

Unusual for a 40 gal to have only one element. Could a previous owner of the house have monkeyed with it?

No,its in a mbile home that we bought brand new in 1996. If possible, should I try to add another element? How would I get power to it?

samedpaul,

I have seen this in mobile homes and I believe it is done to lower the home's electrical requirements.
In other words a cost cutting measure.
It would not be a good idea to try to convert your tank because the tank's wiring may not be heavy enough and the individual components would likely cost as much as a new tank.
If your tank is ten years old it would be close to needing replacement anyway.

Before you do anything you have to make sure the wire that serves the tank is heavy enough and that there is enough power inthe panel to supply it.

thanks for the advice. I cleaned all the sediment out of the bottom of the tank with a shop vac with a piece of garden hose duck taped to the end of it. It took a while, but I think I got it all. Had to bust the big ones up with a long screwdriver. I put in a new lower element,works like a new one now. Thanks again for the help.