Water Heaters - Elec hot water too hot

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mkemp
01-21-09, 12:35 PM
This is a State Select model, 52 gal. with two elements.
Water was scalding hot this morning. Near the upper element, the tank was very hot; not so by the lower element. I'm thinking the upper thermostat is bad, does that make sense?

chandler
01-21-09, 05:01 PM
It would be worth checking out. It should cut out on thermal long before it allows the tank to get hot on the outside. Be sure you put the wires back where they came from. Take a ditigal picture of the thermostat before you pull it so you can keep it together.
mkemp
01-21-09, 06:48 PM
Thanks... is there a way to estimate how long it would take for the tank to reheat, if it had been allowed to cool down to "warm"?

furd
01-22-09, 06:24 PM
Sure there is but you would have to define "warm" and also the final desired temperature.

Just reset the thermostats and then re-power the water heater. Everything should be just fine in a couple of hours.
plumbermandan
01-22-09, 08:26 PM
it is possible you have 2 bad thermostats as the bottom element should be turned on by the upper t-stat and turned off by the lower one or your upper element could be shorted to ground causing it to keep heating. have a professional come out and diagnose it.