/ News & Press / Video / No Hot Water - Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting

No Hot Water - Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:12.730
Hi. This is Wayne from Sears Parts Direct.
Today we're going to provide some troubleshooting
00:00:12.730 --> 00:00:15.959
tips for an electric water heater that is
not heating.
00:00:15.959 --> 00:00:18.820
Of course, the first thing to check is the
power source.
00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:24.039
An electric water heater needs 240 volts of
power to heat water.
00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:26.660
Check both house circuit breakers for the
water heater.
00:00:26.660 --> 00:00:30.500
It's often hard to spot a tripped breaker.
We recommend that you shut off both breakers
00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:35.430
for the water heater and then turn them back
on. If a breaker was tripped, this will reset
00:00:35.430 --> 00:00:39.390
it. This will likely restore power, unless
you have a problem with the electrical supply
00:00:39.390 --> 00:00:43.070
itself, which should be addressed by a qualified
electrician.
00:00:43.070 --> 00:00:46.799
If you reset the circuit breakers and they
immediately trip again, then you likely have
00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.720
a broken and shorted heating element. Click
here to skip to the section of this video
00:00:50.720 --> 00:00:53.869
about checking the heating system inside the
00:00:53.869 --> 00:00:57.640
If your circuit breakers don’t trip right
after you reset them, wait 30 minutes for
00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:01.400
the water heater to recover and check for
hot water. If you’re still not getting any
00:01:01.400 --> 00:01:07.369
hot water, you may need to reset the hi-temperature
limit switch on the upper thermostat. You
00:01:07.369 --> 00:01:10.360
won't get any hot water if that limit switch
is tripped.
00:01:10.360 --> 00:01:13.030
Shut off the house circuit breakers for your
00:01:13.030 --> 00:01:17.650
Remove the upper heating element cover to
access the hi-temperature limit switch.
00:01:17.650 --> 00:01:21.870
Press the red button on the switch to reset
it then reinstall the cover.
00:01:21.870 --> 00:01:25.909
Turn the circuit breakers back on and check
to see if the water heater is heating normally.
00:01:25.909 --> 00:01:29.580
Even if resetting the limit switch solves
your problem, you may not be out the woods
00:01:29.580 --> 00:01:33.980
yet. You'll need to monitor your water temperature
for overheating. The hi-temperature limit
00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:38.659
switch tripped for a reason, likely because
you have a shorted heating element or defective
00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:42.720
thermostat causing the water to overheat.
You'll need to resolve overheating problems
00:01:42.720 --> 00:01:47.240
to prevent scalding. Water temperature should
never exceed 120 degrees.
00:01:47.240 --> 00:01:52.000
If the water overheats after resetting the
hi-temperature limit switch, view this video
00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:57.170
for troubleshooting tips to resolve that problem.
So far, we've tried resetting the circuit
00:01:57.170 --> 00:02:00.850
breakers and resetting the hi-temperature
limit switch on the water heater.
00:02:00.850 --> 00:02:04.940
If you're still not getting any hot water,
we'll need to check the power supply wiring.
00:02:04.940 --> 00:02:08.519
water heater. Make sure you cut off the correct
00:02:08.519 --> 00:02:12.170
circuit breakers for the water heater. If
the power is connected, it could shock or
00:02:12.170 --> 00:02:14.640
kill.
Remove the cover to the junction box that
00:02:14.640 --> 00:02:19.019
houses the power supply wiring. Make sure
that none of the wires are loose and all wire
00:02:19.019 --> 00:02:24.349
nuts are tight enough to make secure connections.
Reconnect any loose wires then reinstall the
00:02:24.349 --> 00:02:26.689
cover.
Turn on the house circuit breakers and check
00:02:26.689 --> 00:02:30.739
to see if you’re getting any hot water now.
If that didn’t solve the problem, we'll
00:02:30.739 --> 00:02:33.709
need to check the heating system inside your
00:02:33.709 --> 00:02:38.069
For this test, we'll be using a multi-meter
to check for continuity, which will confirm
00:02:38.069 --> 00:02:42.599
that power is making it to all of the internal
components. If you don't have a multi-meter,
00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:47.200
you can find one at Sears PartsDirect.com.
Shut off the house circuit breaker for the
00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:52.060
water heater before performing these checks.
Never attempt to check continuity with the
00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:54.999
power connected.
First we’ll check for a short circuit to
00:02:54.999 --> 00:02:59.319
the water heater cabinet. You’ll want to
check this, especially if your circuit breaker
00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:04.719
trips as soon as you reset it.
Access the power supply wiring again.
00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:09.139
Remove the wire nuts to access the water heater
supply wires, which will lead directly in
00:03:09.139 --> 00:03:14.629
to the water heater cabinet.
Set the multi-meter to measure ohms of resistance.
00:03:14.629 --> 00:03:19.879
Measure the resistance from the black wire
to the bare metal on the junction box. Repeat
00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:23.659
the same test with the red wire.
You should see a “1” appear in the far
00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:28.430
left corner of the meter during these short
circuit tests, indicating "no continuity."
00:03:28.430 --> 00:03:32.639
If you measure a resistance reading during
this test, then damaged wiring or a broken
00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:37.389
electrical part is touching the metal cabinet
and causing the short circuit. Do not restore
00:03:37.389 --> 00:03:42.769
power to the water heater until you find and
repair the damaged wire or the broken electrical
00:03:42.769 --> 00:03:48.469
part. A short circuit can shock you if you
touch the metal cabinet with the power connected.
00:03:48.469 --> 00:03:52.529
Next, we'll check the upper element heating
system, by measuring the resistance through
00:03:52.529 --> 00:03:57.290
the supply wiring. The upper element heating
system consists of the hi-temperature limit
00:03:57.290 --> 00:04:02.239
switch, the upper thermostat, the upper heating
element and the wires that connect those electrical
00:04:02.239 --> 00:04:07.230
parts. Since all of these components create
a complete circuit, if we don't have continuity here,
00:04:07.230 --> 00:04:10.449
we’ll know that the problem is in the upper
half of the water heater.
00:04:10.449 --> 00:04:14.389
Touch one meter probe to the black wire and
the other probe to the red wire.
00:04:14.389 --> 00:04:18.650
You should measure around 13 ohms of resistance
through the upper element heating system.
00:04:18.650 --> 00:04:22.669
If you measure 13 ohms of resistance, then
your upper element heating system is probably
00:04:22.669 --> 00:04:26.900
okay. Click here to skip ahead and check the
lower heating element system.
00:04:26.900 --> 00:04:31.289
If you find continuity through the upper heating
system, we'll need to check the individual
00:04:31.289 --> 00:04:35.960
parts to find the break.
With the power still disconnected, remove
00:04:35.960 --> 00:04:40.740
the upper heating element cover and check
the resistance for the upper heating element.
00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:47.050
Place one meter lead on each of the two screws.
You should measure about 13 ohms of resistance.
00:04:47.050 --> 00:04:52.060
If you measure “no continuity”, drain
the tank and replace the broken heating element.
00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:56.289
Here's a video that will show you how.
If the heating element is okay, we'll check
00:04:56.289 --> 00:05:01.099
the upper thermostat next. This thermostat
turns the upper heating element on and off
00:05:01.099 --> 00:05:06.060
to maintain hot water temperature. An electrical
switch inside the thermostat activates the
00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:10.199
element. If the switch is broken, the element
won't heat. At room temperature, the switch
00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.270
should be "on" to supply power to the heating
element.
00:05:13.270 --> 00:05:18.120
Refer to a wiring diagram for your water heater
to determine which terminals to check. Many
00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:22.360
water heaters have a sticker on the cabinet
or you can usually find one in your owner's
00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:27.789
manual. On this water heater, the thermostat
switch is between terminals 1 and 2.
00:05:27.789 --> 00:05:31.729
Touch one meter probe to terminal 1 and the
other probe to terminal 2.
00:05:31.729 --> 00:05:36.370
You should measure near zero ohms of resistance.
If you measure “no continuity,” then replace
00:05:36.370 --> 00:05:40.949
the thermostat. Here's a video that shows
you how.
00:05:40.949 --> 00:05:44.580
The last component in the upper element heating
system to check is the hi-temperature limit
00:05:44.580 --> 00:05:47.889
switch.
This wiring diagram shows us that the hi-temperature
00:05:47.889 --> 00:05:54.259
limit switch opens contacts between terminals
1 & 2 and between terminals 3 & 4 when it
00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:59.060
trips because the water is too hot.
00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:03.580
00:06:03.580 --> 00:06:08.289
Repeat that process for terminals 3 & 4.
If you measure “no continuity,” then the
00:06:08.289 --> 00:06:12.319
hi-temperature limit switch is broken. You’ll
need to replace the whole upper thermostat
00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:16.300
because the limit switch is part of the thermostat.
If you’ve checked all of the parts in the
00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:19.930
upper heating system and you still haven't
found the break, then you know it’s gotta
00:06:19.930 --> 00:06:24.539
be in the wiring. Carefully examine the wiring
for loose connections. Reconnect any loose
00:06:24.539 --> 00:06:27.490
wires and repair any broken wires that you
find.
00:06:27.490 --> 00:06:31.949
If your upper heating system is ok, then we'll
check the lower heating system. According
00:06:31.949 --> 00:06:37.090
to our wiring diagram, we can check continuity
through the entire lower heating system circuit
00:06:37.090 --> 00:06:42.150
by measuring resistance through terminal 4
on the upper thermostat and terminal 4 on
00:06:42.150 --> 00:06:46.650
the hi-temperature limit switch.
Touch one meter probe to terminal 4 on the
00:06:46.650 --> 00:06:51.300
upper thermostat and the other meter probe
to terminal 4 of the hi-temperature limit
00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:55.810
switch. You should measure about 13 ohms of
resistance through the whole lower element
00:06:55.810 --> 00:07:00.229
heating system; that lets you know all lower
heating system components are working.
00:07:00.229 --> 00:07:05.629
You've now eliminated all possible failures
except one. The upper thermostat has a transfer
00:07:05.629 --> 00:07:09.780
switch which alternates power between the
upper heating element and the lower heating
00:07:09.780 --> 00:07:14.180
element so both heating elements in the tank
never heat at the same time. When the upper
00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:19.009
thermostat senses that water in the top of
the tank is hot enough, the transfer switch
00:07:19.009 --> 00:07:23.030
shifts power from the upper system to the
lower. If the transfer switch in the upper
00:07:23.030 --> 00:07:27.639
thermostat breaks, the lower heating element
won't get power. You’ll need to replace
00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:32.610
the whole upper thermostat because the transfer
switch is a component of that part.
00:07:32.610 --> 00:07:37.479
Now, if on the other hand, you measured an
open circuit when checking the lower element
00:07:37.479 --> 00:07:41.259
heating system, then you'll need to check
the individual parts of that system.
00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:45.789
The lower heating system is similar to the
upper, but only has a thermostat and heating
00:07:45.789 --> 00:07:48.710
We'll check the lower heating element first.
00:07:48.710 --> 00:07:53.960
With the power disconnected, access the lower
heating element to check continuity. You should
00:07:53.960 --> 00:07:59.229
measure about 13 ohms of resistance. If you
measure an open circuit, drain the tank and
00:07:59.229 --> 00:08:03.029
replace the heating element.
00:08:03.029 --> 00:08:06.629
the lower thermostat.
On the lower thermostat, there are only two
00:08:06.629 --> 00:08:09.789
terminals. Put the meter probes on either
side.
00:08:09.789 --> 00:08:14.479
If you measure an open circuit, then replace
00:08:14.479 --> 00:08:17.620
the thermostat.
If you can’t find any breaks in the lower
00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:22.039
heating system, then the problem has got to
be in the wiring. You’ll need to repair
00:08:22.039 --> 00:08:26.219
it before the water heater will work correctly.
Well I hope this video helped you out today.
00:08:26.219 --> 00:08:29.979
Be sure to check out our other videos and
if you like them, subscribe!

Sales phone