How Long Does It Take To Fill A 40 Gallon Water Heater

I like getting my hands dingy with DIY home projects, they are a lot of fun.

Electric H2o Heater Troubleshooting: The Basics

When I say "water heater," I am referring to a 30-gallon electric h2o heater, but the aforementioned principles described beneath will apply to a sixty- or xc-gallon unit.
The unit of measurement is powered with 240 volts and contains two heating elements and two thermostats.
Of the two heating elements, merely one is used at a time. One is located at the bottom and the other at the meridian, and when the lesser reaches the set temperature, the heating element shuts off and the meridian one kicks on. This cycle repeats.
If you lot are getting hot h2o for only a couple of minutes, and then yous may demand to adjust the temperature on the thermostats. Nonetheless, make sure that you plough off the ability to the water heater before you have off the access panels to the thermostats.

I will be going over some basic troubleshooting here, for non gas, not tankless, but electric heaters. If you demand data on the other types, I am sure y'all can notice an article elsewhere. Here, I cover everything that you need to know about electrical water heaters.

Video How-To

How to Supercede a Water Heater Hose

Earlier you lot go and endeavour to replace a water heater hose, yous better have some general plumbing knowledge. If you do not follow the correct steps, yous could flood your firm in a thing of minutes.

So the first thing that y'all need to do before you start loosening connections is to turn off the water that is going into the water heater.
Afterwards y'all turn it off, run a test by turning on a few faucets on the hot water side only to make sure at that place is no water coming out of them.
At present y'all can begin replacing the function. Begin past removing the leaky hose. Some hoses can exist disconnected with a pair of pliers or a wrench, just brand sure that you have the right type of hose connections to make this piece of work. Sometimes the hoses are continued by solder: If so, you volition have to cutting the pipage and disassemble the hose. If you take soldered fittings, the new hose can be continued by using either a compression fitting or soldering the new hose back on. If you have no feel soldering copper piping, don't endeavour it, leave it to the pros.
One time you accept your hose connected, you can reopen the inlet water valve (hot side) to the heater, just brand sure that you lot have a faucet valve that is open somewhere in the house to relieve some of the pressure level.

Video How-To: Resetting the Reset Push button

How to Cheque the Heating Elements and Thermostat

Although there are a lot of manufactures on the web that explain how yous tin can bank check the heating elements, I have simply read one or two that tell you how to do it correctly: the others are all crap.

Before y'all start undoing access panels and all of that, bank check the breaker box and make sure there isn't a tripped billow. If the breaker is proficient, let's move to the next step.
Yous'll need to accept a multimeter in hand, and it has to be able to check ohms or continuity.
Brand sure that in that location is sufficient power going into the water heater; you should have ii wires going into the unit that take 120 volts each. If you are non getting a full 240 volts, then there is a problem with the breaker, and it may need to be replaced. (I will not be going over this in this article, it'southward a whole other can of worms). If you are not experienced in working with electrical, exercise not even bother, it'due south likewise unsafe, get a professional or somebody with feel to aid you lot. Okay, if you've got 240 volts to the water heater, we are good at that place, then let's get to testing the heating elements and thermostat.
Take off the access panels, which are normally secured by a couple of hex-headed screws. Expect for the thermostat first and remove any insulation that may be blocking it. Wait for a trivial cherry button: if it is off, that means that the thermostat is tripped. Pushing the push back in will set up this problem in most cases, but if it just pops dorsum out when y'all turn the ability back on, so the thermostat needs to exist replaced.
Now to exam the thermostat and the water heater element, you lot need to plow the power off!
Remove one of the wires from the thermostat. You tin can remove all of them if y'all desire, but information technology is only necessary to remove 1. Set your multimeter to ohms, then accept one of the probes on your meter and stick it on the first screw, the one without the wire connected. Holding that there, with the other probe become and examination each spiral and each connectedness.
If your meter is reading .1, that means that the excursion is open: this is good, this ways that your thermostat or chemical element is good. If your meter is reading something similar .003, it will eventually drop to 0, which means that the circuit is closed, which means that y'all volition have to supervene upon the thermostat or the chemical element. Beneath is a motion picture of me testing a thermostat.
If the thermostat is bad, only replace information technology. You lot already accept the ability off, and then just hook up the new one exactly how the old ane was hooked up and set the temperature appropriately. If the heating element is bad, then replacing that is a fleck different, I will explicate how to do this below.

Here, I am testing a thermostat. Now can anybody tell me if this one is bad or good? — Hither, I am testing a thermostat. Now tin can anybody tell me if this i is bad or good?

How to Replace the Water Heater Element

So y'all should have already tested the element as I said to exercise in the paragraph to a higher place. Once you confirm that the element is bad, let's become to work.

Close off the power to the water heater and turn off its water.
Lots of people recommend draining the water heater earlier irresolute out the element, and this can be done by hooking a garden hose up to the drain valve and siphoning the end of the hose to create a vacuum. Then you look 30 minutes to an hour for it to bleed. You might besides bank check to make sure it is drained completely past opening up some hot h2o valves throughout the house. You tin do all this, or you lot tin heed to me and save yourself an hour and skip the draining: Merely grab a few towels and lay them around the h2o heater. When you are pulling the element out, some water volition come out, but it is non pressurized, so if you swap the elements out chop-chop, you volition barely get whatever water on the floor or rug (that's what the towels are for, more than than plenty to soak upwardly the little bit of water that will come out).
Unhook the couple of wires on the old element. Yous volition need the advisable size lug wrench to loosen the chemical element. Take the new heating element on hand: these elements come with a rubber o-band on them so y'all volition not demand to use any Teflon tape.
Unscrew the old element and pull it out (if yous didn't drain, some water is going to be pouring out so make the bandy quick), then tighten downward on the new element. Claw upwards the wires as they were earlier. Put back any insulation you may have removed and put the access panel back into place.
Turn the breaker on to the water heater and plow on the h2o and you are washed.

Video How-To: Tank Element Replacement

How Do I Know When I Need to Replace My Water Heater?

Is your water heater leaking?

The first sign of your h2o heater going bad is when information technology starts to leak water, usually from the bottom of the unit. The leak usually starts as a pinhole and gets worse over time. This is just normal clothing and tear, a mutual problem for water heaters that are anywhere from ten to xv years former.

The easiest way to tell if your water heater is leaking is that you will probably showtime to encounter some rust marks or water stains coming down from the unit.

Read More From Dengarden

Now it may be that you just have a leaky hose. If so, so you volition just need to supervene upon the hose itself.

Is your water heater non heating?

If the unit of measurement is acting up and not heating right, and so at that place is either a problem with ane of the breakers, 1 of the heating elements, or ane of the thermometers that are backside the unit's panel. Those are the main parts that are inside, and it is common that they fail every one time in a while. You'll observe solutions below.

Where and what kind of water heater should I buy?

If you lot do need to replace the unit, at that place are many places that yous can get (especially online) to find inexpensive water heaters. Before yous buy a new unit, determine how much water you use. If you have a big firm or utilise a washing machine and dishwasher, and if yous oftentimes have two showers running at the same time, you will probably need a 50 gallon plus water heater.

Please leave any comments in the section beneath.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does non substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, fiscal, legal, or technical matters.

Lloyd on February 03, 2020:

Have a ao smith signature series propane water heater and I have to reset it most everyday, any solutions?

Nora on September 29, 2019:

Had 30gal water heater 5mths got the way u run water out of sink very petty&the hot wayer heater will brand a hissy dissonance ehats the problem

Scoobz on August 01, 2019:

Later it was undrr water. The lesser melted

Fifty Cooper on July 18, 2019:

We are on our second hot water heater in every bit month and nosotros are having the aforementioned problem which is we take hot water for a few seconds then information technology turns cool. We are loosing what piffling patience that nosotros have left. Nosotros are a retired couple on a stock-still income and we need answers desperately. I would really appreciate you feedback on this. Thanking you in advance. L Cooper.

AKPlumb on July 08, 2019:

Cheers for sharing this informative article! Nosotros go through these steps and many more when called for a hot water heater servicing. These tips are bully and the videos are helpful but if y'all need more informative plumbing content check out https:world wide web.plumberfortlee.com

Eve on May 22, 2019:

I won't recommend ''All-time" brand like water tank... 2d i since Feb 2018 leaks in my house

Cylinder guy on March 05, 2019:

Great article but would be dandy to complement is with more data from world wide web.hotwatercylinders.nz We dont recommend you lot dont play with the thermostat to avert getting ill afterwards leaner grows in lukewarm watter.

Due south Harmon on February 22, 2019:

I just want to know how to turn my thermostat up higher. I take a Country Lookout man 30 gal.

Jojn on December 31, 2018:

I just inverse the 2 heating elements plow the billow on and I don't hear information technology warming upward

Collene a Copeland on September 05, 2018:

I need to kno if u can change out the wire and the plug on hit water heatet

Jackie on March 10, 2018:

We take changed the elements dip stick and thermostats and our h2o is notwithstanding not hot, what else could information technology be??

Liz Jenkin on March 02, 2018:

Please do non post exercise-it-yourself videos then say for the first step "if you're not experienced with electrical, and then call a professional". People who are experienced with testing continuity, etc. don't need your video. Can't stand up stuff similar this.

Joe on February 28, 2018:

You have it backwards how your water heater elements piece of work. When the top chemical element satisfies its self then the bottom 1 comes on.

Darrell. Mallery on February 22, 2018:

I have a Raheem hot h2o heater. Electrical.. 40 gal. It is 3 years old ..the power ind. light is on the upper element & lower element only come on for nigh 5 min.then trip off .no hot water..the elements bank check

Marjorie Rodd on February 18, 2018:

Your videos and explanations are fantabulous. Unfortunately I did non see info on my issue. I had a plumbing effect yesterday with all plumbing backed up. Did not know it hot h2o heater was involved- t seemed to be running constantly-- and then I shut the electric off at the wall ( not the billow). Turned out to be my septic but fifty-fifty after all dark of the switch being on I have only luke warm water. I permit the shower run v min but it does non alter. I tried the reset button but it did not seem "out" and it did not move. All I did was flip the switch off for almost 6 hours...never turned the water off, seems like I should exist able to just flip it on. Any ideas? thank you!

Lenora R Walton on December 03, 2017:

Thanks for sharing this informative commodity.I have analyze these kind of issues with my water heater.This article was very helpful for repairing water heater.Visit here for more advanced plumber in NJ

http://plumbingheatingcoolingnj.com/

Judy on November 16, 2017:

We bought a new forty gal Electrical Richmond water heater from Menards. Nosotros had an electrician to install information technology. He had it done, by the directions, but we waited 4 hours, and no hot water. He came dorsum and said information technology throws breakers. The breaker worked fine with the one-time h2o heater, What could be our problem with this new one?

Ben on November 06, 2017:

My electric water heater keeps bravado the billow. I retrieve it'due south due to the fact that I lost use of my sump pump and believe water got to bottom of tank. The water is cleared away at present simply water heater won't come back on. Common cold showers. What do I demand to look at to ready it.

Moses Samlal on October 03, 2017:

Which is more energy efficient a 30gal tank Bradford white or an equivalent tankless h2o heater

Ron Adams on September 13, 2017:

We changed out the Hot Water heater and have hot water every where just the kitchen no valves take been turned off.

Do you have an answer?

Pamela Greene on August 16, 2017:

I See a lot of questions but no answers to anything. Is this site not helpful?????

Deeded Fulcher on June 25, 2017:

Why would the common cold water be getting hot?1

Coltrane Phillips on June 21, 2017:

My water heater is over heating the water. It'south coming out scalding hot. I flushed the tank and cleaned all the mineral eolith out of it and also turned the thermostat downwards. I adapted the top one and when I went to conform the bottom temp there was a bluish flash. Plain something failed. I just don't know where to beginning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tony battite on June eleven, 2017:

I take a brand new electric Rheem performance platinum. The code it shows is a108 with means lower element relay stuck on and it says replace control console. I've done that three times and a lower temp sensor and that has not cured the problem. If anyone can tell me what to do because it's going to have forever for them to ship a plumber thanks

Thomas Emm on June 05, 2017:

Okay my hot h2o heater is an smaller electric water heater and I take been without hot water since Sat however when I grab either 1 of the supply lines they are BOTH hot what could crusade this problem

John Peckham on March 27, 2017:

I get an alarm warning on my Kenmore digital electric water heater indicating that I should check electrical connections on the lower thermostat and replace the lower thermistor. Is information technology worth checking the connections myself before calling in a service repairman to supercede the thermistor? The unit is only fifteen months erstwhile merely but past the 1 year. warranty.

Lisa White on January 18, 2017:

Very depression hot h2o pressure. I flushed the tank and the pressure came back. After a few showers and some laundry, the pressure level was depression again. Any assistance?

Pecker johnston on January 04, 2017:

My blood brother changed his water heater element today,

Same problems every bit I've seen here

It was a good affair my nephew was here, he works for the water company, took him an hour to figure it out

The sediment from the tank washed into to lines ,

The screens in the faucets were automatically chock-full

Make clean those screens in your faucets and everything will be fine

H2o at present comes out

Nicole on Dec 18, 2016:

No water running to kitchen at all,, on north wall and information technology'south 7 degrees out -9 with wind arctic....bathroom getting cold water for everything...hot water heater on north wall.. Are things just froze ??? TY Nicole

D. Edwards on December 07, 2016:

Volition turning off the breaker switch to the hot water heater cause it to blow up? I only had someone from maintainence tell me this. I've been turning off the breakers to my h2o tank for the last xx years, in order to save money on the electric pecker, and trust me it does save money! I turn it on when I need hot water once a mean solar day for about one hour, then I shut it off and then it doesn't constantly keep going through the cycle of heating and it'southward non beingness used. Maintainence told me that the "catamenia" valve is sweating/leaking because of me shutting off electric to the tank. That makes absolutely no sense to me, merely I'one thousand non an electrician. I'one thousand thinking, if there'southward no electric going to the tank, how the heck can information technology blow up or leak or anything really. Please educate me, I detest beingness ignorant. Thanking you lot in advance.

TonyB on May 14, 2016:

If this were my site, I'd plough off the comments. lots of really dumb comments from these "Experts".

Bob on April 17, 2016:

Accept an AO Smith 50 gallon hot water heater , replaced both thermostats and elements and checked voltage 240 volts and amperage was xix merely still not heating water later several hours . Whatsoever answers ?

Sal on Apr 01, 2016:

There was no water in the tank when i turned information technology on and it spit out burn, now the water heater is no working at all and i still take power, what could be the problem and solution

Corey on February 26, 2016:

How exercise i supercede the User interface brandish on my AOS/Whirlpool Estrus pump h2o heater?

alanbanish on November 21, 2015:

ome electrical is going haywire, starting time problem was a dim low-cal in the fridge, a few days afterward noticed refrigerator wasn't cooling anymore, change to a dissimilar plug with with a heavy duty extension string, now its working fine, 2d trouble, water heater stopped working, after tripping all breakers multiple times, suddenly water heater began working over again, worked fpr ii days, now its no longer working once again, no breakers take tripped, could a rodent chewing on wires cause something like this to happen? my water heater is 5 years old, and pryor to this Ive never had any issues with it at all, the only prior electrical effect was ii kitchen 110 volt outlets stopped working, overhead light continued to piece of work, no breakers tripped, and the outlets don't have the petty reset button, thank you for any aid

Cara on Baronial 18, 2015:

Water h oozing smelly liquid from top couplings smells like a leaking battery and the circuit billow tripped

Tim g on July 21, 2015:

I have a 50 gallon Rheem hot water tank that is not getting electric to the elements the electric is on and coming in the acme of the top chemical element panel but not making information technology past the reset push I button the reset push I heard it click merely still no power is going through

Binegars on June 30, 2015:

Had an electric hot h2o heater catch fire without tripping the breaker.

We replaced the whole unit of measurement and information technology is doing the same thing. What could be our problem? Unit is a whirlpool 30 gal. Only 1 month one-time.

Puzzled - Resolved on October 17, 2014:

Trouble was Non the water heater. A cheque valve in the submersible pump line was draining the h2o heater faster than the element could heat it, and so kicking dorsum on refilling the h2o heater with cold h2o. Echo, Repeat, Repeat.

Puzzled on October 14, 2014:

I have a 20 gal apartment h2o heater 1500 W 120 V that reads 120 V across the element terminals, and using an ammeter that goes around the wire measure 12 A on both the white and black wires (both sides of the chemical element). The tank is make clean inside (no limestone) and yet the water is not getting hot. We have replaced both the chemical element, and the thermostat, and still the water does not get hot. This seems to defy logic. Does anyone have any thought what I could check side by side?

caerleongold on September 15, 2014:

Hi Aubrey,

You might discover this blog post useful: http://www.cylinderguy.co.nz/Blog/TabId/5624/PostI...

I was having a whole bunch of problem with my own water heater (we telephone call it a hot h2o cylinder where I come from). Nonetheless, I was able to determine from that linked blog mail service that I needed to bleed my heater fully ... doing so and so refilling seemed to fix the problem.

Let me know how you get on,

Aubrey on August 24, 2014:

replaced t/stat and element but no water from hot tap whatever idea of what could exist the cause

Lonnie on February 15, 2014:

Could you tell me why my hot h2o won't work when information technology's on by its self but if I turn on a common cold faucet in another sink or the tub and then water will menstruation out of the faucet.

steve on February 06, 2014:

what is the amperage describe if it is 240 volt with 4500 watt element

bob on February 02, 2014:

I replaced thermostat and elements have power to elements simply its not heating the h2o....any answers?

David from Malta on January 27, 2014:

I have just bought a 50 litre electric water heater.The installation has been correctly done, however I noticed that the water stored in the tank doesn't hold hot from morning till belatedly evening every bit other heaters I had did earlier. Could y'all please explain what's wrong with it. Could it be its insulating stuff not thick plenty or defective or is it something to practice with its electrical system? Thanks.

Mikey101a on January 17, 2014:

I accept a soot trouble with my hot water coming from my electric h2o heater. I accept flushed the tank out several times on several occasions only to have the soot render after the water gets hot again in my tank through all faucets and showers. How can I fix this ongoing issue once and for all?

DawnShu on January 07, 2014:

Hi. We lost complete power yesterday due to the very cold weather condition. It was off for 5 hrs. During that time nosotros had no water while it was off and when it came back on. We now accept cold h2o in the kitchen sink and bathtub simply no h2o running out of the hot water faucet at all. We likewise take neither hot nor common cold water running in the bathroom sink. We took off the panels and checked the red breaker button. It hadn't tripped merely we pushed it in merely in case. Nothing. Could the lines be frozen since the house got down to 49º inside? I don't know what to practice and cannot beget a plumber. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Past the style it is an electric water heater manufactured 2007

Bea on December 24, 2013:

I have an electric water heater. The issue is the 2 hot water faucets are spitting air everyonce in a while. I was not certain if this was due to the water heater or non. I have checked for leaks inside and out and take not institute whatever.

Thank you

George on December 23, 2013:

My sister says when she is filling upward her bathtub she tin can go an electrical daze by touching the h2o. Information technology is just a tingling of electricity, rather than a real stupor. She is but touching the h2o and non whatsoever pipes. She has an electric hot water heater. What could cause this to happen?

Joe on December 06, 2013:

I have no water upstairs and no hot h2o downstairs. I followed some of the lines that were hands accessible and the downstairs cold comes right off the primary. No water whatsoever comes out of the faucets downstairs when opening the hot valves. I cracked the drain on the hot h2o heater considering there are no leaks anywhere that I oculd come across. Hardly any water came out of the drain. This can't be good... Does this hateful the heater is so clogged it'south washed for?

Justin on November 12, 2013:

I have a new water heater.. Both elements are expert.. Setting @ 130 degrees... I have 120 on each leg... Water is luke warm only.. When i plow on the hot water in the bathroom i can feel bursts of cold water in information technology... Just bought this firm and replaced the water heater... You can experience warm/hot water feeding back into the common cold water supply at the heater.. Electric.. Any ideas?

Jayeffel on October 19, 2013:

I think in the third sentence under changing the heating elements yous hateful syphoning, not computation.

ben on Oct x, 2013:

I have a new whirlpool twoscore gallon water heater. The water seemed fine but somewhat cooler than our old 1 for about ii-three weeks then noticed the water temperature fluxuating quickly. I adjusted the temperature warmer, replaced the upper and lower thermostats, merely it still takes a long time to get hot water to all the faucets and so fluxuates every couple minutes from warm to cool to very hot or vice versa. I'm baffled any ideas?

chela on October 08, 2013:

i have speed-o- matic h2o tank keeps burnnig elements power stays on all time

karlitto on October 05, 2013:

Only bought a house and turned on valve to the water heater, I could hear the water flowing in. I turn on the breaker and at that place is no noise or indication that the h2o heater is working. Information technology was winterized. Is in that location something I need to practise to get information technology to work. Am I wrong in thinking at that place should be a noise when it is switched on and so you can tell information technology is working.

tams on September 02, 2013:

we had ability surges, at present our electric water heater is not working. We tried to find a reset push button or something. Replaced the circuit box to the whole house. What can we do?!?!

water htg expert on August 22, 2013:

This site is a great identify to become wrong ing o. Remember when a part goes bad in that location is commonly a reason. If a water heater goes for twice it'southward warranty so you have done well. Dumping money and fourth dimension into is a waist. Replace information technology and enjoy hot water.

Billfox45 on June 27, 2013:

I installed a 90 gallon electric water heater six.five yrs. agone. Yesterday, I noticed streaks of h2o coming from the top of the h2o heater and mainly from the screws that fasten the meridian crown. It is not a great amount of water, merely information technology is a expert trickle. Please don't tell me it is lacking...any ideas????

candace on May 13, 2013:

I accept a 30 gallon electrical water heater. i have been getting great hot water about a week ago my hot h2o was gone my upper element was bad and then i inverse it. still no hot water i replaced the lower element likewise and both thermostats. its like my tank heats upward for 1 shower and then runs cold. i have to shut the breaker and and so oestrus the reset button on my hot water heater for it to heat support. i adjusted the tempature on my top thermostat but it all the same does the same delight assistance.

noah786 on March 26, 2013:

hi, my hot water is getting scalding hot so goes common cold. I pressed the reset buttton and turned the temp down on hwh. This worked for nearly one day then water got over hot again, 150 deg, and hwh shut off. I reset hwh and now water is 150 deg. What should I practise.

Don on March 26, 2013:

when draining a tank y'all say to cipher the end of the hose to create a vacuum. If decipher is to de code, then cipher means to lawmaking. how exercise I code the end of a hose? too you forgot to instruct folks to turn off the power to the tank when you shut the h2o valve to the tank.

john on January 05, 2013:

i put in 2 new elements and still dont have hot water

NancyT on January 04, 2013:

My water heater is two years old new house etc h2o is draining from the pressure release valve Is this normal should I exercise something.

jlb3873 on December 30, 2012:

The reset push button on my water heater won't reset. When you button information technology in it just comes right back out. It won't stay in at all. I have no hot h2o. The tank only has one heating element and we replaced that first. Does that hateful nosotros need to supplant the thermostat or could that hateful something else?

wez on December 08, 2012:

Recently replaced an 80 gal electric water heater. The h2o presure on the hot side is restricted. If I have the shower on up stairs and plow the hot water on downwards stairs it stops the hot water flow the the upstairs shower. Accept any ideas what's going on.

cleo on June 30, 2012:

nosotros replaced bottom element had hot water for a while at present none over again what could be the trouble it was trippig the red button earlier we changed information technology and it is doing it again

rjs on June 28, 2012:

I was working on a elec water heater that appeared to exist working fine according to my multi-meter. Replaced acme therm and element any way considering the possessor said they had no hot h2o. The water heater did not have a close-off valve on the h2o supply so every fourth dimension I had to shut the water off to the whole house. Every affair ohmed out and I even had 17 amps on each leg. Today I showed up and they had gotten some ane to install a close-off valve at the tank. I made sure the tank was full and turned on the breaker. Everything still checked out fine until I went to turn off the shut-off valve. That was when I heard the water flow to the tank get cutting off and so the element started making a cooking sound, It was heating the h2o!!!! Opened the valve support and I heard water starting to go into the tank, no water should have moved passed that valve. After all no one was running h2o in the house. I did that 3 or 4 times and decided there must be a water leak in the house on the hot water side. After speaking to the people in the house ane of the grand-daughters told me the floor in the bathroom has been warm to her bare anxiety. Nail, in that location it was, a leak in the concrete foundation. The water was moving so fast thru the water heater it never had a chance to rut upward. I told them the smartest thing I could come up upwardly with, keep the billow turned off and the valve airtight and call a existent plumber. Some one that does not do this for a living will only make a bad state of affairs worse, and have maybe more than a week. Equally where a existent plumber can do information technology in a twenty-four hour period or ii. I knew better than to say I will do information technology.

:( on April 24, 2012:

i have an electric hot water heater and the hot water pressure level valve keeps popping what do i demand to do to fix information technology

Curious? on April 23, 2012:

I take two bathrooms in my house. Simply ane shower gets hot water, but both bathrooms become hot water in the sink? What could the problem be?

Azzy on April xviii, 2012:

recently moved in to a property which has an electrical boiler. we used to have some instance the trip switch going off. as well less warm water due to continues apply of the shower. according to the higher up details let me know if the heating elemnt would accept been gone off due to over heating with out insufficient water in the tank.

Angie on April xvi, 2012:

Our hot water heater is located in a bedroom closet and I am scared to death that one day it will explode and cause a huge mess. Is in that location anything I tin can do to prevent this? Volition information technology always leak a picayune before exploding or volition it just explode with no warning? Should I purchase one of those h2o detector things? What is the best mode for me to foreclose a hot water heater explosion? Thanks!

Amanda on April 14, 2012:

I accept a lx gal elect hot h2o heater... Both t-stats, both elements and all wires have been changed and information technology was still popping the circuit billow and then that has been inverse every bit well and information technology stays on merely at present the t-stats don't alter from upper to lower and OHMS seem to be sufficient please help getting frustrated

shirleyjd1 on April 02, 2012:

Had a horrible leak at the shut off water value that alluvion under my moblie home i turn off main curcit breaker and so no one would become electrocuted and got it stock-still turned on the breakers again- now i have no hot water just cold can you tell me why-thanks

scott e jansen on March 31, 2012:

I've got an 30 gal water heater that works very well, my trouble is some times it leaks, information technology can go for a month sometimes two with out a leak, and then sometimes it will leak for days. the corporeality is very small and the signal of the leak must be some where at the bottom but is not visible. What I have done to cease the leak is to release some of the water in the tank, again the leak will reappear just next solar day or side by side month its a crap shoot. can you help?

beginner on March thirty, 2012:

Thank you for the data that simply one element heats at a fourth dimension,pulling my hair out was starting to hurt!

Adam on March 27, 2012:

My hot h2o heater is making a "chirp" noise every couple of minutes. I have checked for leaks simply i see no signs of h2o. My hot water is still working great as well. Any ideas???

Richard Blazie on March 22, 2012:

I take a new electric water heater (50 gal). When the system is operating it kickoff trips the red reset button. I reset the push and later on a menses of time the circuit breaker pops likewise as the ruby-red reset. I assume the probe is faulty merely I practice not sympathize why the circuit breaker would as well pop? Can you provide an answer?

Rev. Ronald C. Moss on March 19, 2012:

I accept a dual element elec. water heater that the thermostat button keeps tripping, but not immediately afterwards it'due south reset. I only trips after a lot of hot water is used similar taking a shower, or running the clothes or dish washers. Lately the water temp. started getting scalding hot without having the thermostat setting changed, whereas previously the hot water would need piddling cool water added to be comfortable. Now I barely turn on the hot, and plough the cold wide open, it is almost unbareably hot. What causes this? I bought new elements virtually a year ago only never installed them because at the time the water didn't get too hot and after changing the temp. setting college it solved the problem, except in one case before that the temp. went sky high with out adjusting, just settled down on it's own. At present information technology is high temp agaain with the stat kicking of simply when a fair amount of hot water is used. the temperature setting does answer to adjustment but not to the extreme information technology'south done on it's own.

Fourth dimension Bandit on March 14, 2012:

To clarify for some people out there. The upper chemical element goes on starting time then the thermostat switches power to bottom when the fix temp is reached. Both heater elements are never on at the aforementioned time.

Chris K on March 14, 2012:

One thing to add is that when you pull out an element without draining the tank. It is best to turn off whatsoever faucets using hot water to permit vacuum to be created within the tank. This is like holding a bottle of water upside downward with the lid off the bottle will suck air in to permit the heavier liquid out. If you punch a pigsty in the overturn canteen the liquid volition dump out more than quickly.

Robert on March xi, 2012:

hello i had all my water lines replaced and my water tank worked before the job was done and now afterward the new water lines are installed no hot water can y'all help me thanks Robert

Blaquwraithe on March 04, 2012:

watts divided by volts =amps

4500/240 =18.75 amps

volts divided past ohms = amps

240v / xviii ohms = 13.3 amps

Amps, Volts, Watts, Ohms

ohm ... watt amp volts?

can never think the difference between watts and amps and then I am making this page so that when I forget I can just read it again. (No Lie ;o)

Watts = Volts x Amps

Watts is a unit of power having the dimensions (energy per unit time):

M L2 / T2 divided by T = M Fifty ii / T 3

Note: A kilowatt-hr is a thou watts times one 60 minutes = an energy unit of measurement.

Volt is a unit of measurement of force (F=ma):

ML / T2

And so that Amps have the dimensions:

Fifty / T

At present, this is a velocity? What is going on here? This begs some caption.

I was unable to detect an explanation on the spider web after two hours of searching. At that place are too many documents on the web with the same "overview" type data. So I did what I commonly do & figured information technology out myself.

The true "dimension" of amperage is, of class, 1 / T , i.e. "x" number of electrons pass through a wire in so many seconds. The extra 50 we need to make power (ML2T -3) is the length of the wire which is left out of the calculation because it is held "abiding" for the pupose of teaching. So if you screw in a 100 watt bulb the little filament in the bulb is a constant as is the length of your household wiring. Now if you increment the length of the filament ( - + - ) you lot increment the wattage of the bulb (like screwing in another 100 watter) ... but ... if yous put two filaments together ( = ) yous become less resistance instead of more wattage. And less resistance means lower wattage.

The complete equation for watts is:

Watts = Volts x Amps x thousand(one unit length of wire)

If y'all have a current running in some wire, it has some length ... get information technology? ... but since this is true in whatever case whatsoever, why put it in the equation? So, if I double this "any" length, does the power consumption become up to double? Yes, even if there is no light bulb on information technology ... but the amps and volts remain the same? Aye, the voltage will remain the same ... if you're talking nearly the power company. They will ramp up their power output to match demand. If also many people put too much "actress lengths" in the excursion ... and they can't ramp upwards ... you lot get a "brown out" which is, lowered voltage.

Note 6/27/02:

There is a mistake hither in what follows (pointed out by "Wimms" on my D-Lath in June 2002). I tin can't remember what I was thinking at the fourth dimension simply there is no bleed on the system if it adds another "branch". In that location will be an extra drain on the system if it extends its length to a identify where free energy is being tapped. Information technology would lose free energy to an unused branch but exercise to leakage which is small-scale and not a logical function of the problem. As well, I don't know if maintaining an alternating current voltage consumes energy which would make the mistake correct again for the wrong reason. I will find out when I get back from vacation.). Certainly, a direct current would not, every bit would be the example with a simple unused bombardment (which just leaks away).

Wrong:

If the power company adds a line to its system (say, to a new subdivision) they must increment their power output to maintain the 115 volt standard even if no one is yet in the subdivision using power ... because ... the extra wiring is resistance of and unto itself, i.eastward. information technology gets "hot", like ... warm. The power company's organisation is a big electric heater even in its "look state", i.e. waiting for some customer to utilize information technology.

If everyone flushes the toilet at the same time, the water pressure goes down ... unless the water utility "pushes" it harder. They can't reasonably practice this (they would need a variable acme h2o tower), but the electrical company can.

So when you turn on your lamp (add a length of wire), the voltage goes down but the power company puts it right dorsum upwards to 115V, encounter?.

Then the existent, true, actual formula for watts is in fact:

Watts = Amps x Volts x Length

provided that we alter the variable length measurement to reflect a "constant crossection", i.east. a .i mm filament 2 cm long = 1/8 inch filament very much shorter. But nobody cares well-nigh these things except the professionals and people like me who need that "dimensions cancel out" on both sides of an equation. ;o)

Ohms = Volts / Amps

Ohm is a measure of resistance to electrical conduction.

It is also the way in which prisoners in medieval dungeons resisted their captors. What they did was to find the resonant frequency of their dungeon and hum information technology. When one guy got tired of humming another prisoner picked information technology up. The jailers couldn't tell where it was coming from and then they were subjected to this constant drone "Ohmmmmm ... ohmmmm ... ohmmmm ...". That's why

Blaquwraithe on March 04, 2012:

This is a 4500 watt 230 volt spiral type high density element.

This is the most mutual residential chemical element.

4500/230 =19.5 amps

4500/240 =18.75 amps

230v/20amps =eleven ohms

ohms = volts divided by amps) ... so a 4400 Watt @ 220v=

Blaquwraithe on March 04, 2012:

I = 5 / R (Current = Voltage Divided past Resistance)

230volts / xiii ohms = 17.69 amps

230v X 18 Amps = 4,140 Watts

--------------------------------------

230v / 18 ohms = 12.77 amps

230v 10 13 amps = 2990 Watts.

I think you can see how accurate the 13-eighteen ohms method gets. not very!

Eric on March 02, 2012:

I have just replaced both elements. how long does it take for a 30 gal. h2o heater to rut dorsum up?

Tara1226 on March 02, 2012:

This morning I woke up to my electricity off. When I powered information technology on, I noticed that my water heater billow was in the off possition. When I turned it back on, I heard the audio of steam coming from the top of the heater....and then POP! There was a spark at the top of the heater! The breaker for the heater turned back off. There is a minor puddle of water by one of the pipes where the spark came from. I don't know annihilation virtually h2o heaters, and so I just left information technology alone. Now, 3 hours later, I have hot water!(keep in mind that the breaker is in the off possition!) As well, my daughter told me that there wasn't any hot water final night. Im assuming the water heater went out, hours earlier the electricity went out. My questions are, i. How tin I possibly take hot water with the breaker off? 2. Is it possible that the pressure level is building upwards (I'm fearing an explosion) three. Exercise I need to pay a pro to come out and replace it or is information technology easy to install ourselves?

Debbie on Feb 28, 2012:

What temperature should hot water heater be attack? I got both eelements exist set on I got them turned up all the wau

Constance on February 26, 2012:

I have the same trouble as Kim..nosotros changed our lesser element and now it doesn't have ability just the the top one does. Greatly appreciate any aid you can give.

clm.constance@gmail.com

Bluenoser2 on February 25, 2012:

Blaquewraithe,

To measure the amperage, don't you need 1 of those meters with probes that clamp around the wiring? I'm guessing that near home handy people aren't so equipped.

Blaquewraithe on February 21, 2012:

Stacking?? and dip tubes.

The hot water in a water heater tends to form layers with differing temperatures. When short uses occur frequently the heater can turn on and off and cause the water at the top of the heater to keep getting hotter and hotter each fourth dimension. It's called "stacking". Information technology's because hot water, like hot air, rises. Information technology can become hot enough to cause the temperature / pressure safety valve to open and release hot water from the heater, even with the thermostat setting on depression.

Blaquewraithe on Feb 21, 2012:

L Burke,1st off checking to ground is not a diagnostic technique you lot tin can trust for anything only safety! Of form you volition prove continuity to ground if a bad elements sitting in water! Checking to ground is only good to see if you lot will be shocked! Its not a diagnostic technique that tells you anything but that! since yous will need to drain the water to really if the readings due to an actual short or its due to being immersed in water! Sure ,MAYBE IF yous know what a good elements ohms reading is, you MIGHT go lucky if the waters reading isn't shut plenty to fool y'all using such methodology which is in no way accustomed protocol for a sytematic diagnostic , My bespeak which went over your head evidently , is, Yous dont need to ohm out a suspected chemical element if it has voltage!! Just check for amperage!! if information technology has voltage! This is foolproof as opposed to your "should be,might exist, hope information technology is, Voltage with any amperage is much easier, faster and far more accurate! so you tin monkey around ohming out an open element that reads continuity due to the water inside the tank completing the excursion! Why utilize a questionable method that takes longer? merely see if you have voltage! and if so simply bank check for an amp draw! thats real world not magazine mechanic diagnostics, I have 34 years and an Assembly caste in Electo Mechanical Technologies

dave on February 20, 2012:

Installed a new speedflow unvented under sink electric water heater 2 months agone and the water smells similar steriliser flluid, drained it down and flushed it through but nevertheless smells really strong, is this normal?

Lburk on February xx, 2012:

BLAQUEWRAITH You lot are incorrect insofar as you cannot ohm an element with h2o in the tank. I teach plumbing for a living, and I have only 35 years in the merchandise for a piddling groundwork.

If an element is good information technology volition ohm out to about 13 to xvi ohms. If an chemical element is bad, in other words if it was dry fired and burned apart you lot volition go either a "000 or an OL" on your meter (depending upon the make or type of meter) because in that location is no resistance. You lot may get the aforementioned reading if there is an internal open in the element. You lot tin can always run a test to ground besides to see if you lot have a short to basis. You see the heating element itself, the same stuff you lot see on an electric infinite heater, only much more of it as in a 100 feet tightly wrapped, is covered in an electrical insulating fabric and the it is covered with a Chromalloy alloy sheathing.

Your point of testing with an AMP meter is correct though as long equally you are testing just the chemical element to come across if it is bad. No AMP's, the element is no good. Some endeavour to ohm out at the lead-in but this is testing everything and you'll testify an AMP draw if one element is good and it's energized. Only keep in listen yous will have to switch each element on individually in order to test them. They run non-simultaneously, 1 chemical element at a time, which brings me to the point that the original writer of this hub is mistaken on.

The first chemical element to come on in an electrical h2o heater is the upper. The reason for this is to prevent what is called "stacking" which means all of the heat will ascension, and the bottom element would never shut off. Therefore, the top is heated first, once the top is heated, that element kicks off then the lesser kicks on to heat the lesser of the tank, then maintain the heat unless the hot heater is depleted or it has saturday and then long that the elevation has cooled below set betoken which means the process starts all over.

Why does the bottom chemical element stay on? Because that's where the common cold water comes into the tank, at the bottom, if yous don't utilise all of the hot water in the tank - only the bottom element is needed to maintain a tank of hot h2o.

Non meaning to pick on anyone hither only trying to brand things right.

Don on February 18, 2012:

concluding calendar week a plumber put an expansion valve on our electric water heater. It then stopped heating the water. If I reset the thermostat, information technology produces hot water One time, then cold water again. I'chiliad resetting it several times a day.

matt on Feb xviii, 2012:

low volume of hot water. i have checked voltage at thermostats and ohms at elements everthing seem ok i replaced lower thermostat everthing worked fine for about a day then hot water runs out quick again. tin anyone aid.

jackie on February xvi, 2012:

drained and refilled our electric hot h2o heater yesterday...now the h2o is not heating at all. it was heating properly before the drain. anyone know what could be wrong here?

harleyrider222 on February 14, 2012:

hello, electricity is my friend.. if the element is bad, at that place would be 0 ohms, or infinate ohms across the elements terminals

georgie on February 12, 2012:

I replaced my heating element yesterday. The water heater worked fine but when we got up this morn it wasn't working. The thermostat has no reset button I besides changed the excursion breaker in case it was a bad breaker. Could I need a new thermostat?

EC on February eleven, 2012:

I take a 40gal electric heater. When using the h2o i can only get hot to luke warm water for 2 or 3 minutes. Do i demand to replace the whole matter?