When you encounter problems with your water heater, it is always good to know some water heater troubleshooting tips before you call the water heater professionals in your area. Knowing how to troubleshoot can save you a lot of money as well as teach you a thing or two about water heaters. If you have an electric hot water heater, here are some things that you need to know.
Before you go to the water heater troubleshooting guide, you have to know how your electric hot water heater works. Most heaters have two thermostats - one is near the bottom of the device and is usually covered by removable cover plates and the other is close to the top portion of the tank. These thermostats are very important in the proper functioning of the water heater.
WARNING: Follow safety instructions on water heater before removing panel - such as secure power to unit before troubleshooting
The thermostat located on top of the tank has a built-in high limit switch. This switch is used to monitor the temperature of the water and it trips when the water is too hot. When it does trip, the heater is automatically turned off in both its lower and upper heaters. To reset this switch, most water heaters provide a red button that must be pressed. When the upper limit switch is tripped, this usually means that there’s something wrong with the water heater.
There are many scenarios that you can apply water heater troubleshooting skills to. One of the most common problems that most water heater users encounter is the inability of the heater to warm the water in the tank. You can check the high limit switch button located on the upper thermostat cover plate and see if it has tripped. You can easily reset it if it has been triggered by pushing the red button.
You can also check the input terminals, usually marked with L2, in the upper thermostat. There must be power present in the input terminals, otherwise, you can check the wiring of the water heater or the circuit breakers of the device. Another thing that you can also check is the voltage of the heat-generating component of the water heater. If no power is present, the upper thermostat needs to be replaced. If there is power but no heat generated, then the heat-generating component must be replaced.
When the water is too hot, it is likely caused by a defect in one of the thermostats. You can check both upper and lower thermostats for power. If one of them shows no sign of having power, then that thermostat must be replaced. You can also push the thermostat further against the tank in case it has broken loose.
There are many other water heater problems that can be solved by troubleshooting. The common problems that can be solved even without a professional includes not enough heat generated, not enough hot water, a popping or banging noise during the heating process, leaking of the TPR relief valve, a stinky water heater or a leaking tank.
If you encounter any of these problems, it’s best to check the internet and research about the possible causes. You’ll never know if you can solve these problems without paying a professional if you don’t check it out yourself.
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