View Full Version : water heater question
ally68
06-10-2005, 05:50 PM
How would you know if one of your elements was bad in dual element water heater? no hot water? Not as much hot water? Or not as hot water? Or will the other one work twice as hard and you will not notice?
Thanks
Terry
06-10-2005, 05:53 PM
On electric water heaters, they commonly have two heating elements that work in turns. First the top element heats up the top of the tank, then power goes to the lower element. If the lower element is out, only the top of the tank gets heated. If the top element isn't working, there will be no hot water.
http://www.terrylove.com/images/terry_clarkkent2.jpg
Getting ready to plumb for the day.
Depending on which element and what happened to it, any of the three things could occur.
ally68
06-10-2005, 07:36 PM
so if my water temp and amount of hot water is same chances are elements are both working?
Also are there two thermostats one for each element?
If they are the same as what? Probably but not necessarily. You will not know for sure unless everything is tested.
Now that phone booths have been relegated to the museums, where do you change? In your van?
ally68
06-11-2005, 10:39 AM
same as it has always been?
Also is there two thermostats one upper one lower?
Terry
06-11-2005, 10:49 AM
Each element has it's own thermostat.
They sell them as uppers and lowers.
The power only goes to one at a time.
Therefore, if something is wrong with the top, you will get no hot water.
The top must satisfy before power switches to the bottom.
The bottom can go bad, and you can still have heat at the top,
If that happens, you will have reduced temperature or volume of hot water.
hj, I'm changing in the van if I need to, or I do it so fast you can't see me.
ally68
06-11-2005, 11:31 AM
my whole reason was we took alot of lightning yesterday I could have sworn I heard something pop in the basment ie water heater softner or furnace/a.c. every thing seems fine my water seems same so I am wanting to assume it is ok everything seems ok so I asuming the pop was outside or something and just appeared to be from in the house.
Sorry I worry excessivly sometimes.