High Limit Question

[shawninolympia]

Merry Christmas Everyone!

So I ran to the store today and came home and my wife said she smelled something burning in my daughters room. I went in, checked everything I could and I could not find the source of the smell. For some reason, I decided to check the hotwater tank in the closet behind a false wall. The smell was coming from there. I took off the top cover where the "high limit" is and there is melted and burned plastic. Yes I turned off the breakers and tested to make sure no power was still flowing to it before I did anything. Do you think I should just replace the high limit and if so where would I go to buy one. Thanks for any help! What a time for the tank to not work! Merry Christmas!

Shawn
Olympia, Wa

[Doherty Plumbing]

Merry Christmas Everyone!

So I ran to the store today and came home and my wife said she smelled something burning in my daughters room. I went in, checked everything I could and I could not find the source of the smell. For some reason, I decided to check the hotwater tank in the closet behind a false wall. The smell was coming from there. I took off the top cover where the "high limit" is and there is melted and burned plastic. Yes I turned off the breakers and tested to make sure no power was still flowing to it before I did anything. Do you think I should just replace the high limit and if so where would I go to buy one. Thanks for any help! What a time for the tank to not work! Merry Christmas!

Shawn
Olympia, Wa

Replace high limit and the thermostats.

[hj]

The replacement "upper" thermostat will come with the high limit. You must have had a loose wire which created high resistance and heat to melt it. You will probably have to shorten, or replace some wires, to eliminate the melted portions.

[shawninolympia]

I will give that a try tomorrow! I don't think many places are open today! ) Again, thank you for what you do and if I don't think I can handle the job I will be calling a professional. Merry Christmas!

[master plumber mark]

usually the high limit fails due to a problem in
the system, a shorted out element....

I suggest you take a good look at the elements...

It really dont cost much more to
change out everything both upper and lower
t-stats and elements just to be safe

[shawninolympia]

I build computers for a living. I'm not a plumber. I do have alot of mechanical ability so I know I can do this and if I don't think I can I will call someone. I do have one question. In order to change everything like you say, I have to drain the tank correct? Thanks

[Redwood]

If you are changing elements the tank has to be drained.

It does not have to be drained to change the ECO and Thermostat.

[master plumber mark]

its wise to drain the tank to change the elements,
then look inside the bottom element to see how built up

the sediment and lime might be inside the heater...
scrape that out if necessary

[Terry]

If the tank is over ten years old, you may want to consider replacement on the tank too.

Water heaters tend to run in the 10 to 20 year range for life expectancy.
Though, that's an average, not a promise.

[Cass]

If you are changing elements the tank has to be drained.

It does not have to be drained to change the ECO and Thermostat.

I'm not sure how you do it but I can't remember the last time I drained a water heater to change an element...

[Redwood]

I'm not sure how you do it but I can't remember the last time I drained a water heater to change an element...

I do it on the quick too but I would advise to home handyman type to drain a water heater....