Leave the upper thermostat in the lowest setting and test the lower thermostat.
Test heating element hot water heater.
A multimeter is a tool used to measure electrical.
Touch one probe of the multimeter to each terminal on the lower thermostat.
Using the multimeter 1.
If it does not have a.
1 turn off the circuit breaker supplying power to the hot water heater.
Locate the circuit breaker at the central electric panel that connects your water heater.
Disconnect the water heater from power source.
The reading on the multimeter should be zero.
Determine which of the two heating elements in your water heater could be the problem by turning on the water at the faucet and feeling.
If the heater is an.
Take 1 of the wires off of a water heater element.
Use the screwdriver to set the lower thermostat to the highest setting.
Turn off the breaker switch to the hot water heater at the breaker box.
The lower thermostat has only two terminals.
This is a very critical step in testing the water element.
If you want to test a thermostat on an electric water heater you will also need to check the heating element.
Hold the multimeter prongs to the.
Testing hot water heater elements is an easy project that even a beginner can master in a few minutes.
Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater.
It is usually situated in the metal box attached to the wall.
Before you start the process of testing the hot water heater heating element you must switch off the flow of electricity by turning off the breaker inside your main electrical panel.
Drain the water from the water heater.
Set your multimeter to the lowest setting for ohms of resistance.
Each of a hot water heater s elements has 2 electrical wires.
Testing a water heater heating element 1.
This is important especially as open and grounded heating elements result in inaccurate tests.
The element is bad and must be replaced if the needle on the face of the multimeter moves.
How to check a heating element in a water heater.
Wait for the.
If it has a disconnectable plug unplug it.
All the tests that you.
Attach a garden hose.
To look for faults you will need to use a screwdriver.