How Electric Water Heaters Work After hot water has been used, the water heater tank needs to be replenished.
Automatically cold water is fed into the water heater, and through an internal pipe; the cold water enters at the bottom of the water heater to be heated for the next hot water use.
Electrical water heaters have one or two heating elements (depending on the size of the water heater tank), that heat the cold water.
A typical water heater found in most houses has two heating elements, one element at the lower half of the water heater, and one at the upper half.
Smaller tanks have only one element.
The heating elements are controlled by a thermostat inside the water heaters access panel, (usually the upper panel).
To begin the water heating cycle, the bottom element comes on first and heats the water in the lower half of the tank, and once that has satisfied the thermostat setting, the bottom element shuts down and the upper element comes on and heats the upper section of cold water.
When that is satisfied, the bottom element comes on once more and acts like simmer on a stove, maintaining the waters temperature, according to the thermostats setting.
Temperature Settings and Testing When inspecting the plumbing during the residential inspection; it will be necessary to run a lot of water both hot and cold.
The temperature should be around 120F, for safety reasons.
At 120F, you should not get scalded; however it may be too hot to hold your hand under the hot water.
Some people can hold there hand under and just tolerate the temperature.
If the water is too hot, more than likely the thermostat has been set at a too high temperature.
When inspecting, remove the access cover and read the temperature setting on the thermostat.
Do not touch the thermostat or exposed electrical wiring for safety reasons (high voltage).
If it has been set high, you should leave it as it is, since it is not your home.
(Reset the thermostat after you move into the home.
) If the temperature is in the normal range or close to normal, run more hot water and see if the water turns cold soon.
If so, see "No Hot Water: Why?" below.
No Hot Water: Why? The two biggest complaints regarding the hot water heaters functions are, 1.
the water is only warm or 2.
there is not as much hot water as there normally is.
Both of these complaints are caused by burned out elements.
To determine which of the two elements has failed, turn on the hot water at a faucet.
If the water is only warm, it is the top element.
If the water heater provides very hot water followed by cold water, it is the bottom element.
If for example, if two showers are taken consecutively and the last shower starts to run cold, or doing laundry, running the dishwasher, etc.
it would be the bottom element that has failed.
If you believe the bottom heating element is burned out, after running hot water, put your hand on the side, near the bottom of the water heater, against the metal.
It will feel cold.
If the element is working, it will feel warm.
The elements can be and should be electrically tested prior to replacing.
If both elements are found to be good, replacement of the thermostat may be needed.
Automatically cold water is fed into the water heater, and through an internal pipe; the cold water enters at the bottom of the water heater to be heated for the next hot water use.
Electrical water heaters have one or two heating elements (depending on the size of the water heater tank), that heat the cold water.
A typical water heater found in most houses has two heating elements, one element at the lower half of the water heater, and one at the upper half.
Smaller tanks have only one element.
The heating elements are controlled by a thermostat inside the water heaters access panel, (usually the upper panel).
To begin the water heating cycle, the bottom element comes on first and heats the water in the lower half of the tank, and once that has satisfied the thermostat setting, the bottom element shuts down and the upper element comes on and heats the upper section of cold water.
When that is satisfied, the bottom element comes on once more and acts like simmer on a stove, maintaining the waters temperature, according to the thermostats setting.
Temperature Settings and Testing When inspecting the plumbing during the residential inspection; it will be necessary to run a lot of water both hot and cold.
The temperature should be around 120F, for safety reasons.
At 120F, you should not get scalded; however it may be too hot to hold your hand under the hot water.
Some people can hold there hand under and just tolerate the temperature.
If the water is too hot, more than likely the thermostat has been set at a too high temperature.
When inspecting, remove the access cover and read the temperature setting on the thermostat.
Do not touch the thermostat or exposed electrical wiring for safety reasons (high voltage).
If it has been set high, you should leave it as it is, since it is not your home.
(Reset the thermostat after you move into the home.
) If the temperature is in the normal range or close to normal, run more hot water and see if the water turns cold soon.
If so, see "No Hot Water: Why?" below.
No Hot Water: Why? The two biggest complaints regarding the hot water heaters functions are, 1.
the water is only warm or 2.
there is not as much hot water as there normally is.
Both of these complaints are caused by burned out elements.
To determine which of the two elements has failed, turn on the hot water at a faucet.
If the water is only warm, it is the top element.
If the water heater provides very hot water followed by cold water, it is the bottom element.
If for example, if two showers are taken consecutively and the last shower starts to run cold, or doing laundry, running the dishwasher, etc.
it would be the bottom element that has failed.
If you believe the bottom heating element is burned out, after running hot water, put your hand on the side, near the bottom of the water heater, against the metal.
It will feel cold.
If the element is working, it will feel warm.
The elements can be and should be electrically tested prior to replacing.
If both elements are found to be good, replacement of the thermostat may be needed.
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