Need a little help with some home repair here...

[82Rigger]

Ya'll help me keep from electrocuting myself or turning my kitchen into a swimming pool!

My household "hot"water is luke warm...not hot.

Electric hot water heater with upper and lower thermostats and elements.

Nothing is leaking anywhere.

I have and know how to use a multitester and common household tools.

Info on the internet is telling me the problem is most likely an
element, possibly a thermostat.

Is a continuity check on the heater elements reliable?

Do I need to drain the water heater before pulling the elements?

What else do I need to know here?

Thanks!

[Andy]

When working around the house I only use one tool, the telephone. It might cost a little more but I seldom hurt myself.

Stay healthy, good luck,
Andy

[darrels joy]

Because it's lukewarm, it's probably the lower element that has gone out.

The thermostats are built into the element.

Turn off the circuit breaker to the water heater. Hook a garden hose to the connection at the bottom. Drain the water outside .
Remove the lower thermostat and take it with you to get the replacement.

Consider replacing the upper one at the same time. They are the same age and the upper one has been working overtime lately.

Water heaters last for many years. We replaced ours last winter after replacing the elements 3 years ago. At that time, we were told that the elements for it wouldn't be available for much longer. :re: It developed a leak.

[Keith_Hixson]

You indeed are a wise man.

Keith

[39mto39g]

water heaters are cheep, replace it, end of worry, Drink beer.

Not in that order

Ron

[82Rigger]

So far this is going smoothly.

Lower element has no continuity.

Gonna replace both elements.

How long does it take this freakin thing to empty out?!

Been draining for four hours now!

Sheesh!!!

[darrels joy]

To help it drain faster, loosen a connection at the top. Don't forget to close it after it drains.

Our water heater was over 30 years old when it finally went. Replacing elements every 5 or 6 years makes sense to us.

Joy

[82Rigger]

Okay,

I found out why it was taking so long to drain.

1. Turn off the circuit breaker to the water heater.

2. Hook a garden hose to the drain connection at the bottom.

3. TURN OFF WATER SUPPLY TO THE WATER HEATER.

4. Drain the water outside .

DUH!!! :re: :re: :re:

Elements are 4500 watts and a LOT CHEAPER than a new heater!

Am now installing the new elements.

[darrels joy]

Now your only problem will be changing the place that you used to put you selector for water in your shower.

[39mto39g]

I guess Cheep is a relative term. Electric 50 gal. water heater is about $150.00, Time and effert its cheeper just to get a new one,
Like a washer, something breaks, Get a new one, or a drier, same thing.

Hears how I work on my car.
every couple years, I lift the hood remove the radiator cap, move the car out of the way, put a new car under the radiator cap, close hood, Beer.

Ron