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Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here.
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Posted by Jazz on August 21, 2006, 10:53 pm
I am a computer guy, not a handy-man, so forgive the stupidity of my
question...
I have a Rheem 40 gallon water heater.
240 volts, 4500 wattage, model number 81V40D C ...
My dad, a water heater inspector for TVA, tells me the top element is
probably bad (We have some hot water, but runs out pretty fast now... i
trust his judgement since he has done it for over 25 years).
So I go to home depot to grab a new element, and I am seeing screw in,
twist in, walk in, fly in, run in, etc... :^)
can someone just tell me what to get and where to get it? Pretend I am
your stupid son and feel sorry for me and hook me up. My dad just says
"Buy a new hot water heater, they dont cost much" but I dont have time
for all that, guests arrive in about 10 days.... I know all i will have
to do is turn the breaker off, let the water cool, drain the tank, and
pull (or twist, or unscrew) the element out and slap a new one in
there...
However, I dont have an ohm meter.... i mean, does the average guy have
one of these lying around? Ive replaced light fixtures and ceiling
fans, but the more i read the more people seem to freak out about the
water heater still haveing power in it even after turning it off at the
breaker... what gives?
anyway, thanks in advance!
Jazz Mann
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Posted by tech on August 21, 2006, 11:15 pm
Ask over at HVAC-Talk . com
They love to answer DIY questions over there!
> I am a computer guy, not a handy-man, so forgive the stupidity of my
> question...
>
> I have a Rheem 40 gallon water heater.
> 240 volts, 4500 wattage, model number 81V40D C ...
>
> My dad, a water heater inspector for TVA, tells me the top element is
> probably bad (We have some hot water, but runs out pretty fast now... i
> trust his judgement since he has done it for over 25 years).
>
> So I go to home depot to grab a new element, and I am seeing screw in,
> twist in, walk in, fly in, run in, etc... :^)
>
> can someone just tell me what to get and where to get it? Pretend I am
> your stupid son and feel sorry for me and hook me up. My dad just says
> "Buy a new hot water heater, they dont cost much" but I dont have time
> for all that, guests arrive in about 10 days.... I know all i will have
> to do is turn the breaker off, let the water cool, drain the tank, and
> pull (or twist, or unscrew) the element out and slap a new one in
> there...
>
> However, I dont have an ohm meter.... i mean, does the average guy have
> one of these lying around? Ive replaced light fixtures and ceiling
> fans, but the more i read the more people seem to freak out about the
> water heater still haveing power in it even after turning it off at the
> breaker... what gives?
>
> anyway, thanks in advance!
> Jazz Mann
>
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Posted by RBM on August 21, 2006, 11:19 pm
Your dad may be right about just replacing the whole thing. You need to open
the upper access panel, remove the insulation and check the two terminals on
the upper element with a volt meter to see that you indeed have 240 volts
across them, if not, you may need an upper thermostat, if you do, check to
see what holds the element into the tank, and remove it. Mind you, if its a
screw in, you need a pretty big socket wrench to get it out. With it
removed, bring it to a plumbing supply and get a replacement and gasket, and
reinstall it
>I am a computer guy, not a handy-man, so forgive the stupidity of my
> question...
>
> I have a Rheem 40 gallon water heater.
> 240 volts, 4500 wattage, model number 81V40D C ...
>
> My dad, a water heater inspector for TVA, tells me the top element is
> probably bad (We have some hot water, but runs out pretty fast now... i
> trust his judgement since he has done it for over 25 years).
>
> So I go to home depot to grab a new element, and I am seeing screw in,
> twist in, walk in, fly in, run in, etc... :^)
>
> can someone just tell me what to get and where to get it? Pretend I am
> your stupid son and feel sorry for me and hook me up. My dad just says
> "Buy a new hot water heater, they dont cost much" but I dont have time
> for all that, guests arrive in about 10 days.... I know all i will have
> to do is turn the breaker off, let the water cool, drain the tank, and
> pull (or twist, or unscrew) the element out and slap a new one in
> there...
>
> However, I dont have an ohm meter.... i mean, does the average guy have
> one of these lying around? Ive replaced light fixtures and ceiling
> fans, but the more i read the more people seem to freak out about the
> water heater still haveing power in it even after turning it off at the
> breaker... what gives?
>
> anyway, thanks in advance!
> Jazz Mann
>
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Posted by Al Bundy on August 21, 2006, 11:53 pm
> Your dad may be right about just replacing the whole thing. You need
> to open the upper access panel, remove the insulation and check the
> two terminals on the upper element with a volt meter to see that you
> indeed have 240 volts across them, if not, you may need an upper
> thermostat,
You won't have anything across it if it is not on. If the temp of the
water at the top is not below the thermostat swing, it will not be on.
The top only comes on when the bottom element cannot keep up with the
demand.
if you do, check to see what holds the element into the
> tank, and remove it. Mind you, if its a screw in, you need a pretty
> big socket wrench to get it out.
A water heater element wrench: http://a-1catalog.com/watheatelwre.html
> With it removed, bring it to a
> plumbing supply and get a replacement and gasket, and reinstall it
>
>
>>I am a computer guy, not a handy-man, so forgive the stupidity of my
>> question...
>>
>> I have a Rheem 40 gallon water heater.
>> 240 volts, 4500 wattage, model number 81V40D C ...
>>
>> My dad, a water heater inspector for TVA, tells me the top element is
>> probably bad (We have some hot water, but runs out pretty fast now...
>> i trust his judgement since he has done it for over 25 years).
>>
>> So I go to home depot to grab a new element, and I am seeing screw
>> in, twist in, walk in, fly in, run in, etc... :^)
>>
>> can someone just tell me what to get and where to get it? Pretend I
>> am your stupid son and feel sorry for me and hook me up. My dad just
>> says "Buy a new hot water heater, they dont cost much" but I dont
>> have time for all that, guests arrive in about 10 days.... I know all
>> i will have to do is turn the breaker off, let the water cool, drain
>> the tank, and pull (or twist, or unscrew) the element out and slap a
>> new one in there...
>>
>> However, I dont have an ohm meter.... i mean, does the average guy
>> have one of these lying around? Ive replaced light fixtures and
>> ceiling fans, but the more i read the more people seem to freak out
>> about the water heater still haveing power in it even after turning
>> it off at the breaker... what gives?
>>
>> anyway, thanks in advance!
>> Jazz Mann
>>
>
>
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Posted by Eigenvector on August 21, 2006, 11:20 pm
>I am a computer guy, not a handy-man, so forgive the stupidity of my
> question...
>
> I have a Rheem 40 gallon water heater.
> 240 volts, 4500 wattage, model number 81V40D C ...
>
> My dad, a water heater inspector for TVA, tells me the top element is
> probably bad (We have some hot water, but runs out pretty fast now... i
> trust his judgement since he has done it for over 25 years).
>
> So I go to home depot to grab a new element, and I am seeing screw in,
> twist in, walk in, fly in, run in, etc... :^)
>
> can someone just tell me what to get and where to get it? Pretend I am
> your stupid son and feel sorry for me and hook me up. My dad just says
> "Buy a new hot water heater, they dont cost much" but I dont have time
> for all that, guests arrive in about 10 days.... I know all i will have
> to do is turn the breaker off, let the water cool, drain the tank, and
> pull (or twist, or unscrew) the element out and slap a new one in
> there...
>
> However, I dont have an ohm meter.... i mean, does the average guy have
> one of these lying around? Ive replaced light fixtures and ceiling
> fans, but the more i read the more people seem to freak out about the
> water heater still haveing power in it even after turning it off at the
> breaker... what gives?
>
> anyway, thanks in advance!
> Jazz Mann
>
Don't have time for all that? You might be a little mistaken about how hard
it is the install one. I myself had to install a new gas water heater and
that is by far more complicated - it took about 30 minutes once it was
on-site for me to do. Of course my buddy helped out, just because they are
empty doesn't mean they are light!
How old is your water heater - that would greatly help us provide more
information.
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