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Electric water heater problem????? CM 01-09-2008
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Posted by Don Young on January 9, 2008, 9:39 pm

>I am testing across the terminal - not to ground so I am getting 220 volts
>on my digital meter. I will also take a back up meter tomorrow.
>
> If it is fact an under slab leak the water could just be running through
> the water heater and not sitting long enough to heat. Should be easy to
> check.
>
> cm
>
>
>> Another thing CM, we out here in the ether, have no idea of how you are
>> testing . Like Dr. Hardcrab said. you could be testing each terminal to
>> ground and getting 120 volts on each, multiply that time 2, you get 240
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> OK folks I have repaired many electric water heaters in my 18 years as a
>>> handyman and have never ran into one that I couldn't fix. The best part
>>> is I am doing this for free for a friend that is out of work.
>>>
>>> First I replaced both elements and upper/lower thermostats and flushed
>>> the water heater because it would not make hot water. It still didn't
>>> heat the water. I went back over today and changed them all out again
>>> and it still doesn't work. Yes it has power to it , right up to the top
>>> element. What am I missing?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> cm
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
A leak under the slab is a common cause of all of your symptoms. The warm
spot on the floor is a sure sign. If at all feasible, replace under-slab
plumbing with plumbing above the slab.

Don Young



Posted by Joseph Meehan on January 9, 2008, 9:01 pm
> OK folks I have repaired many electric water heaters in my 18 years as a
> handyman and have never ran into one that I couldn't fix. The best part is
> I
> am doing this for free for a friend that is out of work.
>
> First I replaced both elements and upper/lower thermostats and flushed the
> water heater because it would not make hot water. It still didn't heat
> the
> water. I went back over today and changed them all out again and it still
> doesn't work. Yes it has power to it , right up to the top element. What
> am
> I missing?
>
> Thanks
>
> cm
>
>

When you check the voltage, what kind of meter are you using? Are you
testing it with it connected to the heating element and with the thermostat
calling for heat?

Have you checked power to the lower thermostat?


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




Posted by CM on January 9, 2008, 9:26 pm

>
> When you check the voltage, what kind of meter are you using? Are you
> testing it with it connected to the heating element and with the
> thermostat calling for heat?
>
> Have you checked power to the lower thermostat?
>
>
> --
> Joseph Meehan
>
> Dia 's Muire duit
>
>
>

Joseph,

I am using a Greenlee multimeter (digital) and have only tested voltage with
the wires connected to the element as well as the thermostat and it shows
220 volts at the upper thermostat and the upper heating element and no power
to the lower thermostat or lower element. I assume the upper thermostat is
calling for heat since the tank is not hot. The top thermostat is not
sending power to the lower since upper thermostat is not satisfied.

I am going to check the voltage coming into the water heater with the wires
disconnected tomorrow and will do the same to the wires that go to the upper
element. I will also check the water meter and see if it is spinning with
all faucets shut off to see if there is a possibility of an under slab pipe
leak.

Thanks for your help on this,

Craig



Posted by Dr. Hardcrab on January 10, 2008, 4:46 pm
Damn! Let us know what you find out. I'm curious as hell now!!

(Ghosts in the machine)


>
>>
>> When you check the voltage, what kind of meter are you using? Are you
>> testing it with it connected to the heating element and with the
>> thermostat calling for heat?
>>
>> Have you checked power to the lower thermostat?
>>
>>
>> --
>> Joseph Meehan
>>
>> Dia 's Muire duit
>>
>>
>>
>
> Joseph,
>
> I am using a Greenlee multimeter (digital) and have only tested voltage
> with the wires connected to the element as well as the thermostat and it
> shows 220 volts at the upper thermostat and the upper heating element and
> no power to the lower thermostat or lower element. I assume the upper
> thermostat is calling for heat since the tank is not hot. The top
> thermostat is not sending power to the lower since upper thermostat is not
> satisfied.
>
> I am going to check the voltage coming into the water heater with the
> wires disconnected tomorrow and will do the same to the wires that go to
> the upper element. I will also check the water meter and see if it is
> spinning with all faucets shut off to see if there is a possibility of an
> under slab pipe leak.
>
> Thanks for your help on this,
>
> Craig
>


Posted by Stormin Mormon on January 10, 2008, 9:09 am
The electricity needs to make a complete circuit. Something is blocking the
flow of electric.

If I was there at the job site, I'd want to turn off the power. Disconnect
both leads from the elements. Ohm them out, and see if they are near zero
ohms. With the elements disconnected, turn the power back on and check to
see if the wires going to the elements have 220 volts. Yeah, I know, that's
dangerous. Exposed wires with electric in them.

Been a while since I worked on electric WH, but there is a switch of sorts,
which controls which element gets power. That's at the top element. The
bottom element comes on, when the top thermostat shows enough temperature.

I suspect a bad thermostat.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.


OK folks I have repaired many electric water heaters in my 18 years as a
handyman and have never ran into one that I couldn't fix. The best part is I
am doing this for free for a friend that is out of work.

First I replaced both elements and upper/lower thermostats and flushed the
water heater because it would not make hot water. It still didn't heat the
water. I went back over today and changed them all out again and it still
doesn't work. Yes it has power to it , right up to the top element. What am
I missing?

Thanks

cm




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