Replacing Electric Water Heater Heating Element

Water heater elements can and do wear out and replacing a bad one is a job you can do yourself.

Replacing electric water heater heating element.

There s an upper element which is located behind the upper access panel and a lower element. Follow the steps in this repair guide. Electric water heaters have 2 heating elements. The upper heating element really only contributes when there is a high hot water demand and only serves to heat water in the upper portion of the tank.

Replace a broken heating element with the manufacturer approved replacement part. In an electric water heater the bottom heating element is the workhorse since it is at the bottom of the tank where cold water enters from a dip tube that extends down through the tank. Electric water heaters have one or more heating elements that look very much like one of those heaters you put in a cup of cold water to make an instant cup of hot tea. The lower element is typically the one that needs to be replaced.