Electric water heaters have two heating elements, a lower and an upper element. These metal heating elements are made of metal and get hot from electrical resistance, similar to what you would find in an electric cooking range.
But do you know which one usually goes bad first? Or how to test, repair and replace a heating element? Or the difference between a screw-in or flange type heating element? In the tutorial Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting I'll explain all that and how to troubleshoot an electric water heater, test a heating element, and how to remove and replace a faulty heating element.
Comments
Absolutely the best, most comprehensive “article” pertaining to (electric) water-heater problems I found while searching the internet.
when changing elements should I have them both replaced at the same time. I had the bottom change and replace both thermostats but left the top element in and now when I turn it on and it fills up it squirts out the temp. pressure relief valve. With changing the other element would this fix the problem?