Common Electric Water Heater Problems and Solutions
- No hot water
- Not enough hot water or water not hot enough
- Water too hot
- Fuse blows or breaker trips repeatedly
- Temperature-pressure relief valve leaks continuously
- Drain valve leaks
- Heater wet or dripping
- Insulation wet
- Hot water discolored
- Hot water smells bad
- Water heater noisy
No hot water
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Heater disconnect switch off | Turn switch on |
| Fuse blown or circuit breaker tripped | Replace fuse or reset breaker |
| High-limit temperature cutoff faulty | Test temperature cutoff |
| Thermostat faulty | Test thermostats |
| Element faulty | Test element |
Not enough hot water or water not hot enough
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Heavy household demand for hot water or cold incoming water slows recovery time | Stagger use of hot water or install larger water heater |
| Washing machine mixing valve or shower combination valve faulty | Check for hot water in the toilet refill tube Call for service |
| Thermostat control set too low | Raise thermostat control settings |
| High-limit temperature cutoff faulty | Test temperature cutoff |
| Thermostat faulty | Test lower thermostat |
| Sediment in tank slows recovery time | Drain and refill tank |
| Heating element faulty | Test heating element |
| Loss of heat | Insulate tank and hot water pipes |
Water too hot
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Thermostat control set too high | Lower thermostat control settings |
| Thermostat improperly mounted | Reposition lower thermostat |
| High-limit temperature cutoff faulty | Test temperature cutoff |
| Thermostat faulty | Test thermostat |
| Heating element faulty | Test heating element |
Fuse blows or breaker trips repeatedly
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Wire in heater loose or broken | Check heater wiring |
| House wiring faulty | Call electrician |
Temperature-pressure relief valve leaks continuously
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Relief valve unseated | Pop spring lever to reset valve |
| Relief valve faulty | Replace valve |
| Thermostat faulty | Test thermostat |
Drain valve leaks
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Valve loose or faulty | Tighten valve handle Replace washer or valve |
Heater wet or dripping
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Tank leaks | Have water heater replaced |
Insulation wet
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Leak around element | Tighten loose element Change gasket |
Hot water discolored
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Sediment in tank | Drain and refill tank |
| Anode rod deteriorated | Replace anode rod |
| Tank interior corroded | Have water heater replaced |
Hot water smells bad
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Magnesium anode rod reacts with sulfurous hot water | Replace with aluminum anode rod Have water heater replaced |
Water heater noisy
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Sediment in tank | Drai and refill tank |
| Temperature-pressure relief valve faulty | Test valve |
| Mineral scale on element | Clean or replace element |
