How To Repair Hot Water Heater

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Your h2o heater takes cold h2o from the supply line and provides hot water throughout your home. When you start noticing that your h2o heater doesn't provide enough hot water, yous may need to check the heating elements or supervene upon the thermostat. If you notice the h2o heater leaking a lot from the run-off tubes, it's time to replace the pressure-relief valve. When you're done working on your h2o heater, you should have hot water in your habitation again!

1. 1

   Plough the ability off going to your water heater. Check the electrical billow box in your home and find the 2 circuits that command your water heater. Flip the switches to the off position so you lot don't get shocked when you're working.^[ane]

   • If you're unsure which circuits command the h2o heater, try turning off the circuits and testing the ports on your water heater with a multimeter. The readout should be 0 V.

2. 2

   Close off the water supply on your water heater. The valve controlling the water going into your heater should be on a pipe to a higher place or adjacent to the unit. Turn the valve so the lever is perpendicular to the pipe. This prevents any h2o from entering the tank while you piece of work on information technology.^[2]

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3. three

   Drain the water heater completely. Locate the drain valve on at the bottom of your tank and secure the end of a garden hose to it. Put the other end of the hose next to a drain, such as one in your basement floor or in a bathtub. Open the drain valve on the bottom of your water heater with a screwdriver or aqueduct lock pliers and let the tank drain completely.^[3]

   • Most water heaters should have a drain next to them to catch any run-off.

   Warning: The water coming out of the hose could be very hot. Do not touch information technology or else you lot could go scalded by it.

4. 4

   Open up the access console leading to the heating chemical element. The access console covers the thermostat and the heating element within your water heater, and it is usually located on the side or nigh the bottom of the unit. Apply a screwdriver to remove the admission panel and ready it aside.^[four]

   • Some electrical h2o heaters have 2 access panels on the top and the lesser each with their ain heating element.

5. 5

   Disconnect and label the wires connected to the heating element. The heating element is usually on the lower part of the access panel and will have two screws with red and black wires connecting to it. Loosen the screws with your screwdriver and pull the wires out. Equally you pull the wires, characterization which screws they were attached to with a piece of masking tape.^[v]

6. 6

   Unscrew the heating element from the water heater. Secure a pair of aqueduct lock pliers on the hexagonal nut behind the screws. Turn the heating chemical element counterclockwise to loosen it. Keep unscrewing the heating element by hand until you tin can easily pull it out from your tank.^[half-dozen]

   • Practise not remove the heating element if you haven't tuckered the water from your tank. H2o will come up out and could burn you otherwise.

7. 7

   Scrub the heating chemical element with a wire brush. Over time, your heating element may collect calcium deposits from the water and make the unit less efficient. Set the heating element on a apartment surface and scrape the coil with a strong wire brush. Try to clean equally much of the residue off as can. When you lot have one side of the roll clean, flip it over and scrub the other side.^[seven]

   • If you lot cannot get the heating element make clean, you can order a replacement from the water heater's manufacturer. They usually cost around $35 USD.

8. 8

   Reattach the heating chemical element to your tank. Feed the curlicue back into the tank and beginning screwing the chemical element back on by hand. Once the heating chemical element is hand-tight, use your channel lock pliers to tighten the unit of measurement in identify. Loop the wires around their matching screws before tightening them with a screwdriver.^[viii]

   • Your heating element should already have a seal on the threading to prevent leaks. If it doesn't wrap 5-6 layers of Teflon or plumber's tape around the threading.

9. ix

   Plow on the power and h2o supply to employ your tank again. Once the heating unit is back in place, flip the breakers to the on position and so the h2o heater has power. And then, plow the water valve on so the lever points the same direction every bit the pipes. Once the tank is filled once again, you lot should have hot h2o.^[9]

   • If the water nonetheless isn't hot, check the wire connections to the heating element. If they're correct, so y'all may accept a problem with the unit's thermostat.

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1. 1

   Turn off the power running to your h2o heater. Go to your home'due south electrical box and find the 2 breakers that control your h2o heater. Plow them to the off position so you lot don't accidentally shock yourself while y'all're replacing the thermostat.^[10]

2. 2

   Open up the access console on the tank. The access panel is ordinarily located on the side or near the bottom of your water heater. Utilise a screwdriver to remove the admission panel'southward comprehend and set it aside. Y'all should come across the thermostat on the peak of the admission panel and the heating element near the bottom.^[11]

   • Some electrical water heaters accept 2 access panels. Each of the access panels will have their own thermostat.

3. 3

   Remove and characterization the wires continued to the thermostat. The thermostat looks like a black box with 2 black wires connecting to it. Utilize a screwdriver to loosen the screws on the thermostat and release the wires. When you become the wires loose, wrap a piece of masking tape around each ane and label which screw they were attached to.^[12]

   • If your wires are reattached to the wrong screws on your new thermostat, then your water heater will not work.

4. iv

   Pull the thermostat out of the brackets. Hold the pinnacle of the thermostat with your dominant hand. Locate the retaining subclass on the bottom of the thermostat that holds it in place. Slide the end of a screwdriver backside the tab on the side of the bracket and gently pry it up to release the thermostat. Elevator the tab on the other side of the thermostat so you can pull the unit out of the access panel.^[13]

   • Be careful not to break the bracket that holds the thermostat in identify since y'all cannot supplant that component individually.

5. v

   Place an identical thermostat in its place. Brand certain the thermostat is the verbal same model as your old one or else it will not be compatible. Slide the thermostat into the admission console so it's behind the retaining bracket. Push the thermostat into place until it clicks.^[14]

   • Club an identical thermostat from the water heater's manufacturer. They commonly price around $twenty USD.

   Tip: If your h2o heater has 2 thermostats, make sure you become matching replacements for each of them.

6. six

   Reattach the wires to the matching screws. Once the thermostat is securely in place, bend hook shapes into the ends of each wire. Wrap the wire hook underneath the screw head that matches the wire's characterization. Tighten the screws then they accept a firm connectedness with the wires.^[xv]

   • You can leave the labels on your wires if you want or yous tin can remove them.

7. 7

   Adjust the new thermostat to 120 °F (49 °C). The temperature is usually controlled with a screw or punch on the bottom of the thermostat. If information technology's a spiral, employ your screwdriver so the slit on the screw head points to 120 °F (49 °C). If your thermostat has a dial, plough it by hand to the right temperature. When you're finished, all you need to practice is turn your ability back on then your water heater works again!^[16]

   • Avoid turning the thermostat higher than 120 °F (49 °C) since it could cause scalding water temperatures from your fixtures.

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1. 1

   Remove the bottom panel on your water heater. The access panel on your gas water heater is found at the bottom of the tank. Utilise a screwdriver to remove the panel and fix it bated while you're working.^[17]

   • If the pilot low-cal is out and you aroma natural gas around your water heater, exit and telephone call your utility company immediately since you may have a gas leak. Do non effort to calorie-free the airplane pilot lite if you lot smell gas.

2. ii

   Turn the dial on top to the thermostat to the PILOT position. The topmost dial on your water heater controls the power on your unit of measurement and should have the labels ON, OFF, and PILOT. Twist the punch by paw and then it'south on the PILOT position and so the burner inside your h2o heater is turned off.^[eighteen]

   • Don't endeavor to relight the pilot light while your water heater is still on.

3. 3

   Reduce the heat every bit low equally it can go. The large punch on the front of your thermostat controls the unit'south temperature. Turn the dial clockwise to reduce your heat to the everyman temperature it can go. This assist ensures you stay safe while yous ignite your pilot light.^[xix]

4. 4

   Press the dial down and lite the pilot with a safety lighter. Hold a rubber lighter within the lesser access panel and then information technology lines up with the thin tube that connects to your thermostat. With the dial in the pilot position, press down on peak of the dial until you hear it click. When the dial is pressed downwardly, ignite your lighter to start your pilot low-cal. Keep the dial held downwards for 30 seconds after the pilot is lit.^[20]

   • Some water heaters have an ignitor button adjacent to the dial. If your water heater has a pilot low-cal button, yous do non demand to use a lighter.

5. 5

   Switch the dial to the ON position. Release the dial then it clicks support into place. Once the punch pops upwards, turn it toward the ON position to activate the burner. This volition turn your water heater on so you have hot h2o throughout your home.^[21]

   Tip: If the dial doesn't pop up when you let go of information technology, plow off the unit for 5 minutes and try again.

6. 6

   Adjust the water heater'due south temperature to 120 °F (49 °C). Turn the large dial in the front of your thermostat so it points at 120 °F (49 °C). The burner will actuate and rut the water within your tank.^[22]

   • Don't turn the thermostat college than 120 °F (49 °C) or else the h2o coming out of your fixtures may scald yous.

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1. ane

   Plough off the gas and h2o running to your water heater. The gas hose connects to the left side of your thermostat and the valve to turn information technology off will be located along the gas line. Plough the lever and so it's perpendicular to the gas line. Then, locate the water valve on the pipe above or next to the heater and turn the lever and then it's also perpendicular to the pipe.^[23]

   • You lot don't demand to turn off any power while working on a gas water heater.

2. 2

   Drain the h2o from your h2o heater. Locate the drain valve on the bottom of your h2o heater's tank. Spiral a garden hose onto the bleed valve and feed the other end into a drain in the floor or to your bathtub. Open the drain valve with a screwdriver or channel lock pliers so the h2o empties from your tank.^[24]

   • The water coming out of your hose volition exist very hot and could cause scalding-hot burns.

3. 3

   Unscrew the lines attached to your thermostat. There should be 3 or four pipes that connect to the bottom of your thermostat. Use a pair of aqueduct lock pliers to loosen the lines from your thermostat. Lightly pull the pipes abroad from the thermostat and then they don't deform.^[25]

   • The hose on the left side of your thermostat controls the gas intake.
   • The pipes and lines on the bottom of the thermostat lead to the pilot and burner inside the unit of measurement.
   • You can remove the lines while your h2o heater is still draining.

4. 4

   Use a pipe wrench to remove the one-time thermostat. Grip the sides of your thermostat between the jaws of a pipe wrench. Turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the thermostat from the tank. Keep rotating the thermostat by hand until it's free from the tank.^[26]

   • Don't unscrew the thermostat while in that location'due south still h2o inside since it could spill out.

5. 5

   Seal the threading on your new thermostat with Teflon tape. Locate the threading on the back side of the thermostat that attaches to your tank. Wrap v-6 layers of Teflon tape effectually the threading to seal it. Brand sure yous wrap your tape in the same direction equally the way it'due south screwed in.^[27]

   • Replacement thermostats can exist bought online or directly from the water heater manufacturer, and they usually cost around $85-$90 USD.
   • Teflon tape may also exist called thread-seal or plumber'south tape.

6. half dozen

   Spiral the new thermostat in its place. Once the thermostat is sealed, identify the threading into the hole on your tank where the sometime thermostat used to exist. Plow the thermostat clockwise to tighten information technology in identify. When you can't tighten it by manus anymore, utilize your pipe wrench to secure information technology in place.^[28]

   • Make sure the thermostat is right-side upward when yous're finished or else the dial will be upside downward.

7. 7

   Reattach the lines and pipes to the new thermostat. Apply your channel lock pliers to secure the gas hose back onto the side of your thermostat. Then match the pilot and burner lines to the ports on the bottom of your thermostat and tighten them with your pliers.^[29]

   • You do not demand to seal the connections from the lines to your thermostat.

8. eight

   Open the valves and offset your thermostat. Reopen the gas and water valves leading to your water heater so it can start filling and warming up over again. Relight the airplane pilot lite and turn your thermostat to 120 °F (49 °C) so you lot have hot water throughout your abode.^[thirty]

   Alarm: Don't turn your thermostat past 120 °F (49 °C) since it will cause scalding hot water to come up out of your fixtures.

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1. 1

   Plow off the water supply to your water heater. Locate the h2o supply pipe to a higher place or next to your water heater. Turn the lever on the valve then it'south perpendicular to the pipes. This prevents any more water from entering the tank while you're working on it.^[31]

2. ii

   Bleed 10 United states gal (38 L) from your h2o heater. Adhere a garden hose the bleed valve on the bottom of your water heater's tank. Place the other end of the hose next to bath or floor drain. Open the valve with a screwdriver or pair of pliers and let it drain for almost 15-30 minutes. Once nigh ten US gal (38 L) are drained from the tank, close the drain valve and disconnect the hose.^[32]

   • Many water heaters accept a drain in the flooring next to them.

3. three

   Detach the run-off piping from the pressure-relief valve. The pressure-relief valve is located on top of your unit in the center. The valve should be fastened to a pipage that leads downwards the side of your tank. Use a pair of channel lock pliers where the pipe connects to the valve. Rotate it counterclockwise to loosen it from the valve and remove it.^[33]

   • Fix the run-off piping aside since you'll demand to attach it to the new valve.

4. 4

   Use channel lock pliers to unscrew the pressure-relief valve. Grip the base of the pressure-relief valve betwixt the jaws of your channel lock pliers. Rotate the valve counterclockwise to loosen it, and so spin the valve past hand. Pull the valve out from the tank to remove it.^[34]

   • The valve may release steam every bit you unscrew it. Keep your caput away from the valve and habiliment piece of work gloves while handling information technology.

5. v

   Seal the threads on a new force per unit area-relief valve with Teflon tape. Sealing the valve helps forestall any unwanted leaks through the threading. Wrap 5-6 layers of Teflon tape around the threading on your new valve in the aforementioned direction that information technology screws in. When you're finished wrapping it, cut the piece of record.^[35]

   • Pressure-relief valves tin can be purchased online or directly from the water heater'due south manufacturer for about $20 USD.
   • Teflon tape may exist called thread-seal or plumber's record. Any of these will piece of work for sealing your valve.

6. 6

   Screw the new valve into your water heater. Identify the threading of the valve in the hole where the old one used to be. Screw the valve in by hand as far as you tin can. Then, use your channel lock pliers to tighten the valve until yous can't rotate it anymore.^[36]

   • Proceed the lever on tiptop of your valve is horizontal when it's installed.

   Tip: Make certain the valve points in a management where you can hands attach your run-off piping.
   

7. seven

   Reattach the run-off pipe to the valve. Fit the threading of the run-off pipe into the side of the valve so the pipage hangs over the border of the h2o heater's tank. Plough the pipe clockwise to tighten it onto your valve. Use your channel lock pliers when you lot can't tighten the piper by hand any further.^[37]

   • Yous may need to seal the run-off pipe with Teflon tape equally well if it hasn't already been sealed.

8. viii

   Turn on your water heater'south water supply. Turn the lever on your h2o supply so that it's pointing the same management as your pipe. The water supply will offset to fill your tank so yous can use hot water in your home again.^[38]

9. 9

   Open a hot water faucet somewhere in your home. Selection whatever sink or fixture in your home and set it so the hot water is running. Goose egg volition come up out of the faucet even so, but it will relive the force per unit area within your tank so the valve is installed properly.^[39]

10. x

    Pull the lever open up on the valve. After a faucet's been opened, pull the lever on top of your valve up to convalesce more pressure from inside the tank. Once the lever is open, you may detect some water going downward the run-off pipe.^[xl]

11. 11

    Close the lever once a steady stream of water flows through the run-off pipe. As your water heats up, the force per unit area inside the tank will increase and h2o volition be forced out of the pressure-relief valve. When you lot notice the stream coming out from your run-off piping, close the valve so the lever is horizontal again.^[41]

    • You tin can besides turn off your water faucet one time the stream is steady.

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• Call a plumber if you tried fixing your water heater and it yet doesn't work. There may be an internal part that needs to be fixed or you lot may demand a new water heater altogether.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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• If there's a strong natural gas smell around your water heater, leave immediately to phone call your utility company.

• Be careful draining and venting your water heater since the water and steam could scald y'all.

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Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Garden hose
• Aqueduct lock pliers
• Masking tape
• Wire brush

• Screwdriver
• Masking record
• H2o heater thermostat

• Screwdriver
• Safety lighter

• Garden hose
• Channel lock pliers
• Pipe wrench
• Replacement thermostat
• Teflon record
• Rubber lighter

• Garden hose
• Aqueduct lock pliers
• Work gloves
• Teflon tape

About This Article

Article Summary X

If your electric h2o heater isn't providing enough hot h2o, you may need to supercede the thermostat. To practise this, first turn off the ability connected to your heater and then yous don't get shocked while working. Once the power is off, open the tank's admission panel and remove the wires connected to the thermostat using a screwdriver. You also might desire to utilise some masking tape to label which wires were connected to which screws. After yous've taken out the thermostat, put another one that'southward the exact aforementioned model in its place. You tin order an identical thermostat correct from your h2o heater'south manufacturer. When the thermostat is clicked into identify, reattach the wires. To finish up, alter the thermostat temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. When you turn your ability dorsum on, your h2o should piece of work over again! For more help, including how to change the thermostat on a gas heater, read on.

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