This repair guide and DIY YouTube video provide easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for replacing the heating element in an electric water heater.
How to tell if a water heater element is bad
You may assume (sometimes incorrectly) that a heating element is bad when:
Water isn’t heating at all.
Hot water is only lukewarm.
Hot water runs out quickly.
The house circuit breaker for your water heater trips and won’t reset.
Although these symptoms point to a failed heating element, they can also be caused by other problems such as a failed thermostat or shorted wiring.
To accurately determine whether a heating element is bad, follow the troubleshooting steps in our No Hot Water DIY YouTube Troubleshooting video. Make sure that the heating element is bad before you replace it so you don’t waste money on a part that you don’t need.
How to find the right replacement water heater element
Most replacement water heater elements are the same size and somewhat universal. That being said, you should still make sure that you get the right replacement element for your model of water heater to avoid any potential problems that can be caused by using the wrong part.
To find the right replacement element for your water heater, key its model number in the search field at the top of the page and look up the element part number in the parts list diagram.
The part number of the heating element shown in this repair video is 9000147. This element fits common water heater models manufactured by:
Kenmore.
State.
Rheem.
A. O. Smith.
Whirlpool.
Reliance.