Is your water heater providing you with cold or lukewarm water instead of hot water? If yes, then you should check for a defective water heater element. Electric water heaters use a variety of different elements to warm water. On the other hand, gas-fired heaters utilize a burner.
Elements installed on the side of an electric water heater tank could come into direct contact with water. When this happens, the unit is unable to maintain an adequate supply of sufficiently hot water.
Here are some issues that can cause water heater elements to fail from Sonoma County water heater experts, Holman Plumbing.
Sediment Buildup
Minerals in hard water (such as calcium and magnesium) can lead to buildup in your water heater. In some cases, mineral sediment collects at the bottom of the tank, preventing heat transfer to the water.
The affected heating elements get forced to work harder and eventually burn out. To prevent sediment buildup and extend the service life of heating elements, drain your heater’s tank every few months.
Power Surge
A sudden voltage increase could overload a heating element of your water heater, burning it out. All elements of a water heater have voltage ratings. Voltages exceeding the rating of an element will burn it out.
Here are some tips to protect your water heater from a power surge
➢ Install a whole home surge protector
➢ Unplug the unit during a storm
➢ Regularly inspect your wiring.
➢ Fix faulty wiring before it becomes into a major issue
Dry Fire Occurrence
One of the most common causes of water heater failure is dry firing. Dry fire happens when an installer forgets to open a hot water tap while water flows into the tank as it fills up, causing air to bleed from the system. An air pocket develops in the top portion of the tank, exposing the upper heating element to air. When a heating element burns in an air pocket, it generates enough heat to melt the copper used in its construction or cause serious internal damage.
Cracks
Some common reasons why water heater cracks include excessive sediment accumulation, damaged internal components, pressure cracks on valves, and rusting heating elements.
If a crack develops in the coils of a heating element, reach out to awater heater repairtechnicianas soon as possible. A crack can travel through the thickness of the coil, disrupting the flow of electricity.
If you ignore the problem, things could take a turn for the worse, and you may have to replace the entire heating element.
Holman Plumbingoffers top-notch water heaterrepairservicesin Sonoma County. Whether your water heater is not heating properly or does not heat at all, our team has you covered.To schedule an inspection, call(707) 495-5002.
FAQs
Minerals in hard water (such as calcium and magnesium) can lead to buildup in your water heater. In some cases, mineral sediment collects at the bottom of the tank, preventing heat transfer to the water. The affected heating elements get forced to work harder and eventually burn out.
Why do my hot water heater elements keep burning out? ›
The element must have water to transfer the heat in order to prevent significant damage. If air pockets develop in the tank, often due to a failure to bleed out the tank completely before filling it up, the element may be burning itself out without enough water.
How long should a water heater element last? ›
A hot water heater's lifespan depends on many factors, including the type of water heater, the energy source, the type of water you have, and how well the unit is maintained. On average, most water heaters last between 8 and 12 years but some can last up to 20 years with regular maintenance.
How often do water heater elements go out? ›
A typical gas-powered or electric-powered hot water heater will last 8 to 12 years before needing to be replaced. Tankless and solar hot water heaters can last up to 20 if properly maintained.
How does a hot water heater element short out? ›
The most common cause of replacement is mineral build-up which often leads to elements shorting out. The element is submerged directly into the water, meaning that any calcification, magnesium, or any other minerals are constantly surrounding the element as it heats up.
What can cause a heating element to go bad? ›
The mechanical failure of the heating element is mainly due to production of more heat. During the process of alloying, a portion may have a higher content of the higher resistivity constituent. This portion of the element will produce more heat and get failed.
What can cause a heating element to go out? ›
Faulty Wiring: Problems with the wiring within your furnace can cause inadequate amounts of electrical power to your heating element, causing it to burn out in. Corrosion: Corrosion on a heating element is not a serious problem at first, but can later cause small cracks which cause burn out.
How much does it cost to replace a hot water heater element? ›
Heating Element
If you have a problem with your element, it will probably cost between $200 and $300 to fix it. Most electric water heaters come with two heating elements. One is at the bottom of the tank. The other is positioned at the top of the tank.
Is it worth replacing water heater element? ›
If your water heater is still fairly new (less than six years old) and the tank itself is in good condition, then replacing the heating element is usually the best choice. This is a much smaller job than replacing the tank outright, which makes it far more economical.
Can you change a water heater element without draining the tank? ›
If you're only replacing the top heating element, you only have to empty the tank until it's not in the water. If you have to replace both or just the bottom one, you'll need to empty the whole tank.
Heating elements can burn out. Sometimes one element fails causing the other element to work overtime. A burnt-out element is a common cause of water heater woes. The thermostat might quit working along with the element.
How long after replacing a water heater element should it take to heat up? ›
"Replacing A Heating Element"
It may take several hours for a newly installed electric water heater to reach normal operating temperature. If you don't have hot water after two hours (water not even warm), first check to make sure the water heater is getting electrical power.
Which is better copper or stainless steel hot water heater element? ›
However, Stainless Steel has a much higher resistance to all forms of corrosion than copper, including crevice and stress, making it highly durable and promising a longer lifespan, which in turn makes copper less competitive when considering long term cost savings.
What happens when heating element burns out? ›
A common reason for this is that oven element burning has occurred. Due to the hot temperatures within the oven cavity, it isn't unusual for it to burn out while enduring the high temperatures. Without a fully functioning oven element, your oven will be unable to heat up and this means your oven is useless for cooking!
What is the most common water heater element? ›
Mostly, two materials are used in the manufacturing of heating elements; metal or ceramic. The ceramic made heating material is more efficient as compared to metal because of being sturdier and less corrosive. This single aspect makes ceramic water heating element more widespread and famous in areas with hard water.
Why won't the burner stay lit on my water heater? ›
If your burner lights for a short time but then goes out, you may have a blockage in the gas valve. The gas line is what provides fuel to the burner to keep it lit. A complete blockage often prevents the burner from lighting at all.
Which element heats first on a water heater? ›
The top element turns on first to start the warming process. Once the water in the top half of the tank reaches the set temperature, the top element turns off, and the bottom element turns on to heat the rest of the water.
