As winter looms and the holidays roll around, it becomes all the more crucial to ensure you are able to provide your guests with a relaxing and enjoyable stay. Whether you’ve got family incoming or friends planning a visit, this means taking care that basic operating procedures remain in working–and optimal–order. One way to ensure a positive experience for your guests is to keep the water flowing hot and steady–whether this is on-demand for hand-washing or for a more extensive shower or bath. Verifying that your hot water heater is in working order can eliminate a lot of holiday hassle and provide your family and friends with a luxurious and enjoyable visit–but where do you begin? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about hot water heater maintenance, including hot water heater cartridge replacement.
What Is a Hot Water Cartridge?
A cartridge heater is on that is composed of a resistance coil wrapped around a ceramic center and covered in a metal shaft. The coil is powered, creating heat that warms up the surrounding metal sheath (via Omega). Over time, these cartridges will likely expire due to regular wear and tear–though they should last between six months to a year!
How to Check Hot Water Heater Element
The first step for checking that your hot water heater elements are all functioning properly is to shut off the circuit breaker to ensure no electricity is making its way to your heater. Then, find the metal panels on either side of the hot water heater, which house the heating elements. Wear rubber gloves and remove the insulation from the panels, keeping it close at hand. The heating element itself will be round or hexagonal, about one inch long, and supported by two screws and a plastic plate. Once you’ve located your hot water heater element, you are ready to test it for viability. The steps for this are as follows:
- Turn your multimeter on and switch it to the lowest ohms setting, or Ω.
- Using a screwdriver, loosen one of the screws and remove the wire attached to it. It does not matter which screw you choose to loosen.
- Using your multimeter, place one probe on the loosened screw and the other on the firmly affixed screw. If the element is working properly, the multimeter should register somewhere between 10-30 ohms. Readings below 10 indicate an expired heating element that requires replacement.
- Repeat the process for each heating element. Once you’ve gotten your readings, reattach the screws with their wires, reapply insulation, and replace the metal panels.
Of course, not everyone has a multimeter lying around. If this is the case for your home, it may be time to call in your local experts like Certified Plumbing of Brevard. Not only will we check your heating elements for you, but we’ll get any kinks in your hot water heater ironed out so you can relax the next time you have guests staying with you.
What Causes Hot Water Heater Element to Burn Out
As with any piece of equipment that sees regular usage, wear and tear is expected. However, there are a few factors that can cause a hot water heater element to burn out faster than regularly anticipated. These include, but are not limited to:
- Contamination and the Build Up of Sediment: This is particularly common in hard water systems and with hot water heaters that have elements towards the bottom of the tower. As most water that we utilize for cleaning purposes carries different types of sediments and additives, these add up over time, accumulating on the exterior of the heating element before it becomes coated and can no longer produce heat. This happens exponentially faster as the elements become clogged with small debris and is one of the leading causes of burnout.
- Electric Malfunctions: Of course, if there are discrepancies in the electrical workings themselves, the element may become overloaded–or conversely, under-stimulated. This can be caused by everything from power surges to lightning strikes.
- So-Called “Dry Fire”: This is caused by air pockets at the top of the water heater, likely resulting from installation issues. This exposes the heating element to air, which can cause the metals to melt, which can damage not only the heating element or elements exposed, but can also severely damage the water heater itself. This is one reason why finding an experienced plumber to install your hot water heater is a good idea, as it mitigates amateur mistakes like this.
Which Hot Water Heater Element Comes on First?
Oftentimes, there are two elements on a water heater: a top element, and a bottom element. Traditionally, the top element turns on first, warming until it reaches a predetermined temperature. When this is achieved, it then shuts off and the second element turns on to continue heating the rest of the water.
Which Hot Water Heater Element is Bad?
Unfortunately, without using the proper tools, it’s challenging to know which heating element isn’t working. If you have a multimeter and the other appropriate tools, you can check your element for efficacy using the steps outlined above. However, without a multimeter, it’s generally best practice to call in a professional to look at your heater, to determine efficacy as well as diagnose and mitigate potential problems.
Why Does My Hot Water Heater Element Keep Tripping the Breaker?
We’ve all been there–waiting at the shower door for the water heater to come to life, the water ice cold to the touch. Or how about when you step into the shower and get shocked with freezing water? When a water heater element trips your breaker, it can be a huge interruption to an experience that should otherwise be relaxing and rewarding. Let’s go over some of the primary causes for a water heater to trip the breaker.
Faulty Wiring
If your wiring itself is not sound, of course it follows that you would experience interrupted signals from the power source to the heating element. While rare, this is often a job for the electrician, though your trusty local plumber can help you to diagnose the issue.
Expired Thermostat
A broken or expired thermostat will not be able to regulate the temperature appropriately within the water heater, which can send incorrect messages to the unit itself in terms of how much to heat the water. Breakers trip when both thermostats think they need to work at the same time, causing excess of power to be delineated to the unit.
Burned Out Heating Element
Malfunctioning or broken heating elements can cause breakers to trip as well–but more likely, they will simply not adequately heat the water. Especially in the case of a dry fire, though, a burned-out heating element can trip a breaker if wires have been exposed to water. An experienced plumber will be able to fix this for you so you can kick back and relax knowing hot water is on the way!
Can a Homeowner Replace a Hot Water Heater?
Most folks don’t have the proper tools or knowledge to replace a water heater themselves, especially correctly. As mentioned previously, if a hot water heater is not installed the proper way, it can be prone to dry fires and other mechanical issues. For a hot water heater replacement, it’s generally best to call in a professional team like Certified Plumbing–plus this means you have more time to focus on bigger problems at hand rather than getting bogged down by the plumbing basics. After all, hot water is a necessity!
Hot Water Heater Cartridge Replacement: A DIY Project or One for the Experts?
Even experienced DIY-ers should likely rely on a knowledgeable plumber for their water heater cartridge replacement. While it can seem like a straightforward enough process if you have all the tools, replacing a cartridge does require some skill and accuracy. Plus, hiring a skilled plumber means you get to enjoy a stress-free cartridge heater replacement with the confidence that it will be done correctly and on the first try. The peace of mind that comes when your family and guests pour in will be well worth it!
Hot Water Heater Element Not Working? Call in the Pros Before the Holidays
You don’t have to wait until the last minute to have your hot water heater inspected–or to wait until it quits working efficiently in order to call in the professionals! In fact, it is recommended to have your hot water heater inspected around every six months to a year. Having your water heater regularly maintained not only eliminates hot water problems in the home, but also can produce more efficient energy consumption (and therefore lower energy bills), minimize the potential for future damage, and ensure your heater is code compliant.
Do your part as a host this holiday season and ensure that your guests have a relaxing and enjoyable stay. Taking care of the fundamentals of your home can relieve holiday pressure, provide peace of mind for you as a host, and help eliminate or mitigate potential damages in the future. In fact, having your water heater regularly serviced may even save you money in power bills and future repairs!
Create the perfect holiday experience with us today and have your heater inspected before guests arrive–and enjoy the season on your terms! Request a quote now.
