Change Water Heater Thermostat

You step into the shower and turn on the hot water faucet all set for a nice hot shower.

Change water heater thermostat.

The thermostat turns the heating element on and off to maintain the water temperature. You know when your shower spits ice cubes instead of hot water that it s time to replace the thermostat for your water heater. How to test and replace a water heater thermostat. This diy repair guide explains how to replace the thermostat in an electric water heater.

There are some variances in thermostats between single element water heaters and dual element water heaters. When shopping for a water heater thermostat you need to know how many elements the water. Once the power is off remove the cover for the full access to the thermostat. Gas water heaters use a different type of thermostat system.

Replace the safety cover s and access panel s. No all water heater thermostats are not universal. Instead you get only cold water. How to replace an electric water heater thermostat.

Bring the cover back and turn the power on. Also in dual element water heaters there is a difference in the upper and lower thermostats. If the thermostat stops working the element either won t come on at all and the water is cold or the element stays on too long and the water is scalding. Use the screwdriver and rotate the adjustment dial clockwise to the desired temperature.

I think we can all agree that waking up to take a shower in the middle of winter only to find out that all the water is cold is not the best thing to happen to anyone. Most manufacturers recommend changing the lower thermostat setting while leaving the upper thermostat at the factory setting. As the water in the tank continues to cool it will reach a point when the lower thermostat shuts off and the upper thermostat turns the upper heater on. Restore power and allow the water heater to work for one hour before testing the hot water.

If the water isn t heating up the culprit could also be the thermostat. Continue to check the upper heating element for voltage it may take quite a while and the water may have to quite cold but it should come on eventually. You may need to repair your electric hot water heater. Gas water heater thermostat replacement.