Hello readers welcome to the new post. In this post, we will have a look at How to Test Your Water Heater Thermostat. It can be time to check the thermostat if the water heater is not working well. Improper warming, leakage, and water heater damage can casues malfunctioning thermostats.
In this post, we will cover details that will help us to test and replace the electric hot water thermostat. Testing your water heater thermostat is not difficult. So let’s get started How to Test Your Water Heater Thermostat
What is Thermostat?
The thermostat is an electric water heater that controls the heating element that is used for water heating in the tank. In some electrical element water heaters, two thermostats is upper and lower thermostat. Both work same time to make sure water is heated to the required temperature.
How Does a Thermostat Work?
The thermostat is a water heater device that has two types of functions. The first one is to regulate the temperature in the tank.
The thermostat controls the working of device resistance. The product comes with different components to handle the stock of domestic hot water.
The water heater thermostat sensor senses the temperature in the tank. If different values are measured the part gives a signal to water heater resistance to start water heating.
The other function of the water heater thermostat is safety parameters. If there is a chance of overheating component can disconnect and avoid electrical resistance to heating water. Based on the type of thermostat, the device can work on different bases.
The upper thermostat sends power to the upper heating component for heating the upper part of water tank. When the upper part is heated to the required temperature upper thermostat switches the power to the lower thermostat regulates the lower heating component for heating the remaining water.
The coding of thermostat wiring is according to functions. But thermostat terminals find the wire directions.
How to Test Water Heater Thermostat
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For testing the water heater thermostat there is a need for a digital multimeter. Follow these steps for the testing process.
- First of all, set the multimeter at a low value of resistance.
- First test the upper thermostat for this put one probe on common terminals and other probes on terminals that provide power to the upper heating component.
- if the thermostat is working well, the meter has zero reading which means there is no resistance to current flow.
- For testing the lower thermostat, connect the probe to the terminal that gives power to the lower heating element. The meter must have an infinite value of reading that shows the electrical path is not completed if the upper thermostat is working well.
- Press the thermostat reset button. Then shit probe again to the upper heating component and the matter now shows infinite value, that menas power is cut off from the upper heating component and sent to the lower
How an electric water heater heats the water
Most electric water heater has two heating components to heat water in the tank. If an electric water thermostat is connected in tank and detects water temperature has lost to the requried value, the heating element cycle will on and then cycle again after the water temperature is at a defined value.
A lower temperature setting will result in element cycling occasionally while a high setting needs components to be on frequently.
But the high-temperature setting on electric water heaters is about 150 Fahrenheit.
How To Test an Electric Hot Water Heater Element
Testing the heating element is an easy method. Off the power to the device, remove the access panle disconnect the power wire from the component then connect the one-meter lead with the element terminals and the other lead with 2nd terminal of the meter.
The meter has read from 10 to 30 ohms resistance for electrical continuity. For finding if there is terminals is a short connect meter probe with element terminals and a second with the tank. If the meter has resistance then the element is short-circuit.
Signs for Thermostat Water Heater Might Be Faulty
The normal electrical water heater comes with two thermostats upper water thermostat and a lower thermostat. The upper is the main thermostat connected to the high limit switch and makes sure water pressure is at a safe limit and does not get high.
Based on which water heater thermostat can be faulty some signs of faulty water heaters are
- It not heating water so the problem can be the upper thermostat.
- if there is not enough hot water, problems can be the upper thermostat.
- if there is slow water heating it menas an issue with the lower thermostat.
- if water is overheated, due to the thermostat being set at a high value and not calibrated accurately.
- If the red button reset is popping out and there is a need to reset, the upper thermostat can be faulty. it helps water heating to keep heating water at high levels that will trip the high-limit switch.
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FAQs:
Write common problems with water heaters.
- The common issues are a basic water leak, faulty heating elements, rust, and old age. The faulty thermostat can also have these problems.
Is there a universal electric water heater thermostat?
No, water heater thermostats are not universal.
But some thermostats can interchange, the type of thermostat water heat required is based on the type of water heater and model
What causes a water heater thermostat to fail?
- Faulty thermostats and broken heating elements resulted in the water thermostats getting tripled. But old and worn put reset button can do that. If the reset button trips frequently switching can be the main problem. So the solution is that the heater reset button connects to the upper thermostat
Why is my water heater always shutting down?
- Power outage in home electrical circuit issue can use water heater to shut down. Check the electrical switch and breaker. If there is any issue solve that.
- Test the thermostat if resetting the thermostat does not work test it with the use of multimeters. Set the meter to ohms values and connect the probe with every terminal of a thermostat. If the reading is zero or infinite, then the thermostat is bad and needs to be replaced.
How do you test a heater thermostat with a multimeter?
- Â The HVAC System Won’t Turn on.
- Â Air Conditioner or Heater Runs Non-Stop.
- Differing Temperature Readings Throughout the Home
- Short-Cycling.
- Programmed Settings Keep Getting Deleted
- There’s No Response to Changes in Temperature Settings.
How do you fix a hot water thermostat?
- Find both the upper and lower thermostat.
- Check power supply
- Push the button for resetting the faulty thermostat for winding so that it works
- Change the thermostat if the upper system has no power.
Whoa! I had no idea there were so many types of water heater thermostats. This blog really breaks it down in an easy-to-understand way. Thanks for sharing this valuable info with us!