TROUBLESHOOTINGMost common cause for improper electric water heater operation can be linked to heating elementfailure.
When troubleshooting an electric water heater with the incidence of “No Hot Wat er”or “Insufficient Amount of Hot
Water” It is always a good idea to check the heating elements first following the procedu re on page 15.
Common Heating Element Failures Are:
1. Dry Firing. Elements may be partially submerged in water or most likely, completel y exposed with no water
in the tank at all. In open air, an energized element (Dry Fired) will become completely inoperable within
seconds. In some cases sediment or lime build up around an element can eventually cause an air poc ket,
resulting in a dry fired element. When element replacement is required, be sur e tank is full of water prior to
energizing the water heater.
2. Grounded Element. In most cases, an elemen t with as hort circuit to ground will cause the circuit breaker in
the service panel to open or shut off. In some cases there may not be enough current draw for the ci rcuit
breaker to open. This will allow the heating element to be in continuous operati on resulting in over heated
water, limited only by the ECO or Energy Cut Off located in the thermostat circuit. Repeated actuation of the
ECO usually is the result of a grounded heating element.
3. Sediment build up. Slow hotwater rec overy can usually be traced back to s ediment or lime build up around
heating element. Sediment build up can also over time cause a dry fired element.
If a heating element is found to be inoperative, it must be replaced. Follow service procedure MCE-XV on page 30.
The illustration below shows a common “Screw-In” type heating element identif ying certain features commonly referred
to throughout this manual.
1-½ Hex
Screw-in Flange
Terminal Block
Screw
Terminal Block Zinc PlatedCopper or
Incoloy Sheath
Element Rating Ink Stamped
on side of Terminal Block.
Typical DirectImmersion “Screw-In”
Type Heating Element
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0642
4500W 240V
RC02404524
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