Replacing the heating element in a water heater

Sooner or later, any owner of such a device will have to take measures to replace the heating element in a water heater. Even in the most expensive unit, this element can fail due to burnout or mechanical failure caused by corrosion.

How to check whether the heating element in a water heater needs to be replaced

Each electrical appliance has its own service life, and an electric water heater, unfortunately, is no exception. One of the possible problems that occur with such devices is the failure of the heating element (heater). Below we will discuss in detail the issue of diagnosing and eliminating this malfunction.

How to remove and check a water heater

A signal that the heating element in the boiler may have failed is the lack of response of the storage device to the switching on or knocking out of the RCD. If everything is in order with the electrical wiring, there is electricity in the house, and the outlet into which the heater is plugged in is working, it is worth checking the internal electrical circuit of the unit.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• it is necessary to disconnect the device from the network, and then unscrew the housing cover, behind which there is an electrical unit;
• if visual contact does not reveal a malfunction, there is every reason to diagnose the heating element;
• first check the thermostat, it may have turned off due to overheating - in this case, you need to return it to working condition by pressing the button;
• the next step is to empty the heater of its contents: to quickly drain the water, it is recommended to disconnect its inlet and outlet from the pipes, placing an empty water container under them;
• if the installation diagram provides for a regular drain, you should open the appropriate taps and wait until the liquid is discharged;
• Next, you need to disconnect the storage tank from the water supply - if it has a vertical orientation and the heating element is attached from the bottom, it can be dismantled in the working position.

In some cases, it is more convenient to carry out further manipulations by first removing the boiler from the wall.

IMPORTANT! It is better to remove the boiler together, especially if the model holds 50 liters or more.

How to get heating element

Before moving on to further disassembly, it is advisable to photograph the connection diagram of the electrical wires so as not to forget how they were connected when reconnecting. After this, you need to remove the terminals from the heating element. If there are other elements that prevent its removal (for example, a thermostat), they will have to be unfastened.

Using a wrench of suitable diameter, unscrew the nuts or bolts that secure the heater to the boiler body and carefully remove it.

Inspect the item carefully. If it is covered with a thick layer of scale, or the insulation is damaged, it will most likely need to be replaced.

How to check the serviceability of the heating element

To diagnose the heating element, you will need a tester or multimeter. First of all, you need to check the conductivity of the spiral.To do this, you need to attach the multimeter probes to the terminals of the part and ring. If the tester does not make a characteristic sound, the circuit has broken and the heater has burned out. Switch the device to resistance measurement mode. Depending on the power, the indicator should display a value of several tens of ohms. If the tester shows infinity, this also indicates a malfunction.

Another necessary diagnostic procedure is checking for breakdown. We apply one probe of the meter to the body, the second to the terminal of the heating element. If the circuit rings, it means the heater has failed. When the boiler is turned on, with correct electrical switching, the RCD will be triggered due to a breakdown on the housing.

How to change the heating element in a water heater

To repair a drive, you need to find the serial number in the operating instructions, which can be used to select a failed spare part. It is advisable to use heating elements designed specifically for your device model. Returning the part to its place occurs in the reverse order. First, the heater is placed inside the boiler and fixed with screws, after which all remaining elements are returned to their original place and connected.

The device is hung on the wall, after which it is connected to the water supply system and filled. If there are no leaks, you can supply electricity and turn on the heating.

How to extend the life of a water heater

In order for a storage water heater to serve for a long time, it is necessary to take measures to prevent it from premature failure.When connecting it to a cold water supply, it is advisable to use a reducer to reduce the pressure to an acceptable level (no more than 6 atmospheres), and also pass the incoming water through a fine cleaning system.

IMPORTANT! Never turn on the device if there is no water in it!

It is recommended to carry out timely maintenance, regularly descale the heating element in a citric acid solution to avoid its local overheating, replace the magnesium anode, clean the water filters, avoid maximum heating, monitor the functionality of the check valve, and turn off the device at night. If the equipment is not intended to be used for a long period of time (several months), it is advisable to disconnect it from the water supply system and drain the water.