Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide: How To Fix a Water Heater

Symptom	Check Click on underlined items for further information
No hot water	Check the circuit breaker or fuse box High temperature limit switch (ECO - Energy Cut Off) may have tripped. Determine if a problem exists and reset the switch. Upper thermostat may have failed and requires replacement Heating element may have failed and requires replacement
Not enough hot water	Thermostat set too low, increase temperature. Caution: Too hot can lead to scalding and burns Sediment in tank, drain sediment Thermostat may not be flush with the tank Thermostat may have failed and requires replacement Heating element may have failed and requires replacement Water heater too small, replace with larger capacity model
Takes too long to reheat water	Thermostat set too low, increase temperature. Caution: Too hot can lead to scalding and burns Sediment or lime in tank, drain sediment Heater too small, replace with larger capacity model Lower heating element may be faulty and requires replacement Lower thermostat may be faulty and requires replacement
Pressure relief valve is leaking	Water temperature too high, turn down thermostat Water pressure too high, use a pressure reducing valve in supply line Valve has failed, requires replacement
Drain valve is leaking	Many water heaters use a low quality valve which can be difficult to close tightly. Use slip joint pliers to turn the valve all the way closed. Caution: Too much force may snap the valve off Valve has failed, requires replacement
Condensation on tank	Cold water entering the tank can result in external condensation. Ventilation may be inadequate Eventual replacement with a larger tank may help
Tank is leaking	Determine if the leak is from pipes or valves Determine if it is the result of condensation If the tank is leaking, the water heater must be replaced
Hot water has an odor	Results from naturally occuring bacteria. An alternative anode may be available to resolve the problem. Contact the manufacturer
Hot water heater is noisy	Noise can occur for many reasons and most do not signify a problem Lime scale on the element results in steam pockets in the scale Sediment in the tank Low water pressure results in spot boiling Voltage exceeds heating element's rating