Replace Water Heater Element Without Draining

This is a specialty tool with a wide mouth designed to fit over the element s nut in a tight.

Replace water heater element without draining.

Slip a heating element wrench onto the element if your water heater has a screw in type element. You could do it that way but the old timers would shake their head at you and think what a rube below a few of the master appliantologists here at the academy off. Similar to the way in which oven heating elements work the heating elements in a water heater heat up when electrical current passes through them. If you need to replace the heating element in your electric water heater you may be thinking that you need to first drain the tank.

Shut off power and drain the tank before removing the old elements and replacing them. Regular maintenance will extend the life of your water heater and some repairs such as replacing a pressure relief valve or heating element are pretty simple. The water inside the tank may be over 120 degrees fahrenheit even with a failed. Connect a garden hose to the water heater s drain valve and run the hose to a nearby floor drain or outdoors.

Once the water in the heater has cooled turn the cold water intake valve off and run some hot water from a faucet in your house to empty out excess water in the pipes. It is possible to change your water heater s heating element without draining your tank. Drain the tank. Unlike gas water heaters that have gas burners electric water heaters rely on a pair of upper and lower metal heating elements to heat the water.

If you d like to give it a try the video below will show you how. Although keep in mind that it can be a bit more challenging. How to replace a heating element without draining the tank. Open the temperature and pressure relief valve on the side or top of the tank by flipping the lever to the open position this allows air into the tank to prevent suction that would inhibit draining.