what causes water heater elements to burn out

Water Heater Smells Like: Burning Rubber or Plastic. One of the most common causes of burned-out heating elements is dry firing. Whenever your heating element is burned in an air pocket, they generate enough heat that will melt their copper and eventually cause serious damage to your heater. I am wondering what the cause could be. Reason #2: Loose electrical connection . ! Are you certain that it doesn't have two elements that add up to a total of 4500 watts (i.e., 2250 watts each)? In order to prevent cross-contamination, make sure to return the same heating element to the receptacle it came from. On the other hand, gas water heaters work by using a burner to heat the water, and lukewarm water might signal that your burner isn’t working correctly. Most bottom-dollar tract home builders use electric water heaters. How to Put Out an Electric Oven Heating Element That Catches on Fire ... because they usually involve burning grease or electrical elements, and water makes these fires worse. Touch one probe to each of the terminals on the heating element. I have a Rheem standard 40 gallon hot water heater. Elements of certain lengths are usually used to fit within the constraints of the water heater tank diameter. If one of these elements is out, it’ll result in lukewarm water. Call a Licensed Plumber for Help. If you smell burning rubber or burning plastic, turn off the power source at the breaker first before trying to pinpoint the smell. After replacing the elements and getting things running again … They use a heating element placed in the water that is triggered when the temperature falls below a certain level. 2 element water heaters do not run both simultaneously. Heating elements can burn out. Burned wires are dangerous and are a leading cause of house fires. When the lower element fails you will have a lot less hot water. I don't have the time or inclination to argue or debate this subject. It worked fine for 6 mo. And once the water conditions become harder, the faster the chemical reaction takes place with your heating elements. What causes water heater elements to burn out? Once this situation continues, an air pocket will most likely develop in the top portion of the tank, which exposes your upper heating element to the air. To check it, remove one wire from the element terminals and set a … Sometimes one element fails causing the other element to work overtime. Took it out to my shop to have a look see at what went wrong, and low and behold, there had been a fire in the lower element compartment. Turn the cold water feed beck on to the tank and see how much junk comes out of the tank. If you go back turn off the power and the cold water feed. Electric water heaters are more efficient than gas-powered ones. Heating elements are crucial in making your water supply hot based on your preferred temperatures. A burned out element can cause you to have 'no hot water' or 'very little hot water'. An interesting problem. The most common cause of burned out elements on new water heater installations or new element replacements is DRYFIRE. They are designed to operate only when submerged in water. Buildup may cause heating elements to burn out. Here is what I bet your problem is. Eventually, all heating elements (like light bulbs) will burn out. The element thus overheats and burns out. While this is no reason to call the fire department, you should inspect your hot water heater . If you notice problems such as light bulbs burning out quickly, flickering, or you have an issue with a light fixture refusing to turn, on you might have a burned wire. Ensure your heater’s pressure relief valve is fully functional, replace if faulty; Always keep your heater’s temperature at 120-125 degrees. Of course, even if your trailer is in warranty, burning out the electric element is considered user error, which is not covered by the warranty against manufacturing defects. Electricity heats the metal loops on the elements, which then heats the surrounding water. 4 Year old and worked like a champ until 6 months ago. Author: cessnat37 I have a Whirlpool electric water heater Model# E50R6-45 100. Causes and Solutions for a Water Heater Overheating Another trouble maker is the thermostats. I say the thermostat is defective or not resting directly against the tank wall. If the heater is electric, water corrosion can cause an electrical short. Your measurements indicate a 6k element. I am surprised that it last that long. Reason #4: … If this is not the problem, you may have issues with the pilot or the burner. The owner saved the elements and showed them to me. But the next day we noticed a funny smell, by the second day it was getting stronger, and smelt like a burning smell coming from the water heater area. For the element to work, current needs to be able to pass through it. The electricity is passed through the resistant material and turned into heat, which then heats the water. In water heaters, the nichrome element is covered with an outer sheath made of stainless steel, tin-coated copper, or INCOLOY® (an iron-nickel-chromium "superalloy," which is rustproof, long-lasting, and works well in hard-water areas). In general, an accumulation of grit means the appliance works harder to do its job, uses more energy and breaks down sooner. Unlike a gas water heater and electric one has two. Okay, with that out of the way, let’s look at the possible problems that are causing your electric water heater to trip your breaker. How Sediment Harms a Water Heater. If this situation continues, eventually the elements will burn out. Usually, when the heating elements fail, they simply burn out and the only way you’ll notice is that the water isn’t as hot as it once was. One of the most common causes of burned-out heating elements is dry firing. When to Call a Pro . Elements of the same wattage input may be longer or shorter than their counterparts because of a low, medium, or high watt density construction. Electric water heaters have a lower and upper thermostat—one for each heating element. The first think I checked was the upper thermostat with ECO reset button. 2 element water heaters do not run both simultaniously. This air pocket causes the top element to become non-submerged and burn out when the power is turned on. If the top element thermostat is satisfied (meaning, the water at the top of the tank, which will be drawn off first) then it's t-stat bypasses one leg to the lower t-stats. Repeated, even momentary overheating will cause a lot of thermal stress on the element over time, eventually causing failure. If this layer of calcification thickens and builds up without regular cleaning, it can cause the elements to overheat in an attempt to heat the water to the required temperature. If the water heater really has two elements at 4500 watts each, then a #10 and a 30 amp breaker are undersized. Reason #3: Bad heating element. After replacing the elements and getting things running again all was fine, hot water was good. It’s important not to let this coating thicken up to the point where the heating elements cease to be effective in transferring heat to your water supply. Heater Element The heating element could be grounding out, which will result in the heating element staying on. Bake and Broil Elements are made to withstand extremely high temperatures but with time and wear they will all eventually burn or short out. Often they will burn out almost instantaneously. Common electric water heaters work using two elements for heating water inside the tank. Heating elements can be replaced, and the offending sediments can be cleaned out by flushing the tank. I lost my hot water today. What causes burned wires on electric water heater thermostat? What causes burned wires on electric water heater thermostat? In an electric water heater, the water heater element is the part that will actually heat the water up. Loose electrical connections are a hazard no matter where they occur. Yes you will get a build up with flushing the tank depending on your water but it will keep the build up low. Electric water heaters have an element near the bottom of the water tank. But sometimes, the heating element casing can split and expose the electrical components directly to the water or tank. once a year we change elements,(replace the lime built-up one with the cleaned one, then clean the crusted one with vinager and use it for next years switch). There is an inconsistency in your numbers. The minerals can sometimes collect on the heating elements, causing them to corrode and become encrusted. Power surges can occur during electrical storms or if the power company suddenly experiences a surge on the other end. Four month life span is quite short,high sediment level,and 6k element equals melt down. The first think I checked was the upper thermostat with ECO reset button. These heaters primarily rely on a pair of upper and lower metal heating elements in keeping their functionalities intact. Since an electric water heater is connected to an outlet in your home, a sudden surge of power can also cause damage to the heating element. Older elements may burn out due to age or, more often, sediment build up from water conditions encrust the element blades acting as insulation and preventing the heat from being transferred to the water. In gas powered heaters, calcium suppresses the metal walls that once so effectively conveyed the heat from the burner flame to the water. According to the Burn Foundation, it only takes 1 second for water at 156º to cause third degree burns. This happens because the installer fails to open a hot water faucet while the heater tank is filling with water and therefore purging or bleeding air from the system. Instead, those toxic fumes are seeping into your establishment. What are the Common Causes of Burnout in Hot Water Heater Elements? The element relies on proper airflow and proper thermal regulation in order to not overheat. Another electrical situation that may affect your heating elements is when lightning strikes the power lines, which results in spikes into the electrical system. Sediment or dry fire are your primary causes for element failure. Due to the hot temperatures within the oven cavity, it isn’t unusual for it to burn out while enduring the high temperatures. Most water heaters have two heating elements—one near the top of the tank, another located further down. If it reads "upper element - 4500 watts, lower element - 4500 watts, total - 4500 watts" then they do not run simultaneously. Poorly installed heaters, heater controls and gas connections can cause explosions. The wires that are attached to the #4 second from top right side terminal are burned. The thermostats and the heating elements must be replaced if it is known that a heater was involved in a lightning strike. If your element repeatedly burns out, therefore, you should check the continuity of the cycling thermostat and high-limit thermostat. Put a hose on the bottom of the tank and open it up. The upper thermostat controls the lower one. The lower element is needed to heat up the cold water coming in when you are using hot water. A sudden voltage increase to the element caused by a power surge from the utility company, or by lightning, can be enough to burn out an element. I got the perfect solution any sparky should know. Shove EMT in the lower element hole and enjoy the day. They also have a heating element on the top and bottom part of the heater. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. How Do Solar Heating Systems Work During Winter Season? Twice in the last year, the lower element has burned out. Wires - a bad connection can cause an element to stop working. I would think that it is there for a reason. So the red reset button on your electric water heater keeps popping out and needing to be reset. Only electric water heaters use heating elements to heat water. Because the cause of the burn-out is so evident, the element will not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. The thermostat might quit working along with the element. We have NEVER had a problem until now!!! If you have a gas heater, check to see if the gas valve is open. Burnt out heating element. The elements burn out in a very short time. A power surge caused by an electric utility or a lightning strike may result to sudden voltage increase that can burn the water heating elements. When the water has cooled off, the thermostats kick on the heating elements to heat the water. The heating element could be grounding out, which will result in the heating element staying on. Water heater elements burn out for one main reason. Use a drip pan to capture grease and oil, however, do not line drip pans with foil. Since heating elements only depend on electricity, then they are subject to any changes that may occur on their source of power. 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