Residen al Electric Water Heater Use and Care Guide • 17
TROUBLESHOOTING
TR
OUBLE
SHOO
TING
PROBLEM
POSSIBLE CAUSE(S)
See explanations on the following pages.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
NO HOT WATER
(page 18)
No power to water heater
Check for blown fuses or tripped circuit
breaker. Check for power.
Burned out upper heating element (Dry Fired)
Replace upper heating element.
Energy Cut Off Switch tripped
See page 19, step 5.
Faulty Thermostatic Mixing Valve
Check hot water at other faucets.
Non-Functioning upper thermostat
Check/replace upper thermostat. (See page
23)
Leak in plumbing system
Check hot water side of home’s plumbing
system for leaks.
INSUFFICIENT HOT WATER
(page 19)
Thermostats set too low
Set thermostats to desired temperature.
See page 15
Non-Functioning lower heating element
Replace lower heating element. (See page
22)
Water heater’s capacity too small (or usage too
high)
Install adequately sized water heater
(or reduce usage).
Thermostactic Mixing Valve faulty/set too low
Check hot water at other faucets.
Non-Functioning lower thermostat
Replace lower thermostat. (See page 23)
Hot and cold pipe connections reversed
Correct piping.
Leak in plumbing system
Check hot water side of home’s plumbing
system for leaks.
Melted dip tube
Check/replace dip tube.
SLOW HOT WATER
RECOVERY
(page 19)
Low supply voltage
Check power (voltage).
Malfunctioning lower heating element
Check lower element and replace if burned
out. (See page 22)
TEMPERATURE TOO HIGH
(page 20)
Non-functioning thermostat
Replace thermostat. (See page 23)
Grounded/shorted heating element
Replace heating element. (See page 22)
Thermostatic Mixing Valve faulty/set too high
Check hot water at other faucets.
LOW WATER PRESSURE
(page 20)
Partially closed supply valve.
See Low Water Pressure section on page
20.
DRIPS FROM T&P RELIEF
VALVE
(page 20)
Excessive water pressure
Use Pressure Reducing Valve set to 50-60
psi.
Thermal expansion
Install a Thermal Expansion Tank.
Debris under valve seat
See page 20.
WATER ODOR
(page 20)
Bacteria in the water
See Water Odor section on page 20.