Can You Replace A Heating Element In A Water Heater?

There’s no doubt that water heater problems in your Fort Wayne, Decatur, Angola, Indianapolis, or Greenwood, IN home are annoying. If you must wait forever to get hot water, run out of hot water quickly, or aren’t getting any hot water at all, there’s a good chance that one or both (yes, many water heaters have two) of your heating elements need to be replaced.

Yes Or No On DIY

Many times, Masters Heating & Cooling is asked if the homeowner can or should attempt to replace a water heating element as a do-it-yourself job. That’s a decision you must make based on the confidence you have in your DIY skills. For the most part, replacing a heater element is not technically difficult, but I am going to point out that working on a water heater includes working with high voltage (220 votes instead of 110) and scalding hot water. Mistakes can lead to damage and injuries. You will also need an electrical tester and know how to use it. That’s the only way to determine if the element is indeed at fault or if there’s another problem with the water heater .

Replacement May Be A Better Option

For the purposes of this article let’s assume we’re talking about an electric water heater as opposed to gas. As mentioned earlier, most water heaters have an upper and lower heating element . Most often the lower element is the problem because it’s likely sitting in sediment that causes it to break or short out. It’s also important to point out that if the element has failed you should take stock of the situation. The typical lifespan of a water heater is six to ten years. Depending on how old yours is it may make more sense to buy a new one rather than replacing the heating element.

Masters Can Help

Masters Heating & Cooling can help you make the decision by reviewing maintenance records and inspecting the water heater for any other problems. It’s also worth remembering that just like furnaces, water heaters are much more efficient now than they were years ago. This means installing a new one can save money on utility bills. Another option is replacing the older tank-style water heater in your Fort Wayne, Decatur, Angola, Indianapolis, or Greenwood, IN home with a new tankless system. To learn more about the services offered by Masters be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter .