Elec. Water Heater info needed

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Working on a W. Heater. Question: Elements are type that don't run at same time. Which is should go first? Top or bottom? Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), March 04, 2002

Answers

the bottom one kicks on first, and if you don't drain the hot water down too far the top one doesn't kick on at all. if you do use enough hot water, the top one kicks in so it only has to heat up the up half of the tank.

-- ed (mkwrth@frsb.net), March 04, 2002.

I was thinking it was the bottom. I just replaced a burned out bottom element and when I turned on power the top one took off but no power to bottom. Breaker was tripped this AM when I got to barn so overload may have ruined something inside controls. I waiting to see what happens when top kicks off. Got a complete set of take of controls but they are the "goverment approved" models that gets you luke warm water. I may have to resort to them for a few days.

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), March 04, 2002.

the top one sould have come on first. when the top part of the tank, gets up to temperature, the top element kicks out and the bottom kicks in to finish getting the tank up to temp.the bottom elements are the ones that burn out most frequently. when you took the element out did you notice any lime scale sedement that might be touching the element?if so, you should drain the bottom of the tank, a little more frequently

-- ed (mkwrth@frsb.net), March 04, 2002.

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