electric water heater question

[longshot]

my water heater sprung a leak through the upper heating element , It flooded
the space between the tank & casing (& laundry room). I drained the tank &
replaced the element, It still is not heating water.
is it likely that the lower element is also fried , & wouldn't it still heat
water if it was? what else could be my problem? I wonder if the water fried
the switch. should I just replace the whole WH?
Thanks
Rob

 

[Newsey Person]

Has the thermostat survived the fault?

Newsey

 

[longshot]

Has the thermostat survived the fault?

How can i tell?

 

[longshot]

thanks for the tips...

I did some Google research & what I found said to check for voltage at the
upper element, if there's no power there (but there is at at the
thermastat ), than the upper thermostat needs replaced. it doesn't submerge
into the tank, it is only against the outside of the tank.

 

[longshot]

It is far more likely that you have no power at the unit
(fuse blown or circuit breaker tripped ) than that the
thermostat has failed due to a failed heating element.

I think that since the element failed & gushed water through the terminal &
into the casing it soaked the wires on the thermostat & fried it.

 

[Newsey Person]

Are you sure this external thermostat isn't for your central heating system?

Newsey

 

[John G]

Again we have someone totally out of their depth asking for advice in a
field that has killed many .

GET A TRAINED ELECTRICIAN before youy kill yourself or a loved one

 

[longshot]

what is your problem dickwad?
I know several union electricians, I could get free help if I wanted to bug
one of em. I am pretty sure I can handle it.

If you don't have anything helpful to say, shut the **** up.
thank you for your time.

BTW: I changed the thermostat & It's up & running.

Rob

 

[longshot]

--

Contact (surface mounted) thermostats for electrical water
heaters aren't generally a good idea - if the thermostat
comes loose or otherwise has bad thermal contact with the
tank, the water temperature can rise to very dangerous
temperatures. Not only can any hot water user get badly
scalded, the water could boil and overpressurize itself or
another part of the system. They are more applicable to an
indirect heating system (with,say, a primary circuit with
its own upper temperature limit) as an additional, rather
than the only, temperature setting.
or

theses things are on almost all electric water heaters, you can readily buy
them at any home depot type store. that said I feel pretty confident that
they are safe enough if installed correctly.

As for your rather unkind comments to one poster - the guy
was giving sensible advice. Lots of people do kill
themselves attempting to do what you did. For all we know,
you could be seeing if the circuit is live by sticking your
fingers in the socket...
Sue

sorry, but that guy is a prick. I admit that I know very little about
electricity, but I have been in construction for about 20 years & have done
a fair amount of wiring. I can certainly follow simple instructions.

again. thanks for the tips

Rob

 

[longshot]

They are not safe enough to use to control a direct heating
source - such as an electrical immersion heater. Even if you
install them perfectly, if ever they get knocked, they can
lose good thermal contact with the tank and the tank
temperature can then rise to scalding or even boiling point.

So, sorry to disagree with you - but my views still stand.

it's exactly identical to the one i removed...
the tank (& all water heaters, I assume) has a relief valve that would send
water everywhere if the tank ever reached 190 degrees..

 

[longshot]

Take a look. maybe we are talking about 2 different animals...

http://homerepair.about.com/gi/dyna...zu=http://www.chilipepperapp.com/troublee.htm

 

[Newsey Person]

I have to admit it, it looks as though the US system is better than the UK
system.

BTW
UK immersion stats often fail closed resulting in boiling 212 degree f ( 100
degree cent ) coming out of the taps.
The water system cannot be over pressurised.

Newsey