How to Test a Water Heater Element With a Multimeter
An electric water heater uses one or two heating elements to heat the water inside the tank. When a water heater no longer produces hot water, the upper element on a double element water heater could be the culprit. If your water heater produces some hot water, but not nearly as much as it should, suspect the lower element. If your water heater continually trips the circuit breaker, chances are the element has grounded and is creating an electrical short. Use a multimeter to determine if and how your elements are damaged.
Turn off the breaker inside your main electric panel providing power to the water heater. Most electric water heaters use a 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker.
Look for the panels attached with screws to the side of the water heater. Depending on the size of the water heater, you will have one or two panels. Remove the screws from the panels to release them.
Remove the insulation you exposed when removing the side panels. Depending on the age of the water heater, the insulation is fiberglass or closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam. Wear safety goggles and gloves when removing fiberglass insulation.
Pull the plastic safety cover from the element face. This cover snaps on and off the element and thermostat.
Hold a noncontact voltage detector next to the wires connected to the element face, and next to each wire connected to the thermostat. If electricity still is present in the water heater, the voltage detector emits an audible alarm and its light flashes.
Loosen the two element screws. Remove the wires from beneath the screws. Make a note of the element wattage printed on the side of the element face.
Turn the dial on a multimeter to Rx1k (resistance times 1,000 ohms). Touch one of the screws on the face of the element with one of the multimeter probes; place the remaining probe on the remaining screw. A 3,500-watt element should register 16 ohms, a 4,500-watt element should register between 12 and 13 ohms, and a 5,500-watt element should register between 10 and 11 ohms. Replace the element if it does not register on the multimeter.
Leave one of the probes touching one of the screws on the element face. Touch the other probe to any metal part of the water heater. If the multimeter needle moves, the heater element is grounded, and it must be replaced. Make sure you test both screws on the face of the element.
Touch each screw with one of the multimeter probes. Place the remaining probe against the metal base attached to the element where it enters the water heater. The element is bad and must be replaced if the needle on the face of the multimeter moves.
Attach the wires back to the face of the water heater element. Snap the plastic cover back over the thermostat and the element. Reinstall the insulation and attach the panels to the side of the water tank. Turn the breaker on to the water heater.
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