Can you use a higher wattage water heater element?
Larger wattage is not ok. Product warranty, and electrical safety code, support same-wattage or smaller-wattage element. Do not use larger wattage element than shows on water heater label.
Can you use any heating element in a water heater?
High Watt Density Elements are the most common water heater elements and can be used in all replacement scenarios, assuming the wattage and voltage match. The LASCO 40-1015 High Watt Density 1500-Watt, 120-Volt Electric Water Heater Element has a screw-in base with 1-1/4 inch thread.
How many watts is a water heater element?
4,500 watts
Water heaters running on 120-volt power have a long recovery time, which is impractical for most households; 120-volt elements consume 1125 watts, while residential 240-volt heaters use 4,500 watts.
Does water heater element length matter?
Does the length of a water heater heating element make a difference? No, not as long as you have the proper voltage, watts and style. Shorter elements have a larger diameter therefore the same surface area.
How many amps does a 3500 watt water heater use?
*IF* the elements in that 50 gallon water heater were only 3500 watts, then on a 240 volt circuit you would have 3500 / 240 = 14.6 amps, which is within the 16 amps of the 80% rating of both a #12 AWG copper circuit, rating of 20 amps, and the 20 amp rated breaker.
Should you replace both water heater elements?
If your electric hot water heater is slow to heat, runs out of hot water faster than it used to, or doesn’t deliver any hot water at all, there’s a 90 percent chance that simply replacing one or both of the heating elements will solve the problem.
How do you tell if a heating element in a water heater is bad?
Touch a probe on the multitester to each screw on the element. If you get no reading, or a maximum reading, the element is bad. Elements do have some resistance, so a reading of 10-16 ohms is normal, with higher ohm readings for 3,500 watt elements and lower readings for 5,500 watt elements.
How do I know which water heater element is bad?
Which element heats up first on electric water heater?
upper thermostat
The upper thermostat first sends electrical energy to the upper element until the water temperature in the upper third of the tank reaches the thermostat setting. Power is then transferred to the lower element until the remaining water reaches the lower thermostat setting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXhxyGfsjOw