How to Replace a Water Heater Heating Element

Step 1: Confirm the heating element is the likely problem

1. Make sure you have an electric water heater, not a gas model. Heating elements are used on electric units.
2. Notice the main symptom: little or no hot water, or hot water that runs out much faster than normal.
3. Turn off power at the breaker before opening any access panel.
4. Remove the upper and lower access covers and use a non-contact voltage tester to confirm the wiring is not live.
5. If you have a multimeter and know how to use it safely, disconnect the wires from the suspect element and check for continuity or resistance. A failed reading supports replacing the element.
6. If the reset button on the upper thermostat has tripped, press it once after power is off and note whether the heater had simply shut down or whether an element still appears failed.

If it works: You have good reason to replace the water heater heating element and power is confirmed off.

If it doesn’t: If both elements test good and the reset does not solve the problem, the issue may be a thermostat, wiring, sediment buildup, or a different water heater fault.

Step 2: Shut down the heater and drain below the element

1. Leave the breaker off for the rest of the repair.
2. Close the cold water supply valve feeding the heater.
3. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve near the bottom of the tank and route the hose to a safe drain area.
4. Open a nearby hot water faucet to let air into the system.
5. Open the drain valve and let out enough water so the water level drops below the element you are replacing. If you are replacing the lower element, you will usually need to drain more water than for the upper element.
6. Keep a bucket or pan nearby because some water usually remains behind the element opening.

If it doesn’t: If the drain valve barely flows, sediment may be clogging it. Try briefly opening and closing the valve or use the hot faucet to improve venting.

Step 3: Remove the old heating element

1. Take a photo of the wire connections so you can put them back the same way.
2. Disconnect the wires from the element terminals.
3. Use the water heater element wrench to loosen the old element. Turn carefully and keep steady pressure so you do not damage the opening.
4. Pull the old element straight out once it is loose enough to remove by hand.
5. Remove the old gasket if it stayed behind on the tank opening.
6. Wipe the opening clean so the new gasket can seal against a smooth surface.

Step 4: Install the new element

1. Compare the new water heater heating element to the old one before installing it. Match the mount style, length, wattage, voltage, and terminal layout.
2. Place the new gasket on the new element if it is not already installed.
3. Insert the new element carefully into the opening and start the threads by hand, or align the bolt pattern by hand if your heater uses a bolt-on style.
4. Tighten the element firmly with the element wrench so the gasket seals evenly. Do not force it so hard that you damage the threads or flange.
5. Reconnect the wires to the same terminals you photographed earlier and tighten the terminal screws securely.
6. Reposition the insulation and reinstall the access cover loosely for now if you want to check for leaks first.

Step 5: Refill the tank completely before restoring power

1. Close the drain valve and remove the hose.
2. Open the cold water supply valve to refill the tank.
3. Leave a nearby hot water faucet open while the tank fills so trapped air can escape.
4. Wait until the hot faucet runs with a full, steady stream of water and no sputtering. That is your sign the tank is full.
5. Check around the new element and drain valve for leaks. Tighten the element slightly if needed, then recheck.
6. Once the tank is full and dry around the repair, reinstall any insulation and secure the access cover fully.

Step 6: Restore power and confirm the repair holds in normal use

1. Turn the breaker back on only after the tank is completely full.
2. Give the heater time to recover. A full tank may take a while to heat back up.
3. Run hot water at a faucet and check that the water gets hot and stays hot longer than before.
4. Check the access panel area again for leaks after the heater has heated and the tank is under normal pressure.
5. Over the next day, confirm the breaker stays on, the reset button does not trip again, and hot water supply is back to normal.

If it works: The water heater heats normally, the new element stays dry, and hot water performance is restored.

If it doesn’t: If the heater still does not make hot water, test the thermostat, the other element, and the power supply. If the breaker trips or the reset keeps tripping, there may be a wiring or control problem beyond the element.