Is this a common problem with A.O. Smith water heaters or just this 80 gallon model? My warranty expired one month ago and go- figure it starts leaking at the upper element. Can't tell for sure yet if it is the element or the tank but the upper thermostat is severely corroded.
I just bout a 38 gallon AO Smith low boy water heater from LOWE'S and dry fired the top element. I am now replacing the thermostat and element to make sure I covered all my areas of DIY amature mistakes. I noticed ON YOUR VIDEO AT :55 ON THE TOP ELEMENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IF YOU ARE FACING THE ELEMENT YOU HAVE TOP WIRE= RED MIDDLE WIRE = BLUE AND BOTTOM WIRE= RED. BUT AT 1:58 OF YOUR VIDEO YOU HAVE TOP WIRE = RED, MIDDLE WIRE = RED, BOTTOM WIRE = BLUE. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHICH IS CORRECT? IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD???
my water isn't as hot as it use to be. I had done a load full of laundry past few days with hot water selection, Could this have caused the problem? What do you think could be wrong with the heater at this point?
Connie A The hot water tank should be able to handle the amount of water the washer called for. Do you replace a heating element or thermostat? Either one of these parts can fail and cause poor heating.
i also noticed the switch in electric panel tripped for the water heater and when i tried to turn it back, the whole house lost power. But then i turned the main switch back and everything started working except the water heater
Connie A Get the model number of your hot water heater to look up a new element. Here is a video we produced for an element. th-cam.com/video/vtMv-MkIaQI/w-d-xo.html
Hi I have this same heater and the water in the house has gone completely ice cold. I know there's power to it I tripped the beakers and still no hot water. What do you suggest?
bklionfan You most likely have a bad lower heating element. I would turn off the power to the water heater and check the element with a meter. If it’s bad replace the element and that should fix the problem. If the element checks ok, test the thermostats and make sure the limit isn’t tripped on the top thermostat. If the limit is tripped (red button popped out) you have a bad thermostat or a shorted element.
We r using AO Smith ewsh15 water heater,from past week the heater is not working , when I start the heater it showing orange light instead red light(on heater).What could be the problem.Please xplain.
I have a double element hot water tank my water starts of hot then after a few minutes it goes ice cold ? Could it be the thermostat or the heating elements ? An how do you check the thermostat ?
Ben Ralph You most likely have a bad heating element. The thermostats can be checked with an Ohm meter. The top one is a little more difficult to check than the lower. When the upper thermostat is closed, there should be continuity between #1 and #2 and also between #3 and #4 terminals. This is the upper safety limit part of the thermostat. The lower part should show continuity between #1 and #2 terminals. When the upper thermostat reaches the set temperature it switches power from the #2 terminal to the #4 terminal and sends power to the lower element . The lower thermostat has only two terminals that should be closed until the thermostat reaches the set temperature. Both elements should show continuity. You should remove one of the wires from the thermostat or element that you are testing to prevent a false reading. Our How It Works: Water Heater will be helpful to you: th-cam.com/video/ZwapTUBP6jw/w-d-xo.html
My water heater doesn't seem to know when the water is cold. Even when it does, it has a hard time staying lit. I'm even turn it off and on. It'll try to light and burn 3 times before it just stops and 3 lights stays on. I have to do this process multiple times before it finally stays lit. What can be the issue and what should I replace first?
Troy Shaw Most likely one of the heating elements is shorted to ground (through the water) and it is staying on all the time. Enter you model number into our website to find replacement heating elements. www.repairclinic.com?TSLID=1773
it's very important to make sure the new stat is held tightly against the tank wall by the securing clips.
bgregg55 We would agree with that.
Is this a common problem with A.O. Smith water heaters or just this 80 gallon model? My warranty expired one month ago and go- figure it starts leaking at the upper element. Can't tell for sure yet if it is the element or the tank but the upper thermostat is severely corroded.
I just bout a 38 gallon AO Smith low boy water heater from LOWE'S and dry fired the top element. I am now replacing the thermostat and element to make sure I covered all my areas of DIY amature mistakes. I noticed ON YOUR VIDEO AT :55 ON THE TOP ELEMENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IF YOU ARE FACING THE ELEMENT YOU HAVE TOP WIRE= RED MIDDLE WIRE = BLUE AND BOTTOM WIRE= RED. BUT AT 1:58 OF YOUR VIDEO YOU HAVE TOP WIRE = RED, MIDDLE WIRE = RED, BOTTOM WIRE = BLUE.
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHICH IS CORRECT? IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD???
Do you have a video that explains how and why the thermostat does what it does? Thanks!
my water isn't as hot as it use to be. I had done a load full of laundry past few days with hot water selection, Could this have caused the problem? What do you think could be wrong with the heater at this point?
Connie A The hot water tank should be able to handle the amount of water the washer called for. Do you replace a heating element or thermostat? Either one of these parts can fail and cause poor heating.
i also noticed the switch in electric panel tripped for the water heater and when i tried to turn it back, the whole house lost power. But then i turned the main switch back and everything started working except the water heater
Connie A We would suspect a heating element has shorted to ground (through the water) causing the breaker to trip.
do i need a new water heater or can this repaired instead of replaced?
Connie A Get the model number of your hot water heater to look up a new element. Here is a video we produced for an element. th-cam.com/video/vtMv-MkIaQI/w-d-xo.html
Hi I have this same heater and the water in the house has gone completely ice cold. I know there's power to it I tripped the beakers and still no hot water. What do you suggest?
bklionfan You most likely have a bad lower heating element. I would turn off the power to the water heater and check the element with a meter. If it’s bad replace the element and that should fix the problem. If the element checks ok, test the thermostats and make sure the limit isn’t tripped on the top thermostat. If the limit is tripped (red button popped out) you have a bad thermostat or a shorted element.
+RepairClinic.com can you push the button back in to make it work?
We r using AO Smith ewsh15 water heater,from past week the heater is not working , when I start the heater it showing orange light instead red light(on heater).What could be the problem.Please xplain.
I have a double element hot water tank my water starts of hot then after a few minutes it goes ice cold ? Could it be the thermostat or the heating elements ? An how do you check the thermostat ?
Ben Ralph You most likely have a bad heating element. The thermostats can be checked with an Ohm meter. The top one is a little more difficult to check than the lower. When the upper thermostat is closed, there should be continuity between #1 and #2 and also between #3 and #4 terminals. This is the upper safety limit part of the thermostat. The lower part should show continuity between #1 and #2 terminals. When the upper thermostat reaches the set temperature it switches power from the #2 terminal to the #4 terminal and sends power to the lower element . The lower thermostat has only two terminals that should be closed until the thermostat reaches the set temperature. Both elements should show continuity. You should remove one of the wires from the thermostat or element that you are testing to prevent a false reading. Our How It Works: Water Heater will be helpful to you: th-cam.com/video/ZwapTUBP6jw/w-d-xo.html
Thank you ! I found out I had a bad heating element on top ! All is good now !
Ben Ralph Great!
New problem ! Changed both elements now water starts hot then goes cold after 2-3 mn ! Both elements test good ! Could it be the thermostats?
RepairClinic.com. ?? why does my thermostat keep tripping
Water is leaking from behind my thermostat cover plates. Any idea why that is and/or how to fix it?
+hmpz36911 The seal on a heating element may be going bad. The the tank itself is leaking then the heater will need replacement.
Thanks for the help! Problem solved! :-)
My water heater doesn't seem to know when the water is cold. Even when it does, it has a hard time staying lit. I'm even turn it off and on. It'll try to light and burn 3 times before it just stops and 3 lights stays on. I have to do this process multiple times before it finally stays lit. What can be the issue and what should I replace first?
+Dao Yang It sounds like a problem with burner assembly. Without model information we can't say what parts your hot water heater has.
My water is getting way too hot, then the red button breaker pops out. Does that mean the thermostat has gone bad?
Troy Shaw Most likely one of the heating elements is shorted to ground (through the water) and it is staying on all the time. Enter you model number into our website to find replacement heating elements. www.repairclinic.com?TSLID=1773
I replaced both thermostats and so far so good. It seems to have fixed the problem.
Troy Shaw If you start running into trouble again we would replace the heating elements. Thanks for sharing.
Good video....thank you