What Electricians Do As Part of Hot Water Maintenance

23 October 2019
 Categories: , Blog


Do you get your hot water supply from an electric water heater? Like a gas water heater, an electric water heater requires routine maintenance to keep working energy-efficiently, provide prolonged service life and ensure safe operation. 

The main difference between the two types of water heaters is the heat source. Electric water heaters run on electricity while their cousins are powered by gas. The fact that electric water heaters are both electrical and plumbing appliances calls for the input of both electricians and plumbers when it is time for hot water maintenance. 

If you'd like to know how what electricians do when called upon to perform maintenance on electric water heaters, continue reading along.

Turning Off the Electricity

Like other electrical appliances in your home, electric water heaters should only be worked on when the power supply has been disconnected. These high-voltage appliances can easily cause electrocution if any uninsulated electrical part is touched while the power is turned on.

Before commencing maintenance on any electrical parts of the water heater, an electrician will turn off the appropriate breaker in your home's breaker box. 

Inspecting the Heating Elements

Electric water heaters have two heating elements: one is located at the top of the water storage tank and the other one is located at the bottom of the tank. If your water heater suddenly produces less hot water than it used to, this is likely a sign of faulty heating elements.

During routine maintenance, your water heater technician will inspect your appliance's heating elements to see if they are defective. If the heating elements are found to be defective, they will need to be replaced.

Inspecting the Wiring

Electric water heaters rely on wiring connections to supply electricity to the various electrical components of the hot water system. When a hot water system specialist is maintaining your electric water heater, they will look for any loose or detached wiring that needs to be retightened or reconnected. 

Inspecting the Thermostat

The thermostat on your electric water heater is what determines the temperature at which the water should be heated. During hot water maintenance, a professional technician will check if your electric thermostat has been set correctly and if it is working well.

If it is found that you have a faulty thermostat, it will need to be replaced with a product that is compatible with your electric water heater.

Contact a local company that provides hot water maintenance to get started today.


Share