Electric Water Heater Thermostat Repair
- 1). Disconnect the electrical power supply to the water heater. Unplug the water heater's electric pigtail cord from the wall outlet receptacle, or turn off the breakers inside the home's main electrical breaker panel.
- 2). Remove the upper and lower thermostat cover plates from the front of the water heater. Use a screwdriver or nut wrench, depending on your model, to remove the plates.
- 3). Test the electrical circuits with a voltmeter. No power should be present.
- 4). Unscrew each wire terminal bolt on both the upper and lower thermostats with a Phillips screwdriver.
- 5). Pull each electrical lead wire out of its terminal and mark its position with a pencil. Bend each wire slightly out of the way. If you need, mark each wire with a number.
- 6). Remove each thermostat from its holding bracket. Pull outward on the brackets to release the thermostats by hand.
- 7). Snap each new thermostat into its bracket.
- 8). Insert each electrical lead into the new thermostats; tighten each terminal bolt securely with the Phillips screwdriver.
- 9). Set the temperature on the new thermostats according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 10
Replace the upper and lower thermostat cover plates. - 11
Restore power to the water heater.
