Bradford White ElectriFLEX HD CEHD 120, Service Manual

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10
Troubleshooting
Most common cause for improper electric water heater operation can be linked to heating element
failure.
When troubleshooting an electric water heater with the incidence of “No Hot Water” or “Insufficient Amount of Hot Water”
It is always a good idea to check the heating elements first following the procedure on page 15.
Common Heating Element Failures Are:
1. Dry Firing. Elements may be partially submerged in water or most likely, completely exposed with no water in
the tank at all. In open air, an energized element (Dry Fired) will become completely inoperable within
seconds. In some cases sediment or lime build up around an element can eventually cause an air pocket,
resulting in a dry fired element. When element replacement is required, be sure tank is full of water prior to
energizing the water heater.
2. Grounded Element. In most cases, an element with a short circuit to ground will cause the circuit breaker in
the service panel to open or shut off. In some cases there may not be enough current draw for the circuit
breaker to open. This will allow the heating element to be in continuous operation resulting in overheated
water, limited only by the Hi Limit Switch located in the thermostat circuit. Repeated actuation of the Hi Limit
Switch usually is the result of a grounded heating element.
3. Sediment build up. Slow hot water recovery can usually be traced back to sediment or lime build up around
heating element. Sediment build up can also over time cause a dry fired element.
If a heating element is found to be inoperative, it must be replaced. Follow service procedure IX on page 21.
The illustration below shows a common “Screw-In” type heating element identifying certain features commonly referred to
throughout this manual.