15
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
CONDITION
CAUSE
REMEDY
Fuse burns often.
Fuse contacts oxidized or fuse not
screwed in tight enough.
Clean contacts and tighten fuse.
Power supply wiring is undersized.
See Table 1 for correct wiring size.
Smoking wiring.
Lightning/Power surge.
Inspect/replace fuse, element, and thermostat.
Low/High voltage.
Check with electrical utility and correct.
Power supply wiring undersized.
See Table 1 for correct wiring size.
Service wires charred or hot.
Wiring connections are wrong.
See Figure 2 for correct wiring.
Water heater not properly grounded.
Properly ground the water heater.
Lightning/Power surge.
Inspect/replace fuse, element, and thermostat.
High voltage.
Check with electrical utility and correct.
Short circuit.
Locate short circuit and repair.
Power supply wiring undersized.
See Table 1 for correct wiring size.
Drain valve leaks.
Drain valve is open.
Close the drain valve.
Defective drain valve.
Replace with new drain valve.
Water drips from the
relief valve.
Excessive water pressure.
Install a pressure reducing valve.
Thermal expansion in a closed water
system.
Install a suitable expansion tank on the cold water
supply line.
Improperly seated relief valve.
Check relief valve works properly and replace, if necessary.
Defective thermostat.
Replace with new thermostat.
Defective relief valve.
Replace with new relief valve.
Water on the floor/drain pan.
Water discharge from the relief valve.
See Pressure build-up in a water system (page 3).
Element leaks.
Replace with new element.
Water heater leaks.
Replace with new water heater
Condensation.
Water heater filled for the first time.
Let water heater warm up. Problem should go away. If it
persists, check all plumbing connections for leaks.
Heavy draws of hot water with very cold
refill water.
Let water heater warm up. Problem should go away. If it
persists, check all plumbing connections for leaks.
Water heater is undersized.
Install size of water heater that meets demand.
Wet insulation.
Leaking plumbing connections.
Locate leak and repair.
Leaking around heating element.
Tighten, clean, and smooth face of tank flange and
element gasket.
Water discharge from the relief valve.
See Pressure build-up in a water system (page 3).
Singing element.
Build up of mineral deposits on element.
Clean element, replace with new element if necessary.
Singing thermostat.
Thermostat not flush with tank.
Install thermostat properly.
Wiring connections are loose.
Locate, clean carefully, reconnect properly.
Traces of rust in
the hot water.
Anode has been eaten away.
Replace new anode.
Rusty water.
Water corrosion.
Replace with new water heater.
Rotten egg smell.
High sulfate or mineral content in water.
Change magnesium anode to an aluminum anode and
bleach water heater.
Tank bulged.
N
o relief valve installed.
Install proper relief valve.
Excessive water pressure.
Install a pressure reducing valve.
Thermal expansion in a closed
water system.
Install a suitable expansion tank on the cold water
supply line.
