Water Heater Not Heating After Replacing Elements and Thermostat – 7 Reasons!

Well, the water heater has one work to do and it’s heating. But if it doesn’t do the task correctly, the whole process gets super irritating and annoying.

You might have already replaced the thermostat and elements, but we’re sure it’s still numb.

Don’t worry, as, in this guide, we’ll be comforting you with other reasons why the water heater is not heating after replacing the elements and thermostat. It can be faulty wire connections, defective parts, tripped breakers, broken wires, and many more.

Let’s detect it, shall we?

Reasons Why Water Heater Not Heating After Replacing Elements and Thermostat

So, before starting, you should make sure you have turned on your heater for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Most of the time some water heaters take this much time to heat on.

But if you did this already and still the water is not heating up, let’s see what might be the other causes!

●      Poor Wire Connection

The first and foremost thing that you should check is the wiring of the water heater. We mean, maybe you tried replacing hot water heater element or changing the water heater thermostat but did you watch out for all the connections properly?

It’s because poor connection won’t let the water be heated and no matter how many things you do, it won’t work. It’ll drop the voltage and as a result, the water will be the same as before.

You need to check the wired connectivity for that. And if you find any loose connection, congrats! You have just found out the problem. Just fix it and your heater will work like a pro!

●      Tripped Breaker

Next up, let’s discuss the circuit breaker part. So, if you checked the wire connections and if they’re okay but still the water heater not heating up, you need to go check your breaker.

Sometimes, the circuit breaker goes tripped even without knowing and that causes all the messed-up situations. You have to open the breaker box and check out the double pole breaker (it’s for the water heater).

If the breaker is down, you must know the issue. Pull it up and go see if the solution worked. We’re sure it’ll!

If the breaker still falls down, there must be a short circuit issue. This time you need to call an electrician.

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●      Scales in the Tank

Your water heater needs flushing from time to time just like other machines. If you don’t do it, the scales will accumulate. As a consequence, your heater won’t work as accepted.

If you already replaced the thermostat and still no heat is there, it’s time you should descale the machine. You need to flush the tank and release all those dirty filters so that the water takes less time to heat.

Note that, the water tank needs flushing once a year to keep it fresh and clear.

●      Rusty Heater

Look, any water devices face the problem of rusting (of course after years of use). If your heater isn’t heating after replacing the thermostat in the water heater, you should immediately change the tank.

It’s because the tank in there is definitely rusty and that fact is causing the improper heating problem. Also, after some time, your whole heater will stop working.

Try to purchase a new tank and see how superiorly the tool works!

●      Hot and Cold Water Connections

At times the cross-connection of cold and hot water cause issues with not heating up the water efficiently.

We all know that both (hot and cold) pipes are separate. But if any chance the lines get mixed, your cold water will interfere with the heating process. Thus, you’ll face the hot water heater not heating in the correct way.

Plus, this problem can lead to other big difficulties that can happen to the heater, such as low performance and less durability.

If you replaced the thermostat and element and still your heater isn’t working, check the pipes. You need to call a professional repair person who can fix this complication.

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●      Old Age

Another great reason why your water heater isn’t heating is probably because of the age of the machine. Of course, you won’t face a new water heater not heating ever, but if it’s been used for some time now, the issue may arise.

We mean, every product has its lifespan and if you use it after its expiration date, it’ll obviously slow down the performance.

So if you ever notice this heating issue with the heater, do all the above things first. And if those don’t work, know that it’s high time you should change the whole thing.

●      The Weather

Last but definitely not least, the outside weather plays a vital role in heating your water heater. If you live in the south, you’ll surely face so many difficulties because of the cold and dry temperature.

The water will take a long time to heat. No matter how many times you change the elements or the thermostat, it’ll take a decade. Be patient and wait.

ALSO READ: Water Heater Leaking from Cold Water Inlet

Analyze the Matter Early and Solve It!

To sum up, we can say you should definitely be observant if you smell the above cases with your water heater. If it’s not heating properly, you need to identify the exact problem and fix it as soon as you can.

Or else you can take the machine to the professionals (if you want). They’ll point out what’s wrong with it and will repair it for you.

Just don’t neglect the fact because if you do, other issues may arise inside the heater, such as smelly water, lighting problems in the heater, noise issues, dirty water, leaks, low water pressure, and no heated water.

Frequently Asked Questions

●      Why is my water heater not heating?

Your water heater might be facing some issues inside. For example, the tank might need descaling. So you need to flush it. Then again, your weather situation outside might be very cold and in this case, you need to wait. Therefore, it can be some poor wire connections, tripped breaker, or even the heater’s age.

●      Can a water heater element test good but be bad?

Well, it’s very rare that your heater element is bad but it’s showing it’s good. In this case, you can try to push the ‘High-Temperature Button Cutoff’ which is situated above the thermostat. Pushing it will solve your heating issue and if it doesn’t, go to the repair shop.

●      Which element comes on first in a water heater?

In a water heater, the top element always comes first. It turns on in the beginning to warm the upper part of the tank water. After the top half is set with a specific temp, the top element switches off. Next, the bottom element starts to heat the rest of the water.

Conclusion

The issue with the water heater not heating after replacing the element and thermostat is quite common in every household. All you need to do is calm down and find out about the other reasons your machine went blank.

Once you analyze the exact problem, it’ll be easier for you to solve it. And if you don’t want to do that, there are always professionals out there to help!

However, never be too late to identify the subject as a little bit of delay can cause harm to your tool and even your household.

All the best!

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