Replace Water Heater Element Without Draining

Once the water in the heater has cooled turn the cold water intake valve off and run some hot water from a faucet in your house to empty out excess water in the pipes.

Replace water heater element without draining.

Change water heater elements without draining tanks. You could do it that way but the old timers would shake their head at you and think what a rube below a few of the master appliantologists here at the academy off. To drain a water heater start by turning it off and let the water cool for a few hours. However if you have a leak if your water heater is older than 8 12 years or you just wish to upgrade and cut your energy expense it is time for a new heater.

Regular maintenance will extend the life of your water heater and some repairs such as replacing a pressure relief valve or heating element are pretty simple. Open the temperature and pressure relief valve on the side or top of the tank by flipping the lever to the open position this allows air into the tank to prevent suction that would inhibit draining. Shut off power and drain the tank before removing the old elements and replacing them. Drain the tank.

How to replace a heating element without draining the tank. If you need to replace the heating element in your electric water heater you may be thinking that you need to first drain the tank. Similar to the way in which oven heating elements work the heating elements in a water heater heat up when electrical current passes through them. If you d like to give it a try the video below will show you how.

It is possible to change your water heater s heating element without draining your tank. Unlike gas water heaters that have gas burners electric water heaters rely on a pair of upper and lower metal heating elements to heat the water. Slip a heating element wrench onto the element if your water heater has a screw in type element. Connect a garden hose to the water heater s drain valve and run the hose to a nearby floor drain or outdoors.