Hotwater Heater 101 Question

[Appliancejack]

I witness tonight something I have never seen. A tenant went and purchase new Heating elements and thermostats for his hotwater heater. He replaced everything and cleaned out debri in the bottom of the tank. Hooked everything back-up, applied power and check for power and had 240 volts at elements. He left it for 24 hours and still has no hotwater. Rechecked elements at 12 to 13 ohms and tested thermostats and they tested fine. He even hooked 240 Volts straight to elements and heating never started on either element. Can somebody explain what the problem might be.

[kdog]

If the elements were energized while the tank was empty they could have burned out - check resistance

[RegUS_PatOff]

If the Elements read 10 to 12 OHMs and they have 240v across them

they would be heating

IF the connections are good.

Can you measure the current ?

[Bullstok]

they would be heating

IF the connections are good.

Assuming he didnt buy 120v elements or wrong stats or something. I saw someone disconnect the ECO part of a upper t-stat and try to use it in place of the lower stat once. If it actually has 220v at the two screws on the top of the upper t-stat and the two screws directly under the red button (ECO) then something was installed wrong. What element had 220v? If both element"s" do as stated then u gots a problem. Only one has power at any given time (usually.) Check your amp draw as well if you have a clamp meter. Why did they replace all of the parts in the first place? My guess is that no one figured out what was wrong beforehand.

[jumptrout]

If the elements were energized while the tank was empty they could have burned out - check resistance

[RegUS_PatOff]

.... Hooked everything back-up,

picftures ?

Water Heater model number ?

[certified tech group 51]

Check the wires at the circuit breaker.........voltage will check good but with a loose connection it cannot carry the wattage/current.............