Standard Test

• 1). Turn off the circuit breaker for the hot water tank at the home's electrical panel box.
  
  
• 2). Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screws that mount the upper electrical access panel to the hot water tank. The upper access panel is located toward the top of the hot water tank and is stamped with an electrical warning label.
  
  
• 3). Remove any insulation from the thermostat and the heating element. The heating element is directly above the thermostat. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the two terminal screws on the heating element that connect the wires. Pull the wires off of the heating element and bend them out of your way.
  
  
• 4). Set the scale on the volt-ohm meter to the RX1 setting. Touch one probe to one terminal of the hot water heating element and the other probe to the other terminal. If the reading on the volt-ohm meter shows no continuity, the element needs to be replaced.
  
  
• 5). Locate and remove the lower access panel from the hot water tank. The lower access is near the bottom of the hot water tank in line with the upper access panel. Test the lower hot water tank heating element using the steps above.
  
  

Test For Short In Heating Element

• 1). Remove the access panel cover and insulation as mentioned in the previous steps. Do not remove the wires from the heating element for this test procedure.
  
  
• 2). Touch one probe of the volt-ohm meter to one terminal of the heating element. Touch the other probe to the bracket that secures the heating element in position.
  
  
• 3). Look at the reading on the volt-ohm meter. If it shows any continuity there is a short circuit and the heating element needs to be replaced.