The duration of the boiler depends on the state of its elements. In the event of a malfunction, one of them may need to be repaired. In this publication, we will describe how the heating element is replaced in a water heater. We will find out for what reasons it fails and how to check its performance.
How to remove and check the heater
Most often, the heating elements break in the storage boilers, because they are constantly in the water. Regardless of the volume (50, 80 liters or more), various factors can influence the life of the part:
- Frequency of boiler use.
- Maximum heating temperature.
- Water quality.
Why do parts burn out? This happens when you turn on the equipment without water. Although most manufacturers warn this point with the design features of the tank. Therefore, the main reasons that the heater burns out will be water with a large amount of impurities and scale. Sediment covers the element in several layers, interfering with the normal heat dissipation. As a result, the heater overheats.
How to remove the heater with your own hands? First of all, unplug the boiler.
Make sure that the warranty period is over. If you open the tank under the current warranty, you will lose it.
Regardless of the brand ("Polaris", "Elenberg" or "Termex"), turn off the machine in the shield. Now proceed to drain the water.
Water discharge in a boiler
There are several ways to delete content. Via check valve:
- Place a deep container under the valve or connect a hose and lower it into the chamber.
- Open the valve and let the water drain.
- With a tank volume of 30 liters, the procedure will last at least 1 hour.
With a volume of more than 80 liters, it makes no sense to wait so long. Drain through the boiler inlet.
- Turn off the water inlet tap.
- Unscrew the hose for the supply of cold water.
- Remove the valve.
- Unscrew the hose from the tank outlet.
- Open the boiler tap.
- Substitute the container and the contents will merge in a few minutes.
How to get a heater
Now is the time to start dismantling the part, for this it is better to remove the equipment from the wall. The exception is models where elements are located below. Proceed sequentially:
- First disconnect all hoses that are connected to the body. Be careful: water may spill out of them.
- Remove the housing from the hooks and lower it to the floor.
- Remove the cover. Depending on the model, it can be located in different ways. It is better to look at the instructions.
- Remove the decorative washers from the nozzles. They are in Termex heaters.
- Using a Phillips or slotted screwdriver, unscrew the screws or unfasten the latches.
- First disconnect the thermostat wiring. Take a picture of it in order to make a proper connection.
The green-yellow wire is responsible for grounding, brown-black - phase, blue - zero. Pull the thermostat down and remove it from the housing.
- To remove the heater, look at its mountings. Pick up tools depending on this.
To dismantle the element from "Termex" and "Oasis" you will need an adjustable wrench, since the fastening is a washer screwed into six bolts. In Elenberg, Polaris, Ariston will help to unscrew the nut key number 13: remove the gasket and pull out the element. For "Real" - an adjustable wrench. Unscrew the edges and remove the part.
So, the heater is in your hands. Proceed with the diagnosis.
Item check
The first stage is a visual inspection. Evaluate the general condition, the amount of scale and the integrity of the hull. If insulation is broken, only replacement will help.
To diagnose with a multimeter, you need to determine the resistance of an element of your model. To do this, look at the power of the device in the instructions. Then make the calculations using the following formula:
R = UxU / P. For example, the power (P) is 1500 watts. U - voltage when connected. So: R = 220x220 / 1500 = 32.3 Ohms.
Attach the multimeter probes to the heater contacts and see the result. If it matches the calculations, everything is fine. If 1-0 Ohm is displayed on the screen, a short circuit or open has occurred.
Next, the breakdown on the body is calculated. The primary sign of such a breakdown is considered to be water, which beats an electric shock. A small discharge can be obtained by touching the tank.
Set the tester to buzzer mode. Attach one probe to the part contact, the other to the body. Does the tester squeak? Breakdown happened.
For the next test you will need a megger. Set the range to 500 V. Connect the test leads to the contact and the housing. Values greater than 0.5 ohms are considered normal.
Diagnose with a warning light. Two wires with probes adjoin it. To one contact of the heater attach a network zero, to the other phase through the lamp. If it lights up, then the part is working.
How to change the heater? A new part must be selected in accordance with the model. The serial number can be found in the instruction manual. Installation is carried out in reverse order.
How to extend heater life
There are several recommendations from experts:
- Entrust the installation to a professional or follow the instructions exactly.
- Before switching on, do not forget to fill the tank with water. Do not turn on the boiler with an empty tank.
- Replace the magnesium anode in time. It “softens” the water, preventing the scale from settling on the details.
- It is advisable to install cleaning filters on the hoses. This will extend the life of the anode and the heater.
- At least once a year, inspect the internal elements, check their condition.
- Do not set the thermostat to its maximum value. This makes the heater work to the limit. It also often turns on to maintain temperature.
You can repair the boiler yourself, the main thing is to adhere to safety precautions. If the equipment is under warranty, contact the service center, do not open the tank.
A video on the topic will help you conduct the check correctly: