I have been recently chasing an increasing utility bill over the last 3 months, to the tune of an extra $100. My gut said the water heater, and this was replaced about 6 years ago and is currently a Bradford White 50 gal.
Long-winded but trying to answer all questions...
I figured it's time to drain it again anyway so living on a well I try to do this every 3 years. There was a decent amount of sediment in the bottom, nothing crazy, maybe enough to fill a plastic shopping bag. I cleaned it all out and while I was at it, I replaced the elements since the lower one was already removed, only a few pieces were stuck to the element..they both did ohm out just fine but why not.
I didn't touch the thermostat and monitored my utility usage for the upcoming days and it stayed the same as before I swapped the elements.
My understanding is if the upper thermostat is bad, then the heater won't heat at all, including the lower element. The temp settings have been the same as when I installed the heater, when my utility bills were low. The upper element is set just slightly higher then the bottom, maybe a needle width higher on the dial.
I used my Fluke meter to log a 24 hour session with the leads clipped to the upper element, after 24 hours I had no activity on the upper element. The next session I checked the upper thermostat and turned it up and heard the loud "click" at the VERY HOT setting, then turned it back down and it "clicked" again at the HOT setting which is where it was set.
I did the same for the lower and the lower seemed to click on and off at a lower setting, about mid way between HOT and VERY HOT and turned back on below the HOT setting.
I ran another 24 hour logging session and again, no activity on the upper element. Granted this was after 2 showers and a load of laundry, safe bet the heater was depleted of more than half it's capacity.
Maybe this is normal, not sure, the upper thermostat seems to ohm out correctly, less than .3 ohms on both sides of the reset button, and when the thermostat turns back off will read low ohms and "OL" when off.
I will log another session on the lower element today but curious if this sounds normal. I understand quick usage of hot water won't trip the upper element but more than half the tank I assume it would....2 kids, laundry at night, then 2 showers in the AM...lol. no chance it didn't run down.
This was the last session for the upper element:
Long-winded but trying to answer all questions...
I figured it's time to drain it again anyway so living on a well I try to do this every 3 years. There was a decent amount of sediment in the bottom, nothing crazy, maybe enough to fill a plastic shopping bag. I cleaned it all out and while I was at it, I replaced the elements since the lower one was already removed, only a few pieces were stuck to the element..they both did ohm out just fine but why not.
I didn't touch the thermostat and monitored my utility usage for the upcoming days and it stayed the same as before I swapped the elements.
My understanding is if the upper thermostat is bad, then the heater won't heat at all, including the lower element. The temp settings have been the same as when I installed the heater, when my utility bills were low. The upper element is set just slightly higher then the bottom, maybe a needle width higher on the dial.
I used my Fluke meter to log a 24 hour session with the leads clipped to the upper element, after 24 hours I had no activity on the upper element. The next session I checked the upper thermostat and turned it up and heard the loud "click" at the VERY HOT setting, then turned it back down and it "clicked" again at the HOT setting which is where it was set.
I did the same for the lower and the lower seemed to click on and off at a lower setting, about mid way between HOT and VERY HOT and turned back on below the HOT setting.
I ran another 24 hour logging session and again, no activity on the upper element. Granted this was after 2 showers and a load of laundry, safe bet the heater was depleted of more than half it's capacity.
Maybe this is normal, not sure, the upper thermostat seems to ohm out correctly, less than .3 ohms on both sides of the reset button, and when the thermostat turns back off will read low ohms and "OL" when off.
I will log another session on the lower element today but curious if this sounds normal. I understand quick usage of hot water won't trip the upper element but more than half the tank I assume it would....2 kids, laundry at night, then 2 showers in the AM...lol. no chance it didn't run down.
This was the last session for the upper element:
