How to test hot water heater elements with analog tester?

We have an analog tester but we are unsure as how to use it.We need to know if it's the elements in the hot water heater, or if we need a new hot water heater. Any advice that you can give will be highly appreciated.

Answers:
Put down the meter. The only things that cause an electric water heater that isnt leaking water to go bad are the elements. Drain the water heater, remove the four bolts holding each element in (remove both elements) and inspect. one of the elemnets will most likely have a hole in it. Replace both elements ($20 at home depot or lowes).

Other answers:
Hopefully you'll get a better answer than I'm about to give you. You'll have to be able to measure the resistance across the element and know what's appropriate. Continuity isn't enough.

Depending on what's going on with your heater and its overall condition, you might just want to replace the element(s). Here's some diagnostic tips and how to replace the elements:

http://www.ehow.com/how_9390_troubleshoot-water-heater.html

You might want to search this Yahoo! Answers site for previous answers to similar questions. Seems like a lot of folks need hot water help. Good luck.

Thanks Wayne!
Hopefully you'll get a better answer than I'm about to give you. You'll have to be able to measure the resistance across the element and know what's appropriate. Continuity isn't enough.

Depending on what's going on with your heater and its overall condition, you might just want to replace the element(s). Here's some diagnostic tips and how to replace the elements:

http://www.ehow.com/how_9390_troubleshoot-water-heater.html

You might want to search this Yahoo! Answers site for previous answers to similar questions. Seems like a lot of folks need hot water help. Good luck.

Thanks Wayne!
Set to Ohms testing. Sometimes a funny looking upside down U with feet.

Connect the tester leads together. Dial should go to zero. Adjust dial to get Zero.

Connect each lead to each pair of heating element connectors to be tested.

If zero it is dead.

If needle hardly moves, turn the multiplier dial setting to X10, x100, X1000. If the needle moves on a higher setting, it is likely good. I do not know proper reading range as each manufaturer is different.

If doesn't move even at highest setting, Dead.
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