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The duration of the boiler depends on the condition 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. Let’s find out for what reasons it fails and how to check its performance.
How to remove and check the heater
Most often, heating elements break in storage boilers, because they are constantly in the water. Regardless of the volume (50, 80 liters and more), various factors can affect the life of the part:
- The frequency of use of the boiler.
- 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 moment by the design features of the tank. Therefore, the main reasons for the heater to burn out will be water with a large amount of impurities and scale. The sediment covers the element in several layers, interfering with normal heat dissipation. As a result, the heating element overheats.
How to pull out the heater with your own hands? First of all, disconnect the boiler from the mains.
Make sure the warranty period has ended. If you open the tank while the warranty is valid, you will lose it.
Regardless of the brand (“Polaris”, “Elenberg” or “Termex”), turn off the machine in the shield. Now start draining the water.
Draining water in the boiler
There are several ways to delete content. Through check valve:
- Substitute 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.
- Close the water inlet valve.
- Unscrew the cold water supply hose.
- Remove the valve.
- Unscrew the hose from the tank outlet.
- Open the boiler tap.
- Substitute the container, and the contents will drain in a few minutes.
How to get a heating element
Now it’s time to start dismantling the part, for this it is better to remove the equipment from the wall. The exception is models where the elements are located below. Proceed in sequence:
- First, disconnect all hoses that are connected to the body. Be careful: water can pour out of them.
- Remove the body from the hooks and lower it to the floor.
- Remove cover. Depending on the model, it may be located in different ways. Better take a look at the manual.
- Remove the decorative washers from the nozzles. They are in the Termex heaters.
- Using a Phillips or slotted screwdriver, unscrew the screws or unfasten the latches.
- Disconnect the thermostat wiring first. Take a photo of it beforehand to make the correct connection.
Green-yellow wire is responsible for grounding, brown-black – phase, blue – zero. Pull the thermostat down and out of the housing.
- To remove the heater, look at its fasteners. Choose your tools accordingly.
To dismantle the element from Termex and Oasis, you will need an adjustable wrench, since the mount is a washer screwed on six bolts. In Elenberg, “Polaris”, “Ariston” will help unscrew the nut key number 13: remove the gasket and pull out the element. For “Real” – adjustable wrench. Unscrew the edges and remove the part.
So, the heater is in your hands. Start diagnosing.
Checking an item
The first step is a visual inspection. Assess the general condition, the amount of scale and the integrity of the hull. If the insulation is broken, only replacement will help.
To diagnose with a multimeter, you need to determine the resistance of the element of your model. To do this, look in the instructions for the power of the device. Then do the calculations using this formula:
R=UxU/P. For example, power (P) is 1500 watts. U – voltage when connected. So: R u220d 220×1500 / 32,3 uXNUMXd XNUMX ohms.
Attach the multimeter probes to the heater contacts and see the result. If it matches the calculations, everything is in order. If the screen shows 1-0 ohms, a short circuit or open circuit has occurred.
Next, the breakdown on the body is calculated. The primary sign of such a breakdown is considered to be water, which beats with current. A small discharge can be obtained from touching the tank.
Set the tester to buzzer mode. Attach one probe to the contact of the part, the other to the body. Does the tester beep? There was a test.
For the next test, you will need a megger. Set the range to 500 V. Connect the probes to the contact and body. Readings greater than 0,5 ohms are considered normal.
Perform diagnostics with a test light. Two wires with probes adjoin it. Apply zero of the network to one contact of the heater, to the other phase through the lamp. If it lights up, then the part is working.
How to change the heating element? A new part must be selected in accordance with the model. The serial number can be found in the user manual. Installation is carried out in the reverse order.
How to extend the life of the heater
There are several recommendations from experts:
- Entrust the installation to a professional or follow the instructions exactly.
- Before turning on, do not forget to fill the tank with water. You can not turn on the boiler with an empty tank.
- Replace the magnesium anode in time. It “softens” the water, preventing scale from settling on the parts.
- It is advisable to install cleaning filters on the hoses. This will extend the life of the anode and heating element.
- At least once a year, inspect the internal elements, check their condition.
- Do not set the thermostat to the maximum values. This makes the heating element work to the limit. It also turns on more often to maintain the 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 properly check: