How to Wire the Electric Water Heater Thermostat
An electric water heater thermostat can fail at any time. When this happens the water can heat to dangerously high temperatures or not heat at all. If you need to replace a water heater thermostat, fortunately, no existing pluming or electrical knowledge is necessary in order to successfully do so.
What You'll Need:
- Phillips or slotted screwdriver
- Masking tape
- Before you begin, shut off the 40-amp double pole breaker that is located on the inside of the main service panel that provides electricity to the water heater.
- Unscrew each of the screws from within the access panel on the outside of the tank. Take off the access panel and pull out the insulation from the rear of the panel that is covering the thermostat.
- Put masking tape next to each of the terminal screws that are on the thermostat and assign a number to each terminal. Wrap more masking tape all around each of the wires that are connected to the terminal screw and label the wire with the number that corresponds with the terminal that it connects to.
- Partially unscrew the terminal screws that are on the thermostat, this will allow you to remove the wires from up under it. Raise the old thermostat from the thermostat clips that are holding it inside the hot water heater.
- Take the thermostat to a local home improvement store and purchase an exact replacement. Ensure that match the watts, volts and number of terminals on the old thermostat to the new one.
- Consider labeling the new thermostat terminals with masking tape, then, transfer these numbers from the old thermostat to the new one. Install the new thermostat into the thermostat clip.
- You’ll need to match each of the numbers on the wires to the numbers on the new thermostat terminal screws and wrap the wires all around the screws. Lastly, tighten each of the screws in order to secure the wires to the thermostat.
- Put the insulation over the thermostat and reinstall the access panel. Turn the water heater breaker back on.