Testing Electric Furnace Elements

If the water heater is hot run hot water in the building with the water heater electrical power off until water flows lukewarm or colder.

Testing electric furnace elements.

Check fuses element sequencers thermostats and transformer duration. Performing basic checks 1. Heating element testing duration. How to diagnose electric furnaces.

When the thermostat comes on the meter reading will jump from zero to 21 amps as the first element comes on assuming a 5 kilowatt element which is the most common. After 30 to 90 seconds the current draw should jump to 42 amps. If the meter needle does not move or remains at infinity the heating element is no longer working and needs to be replaced. Water heater not heating.

What you should see assuming a 6 element furnace is the following. This is so whether testing upper or lower heating element. Also check the terminal ends for any rust dirt or corrosion. Testing a conventional element 1 know the resistance of the element should be this can be calculated using known values.

Look at the top and bottom of the oven to find your elements. R v x v p where v is the voltage powering the element p is the power the element uses and r is the resistance an example calculation is shown in the tips section. In this video i show how to use basic electrical troubleshooting methods to diagnose problems with electrical furnaces. Turn your oven off and let it cool if necessary.

Turn the oven on and see if the heating elements glow red or orange. I show how to test fuses elements s. Disconnect the electrical wires at the heating element terminals. Check to see if the element is physically.

Inspect the burner element for any damage which can include warping bubbling or damage to the insulation sheath.