How to Repair an Electric Home Depot-GE Brand Water
Heater-Manufactured by Rheem
There are videos
on The Home Depot website and YouTube that can assist in guiding you through your water heater repair.
Preparation is key, have all the tools and parts you may need at hand before you start repairing your electric
water heater. If your GE water heater is still under warranty, call the 1-800 numbers on the tank to receive
repair parts free. If your Rheem water heater is within the first
year of warranty, Rheem will even assist in the repair of your GE electric water heater.
A few plumbing and
household tools you need:
Flat tip
screwdriver
Phillips screwdrivers
Element
wrench
Voltmeter
Garden
Hose
Repairing a Home Depot Electric Water
Heater
1. Turn off the power to the
water heater at the main breaker panel or unplug its pigtail from the wall outlet.
2. Turn the water off to the
heater at its individual shut off on the cold-water inlet pipe, water meter or well house.
3. Connect a garden hose to
the water heater’s drain valve at the bottom of the tank.
4. Run the hose to a safe
location like a floor drain or out in the yard.
5. Open the drain valve and
the temperature and pressure relief valve.
6. Remove the maintenance
panels from the front of the tank with a Phillips screwdriver.
7. Check for power with a
voltmeter. Place the meter leads on the top two screws of each thermostat. There should be NO power present before
you start your water heater repair.
8. Loosen all the screws on
each thermostat and remove each electric wire: mark each wire as you remove them with a small piece of tape and a
letter or number.
9. Pull back on each
thermostat-retaining clip and slide The Home Depot water heater thermostat straight up and out of the
clips.
10. Slide the new thermostat, upper and
lower, into the clips until they snap into place.
11. Attach the electric water
heater wires onto the new thermostats in the exact locations as the old ones. Tighten each screw firmly.
12. Remove the two wires from
each heating element.
13. Unscrew each heating
element with an element wrench and remove them from the tank. Make sure the rubber seal come out with each element,
if not, remove it from the tank opening.
14. Screw in the new elements
by hand, making sure the new rubber gasket lines up with the tank opening. If the gasket binds, replace it
immediately.
15. Connect the water heater
heating element wires securely.
16. Close the drain valve and
T&P valve, then remove the drain hose.
17. Turn the water back on to
the water heater on open all the hot water faucets in the house to evacuate all air for the tank. When water is
flowing freely from all the hot water faucets, turn off each faucet.
18. Set the thermostat
temperature dials to the desired setting. The Home Depot water heater
instructions recommend no more than 120 degrees.
19. Reinstall the cover
plates.
20. Turn the power back on to
The Home Depot water heater only after it is full of water and all the airs removed.
FYI- Do not
allow hot water to run on green vegetation, it can be detrimental.
Caution- Water
hotter than 105 degrees can cause serious bodily injury.
Additional Information
The Home Depot: Maintaining a Water
Heater
Water Heater Repair Instructions: GE Water Heater Repair
Instructions
Rheem: Water Heating
Solutions for Home Owners
Helpful Links
Home Depot Water Heater Repair
Manuals
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