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How to fix your Reliance electric water heater when it doesn't heat water

There are a number of failures that could be to blame when your Reliance electric water heater isn't working. You could have an issue with your power supply or a break in the wiring. One of the two heating elements could be broken, causing your hot water to run out faster than it should. Or your water heater could have a broken thermostat.

• Make sure the water heater has power. Check both house circuit breakers for the water heater. It's often hard to spot a tripped breaker so shut off both breakers for the water heater and then turn them back on. If a breaker was tripped, it resets and likely restore powers, unless you have a problem with your home's electrical supply itself, which should be checked and addressed by a qualified electrician. If you reset the circuit breakers and they immediately trip again, then you likely have a broken and shorted heating element. Follow the steps in our electric water heater troubleshooting video to find and repair a broken heating element.
• Reset the high-temperature limit switch. You may need to reset the high-temperature limit switch on the upper thermostat. You won't get any hot water if that limit switch is tripped.
• Check the power supply wiring. Shut off the house circuit breakers for your water heater. Make sure you shut off the correct circuit breakers for the water heater. If the power is connected when you check supply wiring, it could shock or kill. Remove the cover to the junction box that houses the power supply wiring. Make sure that none of the wires are loose and all wire nuts are tight enough to make secure connections. Reconnect any loose wires then reinstall the cover. Turn on the house circuit breakers and check to see if you’re getting any hot water.
• Check the heating elements. If an electric water heater element doesn't heat when activated, shut off electrical power and replace the heating element.
• Check the thermostats. Check each thermostat for continuity using a multimeter. Replace a thermostat if it doesn't activate its heating element.

What to do when your water is too hot

First, adjust the thermostat setting to lower the output water temperature if the thermostat is set above 130 degrees. The 120-degree setting is standard. If 120-degree water is too hot for you to use, try setting the thermostat to 110 degrees. Next, check the thermostats. The upper and lower thermostats in an electric water heater must fit snug against the tank to properly transfer heat in order for thermostats to detect the water temperature correctly. To check the thermostats, turn off the power to the water heater and remove the thermostat access covers. Check the thermostats' positions and adjust the thermostat brackets if necessary to press the thermostats against the side of the tank.

A thermostat that's stuck in the "on" position will cause its heating element to stay on constantly, overheating the water in the tank. Or, if the element breaks, it can make contact with metal inside the water heater, creating a short circuit. In that case, electric current flows through the element to the metal, causing the element to heat constantly. Examine the elements and replace an element if damaged.

Sears PartsDirect has the Reliance 640 water heater parts that you need to fix any problem

We have Reliance 640 water heater parts and replacement parts for other Reliance water heater models such as Reliance 501 water heater parts that can help you fix any type of water heater failure. Find the parts you need using our convenient parts list diagrams for your model of water heater and get your hot water heater fixed today.

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