Reliance Electric water heater Parts — Browse All Models

What to do when you see water in the drain pan of your Reliance electric water heater

Check for leaks at the water pipe fittings. Tighten the water pipe connections if necessary. Check the drain valve and temperature-pressure relief valve for leaks. Replace the drain valve or relief valve if they leak. For an electric water heater, check the heating elements for leaks. Tighten an element if it's loose. Replace a heating element if damaged. A cracked or broken tank will leak water into the drain pan. Don't attempt to repair a leak in the tank. Instead, replace the water heater if the tank leaks.

Common replacement parts for Reliant electric water heaters

• Anode rod. The anode rod extends into the tank from the top panel of the water heater. Made of aluminum or zinc, the anode rod helps prevent tank corrosion by aggressively attracting oxidizing compounds that would normally corrode the tank. The tank lasts longer because the anode rod corrodes instead of the tank.
• Dip tube. The dip tube is a high-temperature plastic tube that is inserted into the tank through the cold-water inlet port. The dip tube extends far down into the tank to distribute incoming cold water at the bottom of the tank for efficient heating.
• Expansion tank. The expansion tank is a small water tank installed in the water supply line to the water heater. The expansion tank contains an air bladder that partially fills the tank. The air bladder cushions water hammer and absorbs excessive water pressure caused by thermal expansion. Water hammer is a pressure surge caused when water flow is forced to stop or change direction suddenly, which results in a hammering sound. Thermal expansion is a change in volume in response to a change in temperature through heat transfer.
• Heating element. The heating element, which is the heat source inside an electric water heater, extends directly into the tank, where it heats the water around it. Most electric water heaters have two heating elements, one at the bottom of the tank and one at the top. The bottom element handles most of the load, heating cold water as it enters at the bottom of the tank. The top element only operates to give water at the top of the tank a quick water-heating boost when needed.