Water Heater not heating

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Is your water stone cold, or just not 'hot'? If there is some warmth, but not what is should be, you may have a burned out heating element. There are usually (always?) two elements in electric heaters - one upper and one lower. Turn your water supply off - make sure!! Open the access plate/s to the elements and carefully feel if one is warm and one is cold. Disconnect the supply wires to the cold element and check for continuity with a multi-meter or continuity light. This will show you if one of the elements is burned out. If that is the case, they are relatively easy to replace. Turn off the water supply to the water heater, place a garden hose on the drain spigot and drain the heater. Open the pressure/temp safety valve on the top or side of the heater to allow air into the tank to facilitate draining. After the water has ceased draining, close the drain and the safety valve. There are two usual types of heating elements. One type is removed by removing each of 4 screws in the corners of the element flange. The other type of element is held in by a large nut which requires a deep-well socked to unscrew. This socket is usually found for sale with the elements at the 'big box' store. Take your old element with you to ensure you get the correct type and wattage replacement. Installation is just the reverse of removal. Good luck.