How Does an Electric Water Heater Work?
The Components of an Electric Water Heater
An electric water heater is similar to a gas water heater, but instead of using a flame to heat the water, it features two heating elements installed within the tank. The tank also includes a sacrificial anode rod inside. The rod is considered "sacrificial" because it serves to help reduce the amount of corrosion occurring inside the steel tank. In addition, the heating elements are controlled by thermostats so the user can manually adjust the temperature of the water when needed. The thermostats are usually located on the side of the tank, under a cover plate.
How an Electric Water Heater Works
At the top of the electric water heater, there are two copper pipes. One is the cold water supply line and the other disperses the hot water to the house. The cold water line is the one featuring a shutoff valve before it enters the tank.
The cold water supply line fills the tank with water and replaces any water that is used. When the cold water enters the tank, it reduces the interior temperature of the stored water. This causes the thermostats to close which turns the heating elements on.
As the heating elements do their job of heating the water, the hot water rises to the top of the tank. There, it lies in wait until someone uses the hot water tap, dishwasher or washing machine. When the tap is turned on, it siphons the hot water from the top of the tank.
Considerations for an Electric Water Heater
Most electric water heaters feature thermostats capable of heating the water to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. To conserve energy, and prevent scalding, it is recommended to set the thermostat between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you discover that you are running out of hot water quicker than normal, it may be that one of the heating elements has gone bad, you're using too much water or your water heater is not big enough to handle the load required by your household.
Tags: heating elements, cold water, Electric Water Heater, Water Heater, cold water supply, degrees Fahrenheit