Shocked by Hot Water Heater

[hottiger53]

Hello...I've got a major problem. I woke up this morning with no hot water. I live in a mobile home that has a small 110V hot water heater. I checked the breaker at the box and it had not tripped. I went to pull the cover off the hot water heater to re-set it and when I touched the panel to remove it, I got a major shock from the hot water heater. I noticed the bare wire is just hanging loose and going nowhere. I grounded it to the hot water heater and everytime I hit the breaker switch to cut the heater back on the breaker trips. I removed the bare wire off the heater and the breaker re-acts fine. My question....where should I run this bare wire? Should I just cap it off and leave it? Also, could a bad element in the water heater be the culprit and causing the shock? Need Help!!! Thanks....Doug

[Wgoodrich]

A water heater element is submerged in the water inside the hot water heater. When a water heater element burns out [often caused by lime build up over the element not letting the heat escape produced by the water heater element] this element will sometimes burst open exposing the heating element that is supposed to be isolated from the water by the outer shell of the element. This will cause you to lose hot water because the element burnt in two places and no longer is working. This bursting and exposing the heating element to contact with the water causes electricity to enter the water and also causes electricity to energise the metal casing of the water heater.

The bare wire is supposed to be attached to the normally noncurrent carrying metal shell of the water heater to create a dead short thus tripping the breaker and also to protect people from getting shocked.

Count your lucky stars your body was not well grounded or you would not be posting this problem on our forum.

Turn off you electricity to the water heater. Drain the water heater. Remove the bottom heating element. Clean out the lime built up inside the water heater tank then replace the heating element ensuring the element is rated in voltage and wattage matching the existing bad element ratings.

Many people opt to totally replace the water heater due to the lime build up and age of the water heater. This would be your call to make.

Hope this helps

Wg

[hottiger53]

WG...Thanks so much for your advice. My Dad told me years ago...if anything electrical goes out and you're not sure if electricity is "hot" or not...always use a tester...if one is not handy and you want to be hard-headed and stupid...put a hand in your pocket and take the backside of your other hand and "touch-test" it. I was impatient and "touch-tested" it showing my stupidity!! Anyway, not to get long-winded...I waited till I got your answer and followed your instructions to the "T". I now have Hot Water. I replaced the Heating Element and grounded the bare wire to the Heater. Everything if fine and Dandy now. From now on...I will wait until I get advice from Self-Help Forum before I do anything. Again, Thanks for the Help....it is much appreciated. Doug