How Do I Check My Water Heater Thermostat

To test the thermostat on your water heater, you'll need a flathead screwdriver and a multimeter. With these tools in hand, follow these steps:

1.Power Off
Turn off the circuit breaker on the electrical panel of the water heater.

2.Remove panels
Remove the upper and lower panels of the thermostat using a flat-head screwdriver. The thermostat should be covered in insulation, so fold it up and tape it in place temporarily.

3.Upper Thermostat Test #1
Using a screwdriver, turn the upper thermostat to its highest setting. Set the multimeter to RX1. Place a meter probe on the bottom left terminal. Place the other meter probe on the terminal 1 screw above Terminal 2. You should get a reading of 0. If you don't have a reading at all, there's a problem with the thermostat.

4.Upper Thermostat Test #2
Set the upper thermostat to the lowest setting. You should hear it click off. Place a probe on terminal 1. Place the other probe on the terminal screw (#4) in the lower right corner. You should get a reading of 0. If you don't have a reading at all, there's a problem with the thermostat.