How To Get Your Water Heater Element Out if its STUCK

I could not get the water heater element out no matter how hard I tried. No one at Home Depot or videos on KZbin could help me.
I had given up after 3 days of trying, and was just going to have to buy a new one. Fortunately, my dad was coming in town to help me finish up my house that I was flipping. With his help and my Uncle Mark's advice, we were able to finally get it off.
I hope this video helps someone, so they don't have to buy a new water heater like I almost did!
Also, in case you didn't know, DO NOT TURN ON THE POWER to your water heater if there's no water in it. That's why the elements went bad in the first place. My brother and I didn't know that.
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#DIY #waterheater #element #howto #fix

[@mrdovie47]

Buy, borrow or rent an impact driver (battery powered). Good cleaning tip.

[@restoring_hope_]

thanks for watching!

[@JimmyCornPop]

38mm 6 point - worth the $16 from amazon

[@swit2732]

I have a 12 gallon tank, vacuumed out 5 gallons of calcium. That was 5 years ago. The element's loop was fused together. I am now on take two. While waiting for penetrating oil and locating my good 1.5 inch sockets and breaker bar I came here. The impact wrench driver is a good idea. I know the breaker bar will not work as the whole tank rotates. It's a small tank and just me so no one to hold it while I break it 😀.

[@JimmyCornPop]

1.5 inch is slightly too big by fractions, but it matters. 38mm 6 point impact socket is the only solution for stuck element rod.

[@restoring_hope_]

best of luck with getting it out! i wish the manufacturers thought of a better install process, because a lot of people struggle to the $10-$15 element out and end up buying a whole new tank which is crazy but almost happened to us. thanks for watching!

[@JimmyCornPop]

38mm 6 point impact socket is only tool that will work to free rusted elements. 2 seconds done. Trust me

[@restoring_hope_]

we tried that, but unfortunately it didn’t work :(

[@kooltraxx1785]

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!

[@restoring_hope_]

thanks for watching, hope this helped!!

[@crxess]

Actual Correct size is 1.5"(38.1mm) some Metric sockets will fit(if manufactured sloppy) Striking Shocks the thread joint breaking up the that has is stuck. What also works is Tightening first

[@restoring_hope_]

trust me haha we tried everything for 3 plus days, this is the only way we could get it off. we tried the tighten method but it wouldn’t move either way. we did damage the threading so we used silicone on the new element and let it sit for 24 hours before filling the tank back up, and it was good as new! yep that’s the socket size, thanks for watching!

[@crxess]

@@restoring_hope_ Yea, for you , this was the only way. That is limitations in knowledge and tools available. i.e. whatever works. You got the job done without electrocuting yourself or flooding the house and in the end the repair was somewhat of a success. I used a long breaker bar, a 1/2" to 3/4" socket adapter and a 3/4" drive 1-1/2" socket - Yesterday - to help out a neighbor who had been attempting to get his hot water heater working for 4 days. @ 125 lbs. and 70yrs., with the proper tools, I broke loose an Element a 6'3" 225 man in his 50 could not budge.(using tools like yours) They were so happy to have hot water again they stopped by last night to give me 2 dozen fresh eggs. *** The Silicone thing doesn't make much sense. Small wire brush to clean threads is all that is needed. The Element seals to the Face pf the opening via the rubber gasket. Hand Tighten, then 1/4 to 1/2 turn - No more - to seal the element in place.

[@JimmyCornPop]

Wrong ,1.5 inch no good - need 38mm 6 point - 6 point is the key - 12 point will just round the nut. 2 seconds will break free.

[@crxess]

@@JimmyCornPop Incorrect - 6 Point 1.5" impact socket fits perfectly, no slip, no slop for almost all Electric Heater Elements - U.S. Industry Standard. I rebuilt (2) neighbors heaters and mine in the last 1.5 months.