my water is getting hotter and I didn`t turn it up.does this mean a bad thermostat? if so how do you test em.the wh is electric/2 elements
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If it gets scalding hot it usually means the thermostat is out (though occasionally it's a bad element, apparently heating electrolytically). Usually it will then go stone cold, when the overtemp cutout trips.
Once it's gone cold it's hard to tell if it was the upper or lower thermostat that went bad. I generally replace them both rather than worry about it.
a bad thermostat?
Not necessarily. Worst case is you may have a slow leak that is wetting the insulation near the thermostat so it thinks it is cooler. - often when an insulating blanket is added to the outside of and electric WH you have to tweak the thermostat as the temperature goes down (insulation keeps the thermo warmer)
how do you test em.the wh is electric/2 elements
Turn the temp control up and down, usually a little soltted shaft with a pointer to the temp scale on it, you should hear a click. * Verify no voltage (or current) when turned down past hearing a click, voltage when at setting higher than when hearing a click.
* If you are unfamiliar with electricity or dont have a meter, the safest and no electrical contact way to do this easily is have someone watch the elec meter wheel speed as you click the thermo on and off.