State electric tank water heaters have two heating elements — upper and lower. Each is a screw-in (or bolt-on, older models) heating coil controlled by its own thermostat. When an element fails, that section of the tank stops heating.
How elements work
Cold water enters the bottom of the tank. The lower thermostat senses tank temperature; when below setpoint, it powers the lower element. As hot water rises, the upper element heats the top section. Both elements typically don\'t fire simultaneously — they\'re wired through interlocking thermostats.
Symptoms of element failure
| Symptom | Likely failed element |
|---|---|
| No hot water at all | Upper element (or upper thermostat) |
| Lukewarm water (heats some) | Lower element or lower thermostat |
| Breaker trips when heating | Element shorted to ground |
| Hot water runs out fast | Lower element failed (only top half heats) |
Testing with a multimeter
- Turn off breaker
- Remove access panels
- Disconnect element wires
- Test continuity: probes on both element terminals
- Healthy 4500W element: 10-16 ohms
- Open circuit (no continuity): element burned out — replace
- Short to ground (any reading from terminal to tank): element shorted — replace
Replacement
Element wrench: $15-30 from any hardware store. Standard 1.5" hex.
- Turn off breaker
- Close cold supply; open hot tap to relieve pressure
- Drain a few gallons (enough to drop water level below the element)
- Disconnect wires (note which terminal each goes to)
- Use element wrench to unscrew the failed element (counter-clockwise)
- Discard old element + gasket
- Install new element with new gasket — finger-tight, then quarter-turn with wrench (don\'t overtighten — risks cracking the porcelain liner)
- Reconnect wires
- Open cold supply; let tank fill
- Open hot tap until water flows steadily (purges air)
- Close hot tap
- Restore breaker
Cost
- 4500W screw-in element: $15-30
- 5500W element (some Premier Hybrid resistance backup): $20-40
- Element wrench: $15-30 (one-time investment)
- Pro replacement: $150-300
Common element wattages
| Tank capacity | Element wattage |
|---|---|
| 30-40 gal | 3800W or 4500W |
| 50 gal | 4500W standard |
| 66-80 gal | 4500W or 5500W |
| Premier Hybrid resistance backup | 4500W |
Premier Hybrid heat pump elements
Premier Hybrid units have a resistance backup element (in addition to the heat pump compressor). When heat pump can\'t meet demand or ambient is too cold, the resistance element fires. Replacement procedure is the same as standard electric tank.
Bottom line
Test with multimeter before replacing. Element wrench + $30 part + 30 minutes = repair. The most common State electric tank repair.