Westinghouse troubleshooting follows product-family-specific patterns. Electric storage and electric tankless diagnostics are electrical (breaker, voltage, elements). Gas storage uses standard gas diagnostics (thermocouple, gas valve). Gas tankless and heat pump have digital fault codes.
Stainless Electric Tank (WER) — no hot water
- Verify breaker is on. 240V double-pole; reset once if tripped
- Reset ECO — red Emergency Cutoff button on upper thermostat. See ECO reset
- Verify 240V at unit terminals with voltage tester
- Test upper thermostat continuity with multimeter
- Test upper element resistance — expected ~13 Ω for 4500W
- Persistent breaker trip: shorted element, ohm test element-to-ground
Stainless Electric Tank — lukewarm
- Lower element failed — test lower element resistance
- Lower thermostat failed — test continuity
- Broken dip tube — replace ($5-15 part)
Stainless Gas Tank (WGR / WGRPV) — no hot water
- Check pilot (atmospheric) — if pilot is out, relight per manual
- Test thermocouple if pilot won\'t stay lit — multimeter on mV at gas valve
- Power Vent: verify 120V outlet for blower motor
- Power Vent: check vent termination for snow, debris, bird nests
- Gas valve fault — replace under warranty (within 6-year parts)
Gas Tankless (WGRGH) — error code displayed
- Read the digital display fault code
- Common codes: E01 ignition, E02 flame, E10 vent/intake, E14 overheat, E79 fan
- See Westinghouse error codes hub
- Most common: clean inlet filter (E01/E10), descale heat exchanger (E14)
Electric Tankless (WET) — no hot water
- Verify ALL breakers on — WET-18 has 2 breakers, WET-27 has 3, WET-36 has 4. Any one tripped = no output
- Verify flow rate exceeds activation threshold (~0.5 GPM)
- Clean inlet filter
- Element resistance test
- Display fault codes on the digital control
Heat Pump (WH50HP / WH80HP)
- Mode setting: if on "Vacation" or "Off", no heating. Switch to "Heat Pump" or "Hybrid"
- Ambient temperature: below 45°F, heat pump capacity drops; backup electric kicks in
- Air filter: clean monthly — clogged filter shuts down heat pump mode
- Condensate drain: blocked drain triggers safety shutoff
- Compressor faults: warranty under 5 years; call tech support
T&P valve discharging
- Thermal expansion — install expansion tank on closed plumbing system
- Overpressure — test house pressure (50-80 PSI normal)
- Failed T&P — replace
Tank leak from body — rare on stainless
Westinghouse stainless storage tanks rarely leak from the tank body — the stainless construction physically can\'t corrode through. If genuine body leak:
- Verify it\'s tank body, not a fitting
- Call Westinghouse: 1-800-388-0006
- Lifetime warranty covers tank replacement
- This is the warranty case the lifetime coverage specifically addresses
No anode rod to maintain
Like Marathon, Westinghouse stainless storage tanks have no anode rod. The 316L stainless doesn\'t need anode protection. Skip every "inspect the anode" diagnostic step you\'ve seen for standard tanks.
Bottom line
Multi-category troubleshooting. Electric: breaker → ECO → thermostat → element. Gas: pilot/thermocouple → gas valve. Tankless: read display code. Heat pump: mode + filter + condensate. Stainless tank body itself rarely fails — lifetime warranty covers the rare case.