Electric water heater - element sequencing

Plumbing · Gas Piping, Burners and Venting · printed page 272 (PDF page 273)

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Element Sequencing Element Sequencing on Electric Water Heater Sequencing of Element on Electric Water Heater Plumbing

Text in the illustration

A
hot water on
cold water inlet
upper element OFF
warm water
cold water
lower element ON
cold water being drawn into the bottom of the tank causes the lower element to come on
electric water heater
B
upper element ON
lower element OFF
as the hot water is depleted, the priority (upper) element comes on - shutting down the lower element
C
hot water off
the upper element is satisfied so the lower element can turn back on and finish heating the rest of the tank
D
both elements are satisfied - the lower element turns off
cutaway view

Generated explanation

Four cutaway views show the operating sequence of a dual-element electric storage water heater, with red indicating warm water and blue indicating cold water. In stage A, hot water is being drawn and incoming cold water reaches the tank bottom through a dip tube, causing the lower element to turn on while the upper element remains off. In stage B, depletion of hot water activates the priority upper element and shuts off the lower element. In stage C, the hot-water draw has stopped and the upper element is satisfied, allowing the lower element to resume heating the remaining cold water. In stage D, the tank contains warm water and both elements are off.

Components

electric storage water heater water storage tank upper heating element lower heating element cold-water inlet dip tube hot-water outlet cold-water shutoff valve hot-water faucet

Related illustrations

1567

Electric water heater

· p. 272

The illustration shows a cutaway of a cylindrical electric storage water heater with an insulated tank and outer jacket. Hot water exits at the top beside a cold water inlet fitted with a supply shutoff valve. Upper and