How do you take out a Hot water heating element that has lime build up.?
Question:We can't get the top to turn. Have tried W-D forty, have used a pipe wrench. No luck.
Answers:
A bigger wrench of the element wrench should do it.
You have to press good on the wrench though to keep it from slipping off.
I have had to hammer and chisel them out.
Angle the chisel so that when the tap it with the hammer, it will turn the element as it loosens.
If you didn't mar it up to bad, you can then get the element wrench on it and back it out.
I try to sell a new one to them when they are that bad, because hammering on a water heater weakens the glass lining and shortens the life of the heater.
When they chose not to buy a new one, I make sure they understand the heater may not last much longer after I replace the element.
I haven't had to do many like that in my career, but I have run across them.
I am sorry to say that the lime has built so bad that you need a new heater . Once lime has taken over that much if you do get it loose you will destroy the threads .
I would check into a water softener and a filter for the heater and the house . You may have pipes that are half their size now because of the lime .
It takes a 1 1/2 inch socket. You can purchase a cheap element wrench for this purpose at the local hardware store.
What you need to do is soften the lime scale so you can scrub it off.
White vinegar should do it. Just pour enough vinegar to cover the element and leave standing for a day or two. If you can break off the lime scale with your fingers with no great effort it should be ready to come off.
Scrub with a steel scrubber and then try to twist it off by hand. If it still doesn't unscrew leave it standing in vinegar for another couple of days.
first shut off the power to the water heater,test with a tester, to make sure there is no power, than shut off water to heater,than empty out or hook up a hose to bottom water connection let it empty,than disconnect wire to element,than use a big adjustable wrench counterclockwise to take out element.install the new one and wire it up the same way that the old one was wired,open shut off valve than when the heater is fill turn the power back on.you might want to use a pipe over the wrench to give you more leverage and strength
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