Bradford White electric water heater displays E26; unit may not heat or may overheat.

Safety: Turn off power at the breaker. Do not operate the heater until the fault is corrected, as overheating and tank damage are possible.

Steps:

• Inspect wiring: Verify that element wiring matches the Bradford White wiring diagram on the heater. Look for signs of shorting or melted insulation.
• Test elements: Disconnect wires from each element and measure resistance. Compare to nameplate wattage and voltage. Replace any element that is shorted to ground or out of spec.
• Check control outputs: If an element is energized when there is no call for heat (qualified person only), the control relay may be stuck. The control board will need replacement.

Because this involves high voltage and potential overheating, control replacement should be done by a qualified technician.