Water heater powers on but does not heat water; water remains cold

Safety first: Turn OFF power at the breaker and verify no voltage is present before opening the heater.

Steps:

• 1. Check temperature setting: Ensure the set temperature is above incoming cold water temperature.
• 2. Reset high-limit: Locate the manual reset high-limit thermostat (often with a red button) on the tank or heat exchanger. Press to reset if tripped.
• 3. Test heating element: Disconnect element leads and measure resistance across terminals. Replace the element if open or shorted to ground.
• 4. Inspect control board relays: Look for burned or stuck relays. If the board does not send power to the element despite a heat call, the PCB may need replacement.

Note: If the high-limit trips repeatedly, investigate for thermostat or control issues rather than repeatedly resetting.