Kenmore
Insulation Degradation or Overheating
Kenmore water heater outer jacket feels excessively hot to the touch
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Internal overheating due to thermostat failure, missing or compressed insulation, extremely high ambient temperature, flue gas spillage (gas models)
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: Overheating can be dangerous. Turn OFF power or gas and investigate promptly.
- Measure water temperature: Use a thermometer at a hot tap. If above 140°F when set lower, suspect thermostat or gas control failure.
- Check thermostat settings: Ensure thermostats are not set excessively high.
- Inspect insulation: Remove an access panel and verify insulation is present and not soaked with water. Replace missing or damaged insulation with high-temperature fiberglass.
- Flue spillage: On gas models, check for hot flue gases escaping around the draft hood. Correct venting issues immediately.
- Replace controls: If overheating is confirmed, replace faulty thermostats or gas control valve.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Thermostat (Electric) or Gas Control Valve
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