Basically an electric water heater is an insulated tank filled with water. Electrical elements controlled by thermostats heat the water and keep it hot. Most electric water heaters have two 4500 watt elements. One of the elements is located near the top of the tank and the other is located near the bottom. Each element is controlled by a separate thermostat but the two thermostats are interlocked; when one is off, the other is on. The top element heats water in the top one-fourth of the tank.

When the water in the top of the tank reaches the correct temperature, the top element shuts off and the lower element turns on to heat the remaining water. This contributes to quicker recovery in high use situations. Since the elements are immersed in water, the heat goes directly into the water. This makes electric water heaters one of the most efficient ways to heat hot water. If you are interested in purchasing or having an electrical water heater installed in your home give us a call today.