How to replace the heating element of an Ariston water heater

The most common home water heater today is the electric boiler. Its malfunctions are most often caused by a breakdown or contamination of the heating element, in more rare cases - by tank corrosion, thermostat malfunctions, etc.

To save on professional repairs, you can clean and replace the heater on an Ariston water heater yourself.

Filling with water and checking functionality

Hang the electric titanium in place.
Connect the hoses and open the cold water and begin to fill the tank. The hot water tap must also be open to allow air to escape. At the same time, make sure that there are no leaks anywhere. As soon as water comes out of the “hot” tap, the boiler is full. There is no need to close the tap immediately; let all the “slurry” spill out and finally flush the tank and pipes.

Only when clean water comes out do you turn off the mixer.

After this, the water heater must stand for at least half an hour or an hour so that condensation leaves all surfaces and there is confidence that there are no leaks.

You can then apply voltage by plugging the titanium into an outlet. To check the operation of the thermostat, use the control knob to force the adjustment to maximum and minimum.

In this case, the boiler on/off light should light up.

If the boiler operates quietly, without making any sounds, and it is not clear to you whether it is heating or not, you can check the energy consumption using the meter.

At maximum heating power of the heater, the counter will spin or blink much faster. This means that the heating elements work as they should. The entire repair with the purchase of spare parts will cost you around 1500-2000 rubles. In any workshop that calls a plumber to your home, they will ask for at least 3,000-5,000 rubles for such work, and this does not include materials.

So self-repair can save you a significant amount of money, the main thing is not to make some mistakes.

Principle of operation

The operating principle of a storage water heater.
(Click to enlarge) Structurally, the boiler is two barrels isolated from each other.

One of them (internal) is made of either stainless steel or high-quality steel with an anti-corrosion coating.

Modern heat-insulating materials are used as insulators.

This can be basalt fiber, polyurethane foam and similar insulators. Such a “thermos” can retain the heat of heated water for up to 3 days.

To avoid mixing cold and already heated water, the latter is taken from the very top of the device. Cold water, displacing hot water, is always at the bottom.

When using equipment wisely, you should not force it to constantly work at maximum load. Every technology has its own resource.

Installation and connection methods

“Dry” heating element
The heating element is a device that requires regular maintenance. After a while, it needs to be cleaned or replaced, depending on the efficiency and completeness of the work.

To clean the heating element yourself, you need to follow the instructions:

Turn off the electric water heater.
Disconnect the electric heater from the power supply.
Open the protective panel by unscrewing the screws.
Under the panel where the thermostat and colored wires are located, disconnect the cables.
Shut off the water supply to the water supply and boiler.
Pull out the thermostat along with the heating element, removing the flange if necessary. At the same time, place a container near the opening in case there is water in the tank. Unscrew the heating element using an adjustable wrench.
Dissolve two packets of citric acid in two liters of water.
Immerse the heating element in the resulting solution and leave for at least 12 hours. After some time, the heating element is ready for installation.
Install in reverse order.

To check the correct installation of the heating element, you will need to turn on the water. If liquid leaks from the tank, the device is not connected correctly.

There are three main ways to connect a heating element for an Ariston water heater. Sequential - the heater power depends on the total power of each element. The disadvantage is that if one heating element breaks down, the functionality of the entire heating system is lost.

Parallel - allows you to maintain the functionality of the unit in the event of failure of one of the heating elements. Combined - usually used if heating elements of the required power are not available.

Recommendations on how to extend the service life of heating elements

A few tips will help you extend the “life” of the boiler and its heating element:

Heating element for boiler

Change the magnesium anode in a timely manner. Its task is to break down so that the heating element works longer without replacement.
Follow the operating instructions for the device.
Monitor the quality of water entering the boiler. This may require installing additional filters in your home water supply.
Inspect your equipment at least once a year to catch problems early.
Replace parts only with high-quality analogues.
Do not set the thermostat to maximum water heating values. As a rule, manufacturers indicate the optimal temperature on the scale: to save electricity and the life of the heating element.

As soon as your water heater starts not working correctly, immediately turn it off and have it checked and repaired. Using a faulty device may result in electric shock.

Disabling triggered self-defense

The RCD may trip when the water heater is turned on. This device even sometimes cuts off the power to the entire house. Here's why it runs:

There is a short circuit in the boiler itself or in the wires if the simple/differential circuit breaker is triggered. A short circuit also occurs as a result of a network overload if many devices are connected to the electrical network.
The RCD must be suitable for rated current and leakage current. If this condition is not met, the RCD often trips for no reason.
Incorrect connection of the RCD in the electrical panel.
Poor quality of the RCD device. Signs: sticking TEST button, switch with physical defects. As a result, minimal vibrations cause the RCD to operate idle. Water heaters from Termex often have low-grade RCDs.
In rare cases, an involuntary shutdown occurs after heating the water. This is caused by a deformed body.

First you need to do some checking. At least once a month you must press the TEST button: this causes current leakage. This way you can find out whether the RCD is triggered or not. If the protective differential circuit breaker does not respond to the test, it needs to be replaced.

For a more thorough diagnosis, it is necessary to examine it in a disassembled state. If, when shaken, you can hear the contacts disconnecting, the indicator does not light up, and the device itself looks blackened, then it was operated under excessive load. This is also indicated by melted internal parts.

Burnt elements inside the RCD

If there are no visual defects, then the owner needs to examine the connections in the electrical panel. There should be no moisture either inside or outside, and the degree of heating during operation should not be critical.

When buying a new differential machine, you must follow certain recommendations:

Voltage 220 V (if the owner has a single-phase network), 380 V (if a three-phase network). They can be distinguished by the number of device connectors: 2 and 4, respectively. It is necessary to calculate the rated current either for all electrical appliances that are in the apartment, or for the maximum load. Most often they buy a device with a slightly exaggerated load current (from 16 to 100 amperes)

During installation in the house, you need to focus on a current of no more than 30 amperes. It is important to know the leakage current at which the device is triggered. They produce RCDs from 6 to 500 mA

Manufacturers of high-quality water heaters sometimes indicate the current leakage rate. Due to old wiring, a large leak may occur, which also needs to be taken into account. Different RCDs protect against different types of electricity. For an apartment or small private house, choose the device type AC (protection against AC leakage) or A (protection against AC and DC leakage).

After replacing the old machine with a new one, you need to check its serviceability.

How to choose the right mechanism

Heating element for Ariston boiler

How is the designation of the heating element read, for example, heating element - 32 A 13 / 1.5 J 220 where:

TEN – tubular electric heater.
32 – expanded length of the heating element along the shell.
A – designation for sealing the contact rod.
13 – diameter of the heating element shell.
1.5 – rated power in kW.
J – designation of the heating medium and heating element material
220 – rated voltage in V.

If you follow the markings, you can find the right model quickly and without unnecessary nerves. And for this you don’t need to walk around with a centimeter or carry a broken product with you. It will be enough to compare the data on your heating element and the one you are going to buy.

When choosing a heating element for an Ariston boiler, you should pay attention not only to the price, but also to the design differences. It is also necessary to take into account the operational characteristics of electric heaters

Having a stable voltage and proper operating conditions, a “wet” heating element will last on average 5 years, and a “dry” one – 15.

The company recommends purchasing equipment for replacement in factory-made water heaters and according to the existing model of the unit.

Heating elements with a power of 1.5 kW are more common for Ariston boilers. They are often used in equipment with a volume of both 20 liters and 100.

Engineers categorically do not advise replacing a low-power heating element with a more productive one, since the water in the equipment heats up to 85 degrees and the boiler turns off. And high power disrupts the operation of the device and increases the cost of each water heating.

When choosing a heating element, you should also pay attention to the flange. Threaded - thanks to the existing thread, the heater is attached to the boiler by screwing

The thread diameter is 1 1/4 inches. Clamping ones - come in the following diameters: 62 mm, 72 and 82 mm.

For dry heating elements - they are made of enameled metal, almost always in pairs, and have closely spaced contacts with a “petal” type fastening.

Blitz tips

A few tips that will allow you to extend the life of the device without overpaying for electricity:

Do not unplug the device. Maintaining a set temperature takes much less energy than heating it up. This is especially true in winter, when the water temperature is especially low.
If hot water is needed less often than once a day, then it is better to turn off the device. In this case, heating will take less energy than maintaining the temperature.
Significant savings are achieved through controllers. The unit can be programmed to heat water at the desired time.
If possible, use the controller mode marked “E” (Eco).
Do not allow water to flow aimlessly. Once again, turning off the tap for a couple of minutes will save you a lot of energy and money.

Ariston is the largest manufacturer of household appliances, which began its work back in 1975. The president of this organization is Italian Vittorio Merloni, who is also its founder. In 1980, Ariston became a European leader among manufacturers of household appliances and electronics.

Advantages of water heaters:

Safety. Water heaters are adapted to almost any operating conditions. They are also equipped with a new security system that prevents emergencies.
Durability. The long service life of the heaters is ensured thanks to the high-quality materials from which they are made. It is primarily stainless steel with security welds, as well as a titanium coated steel tank.
Ease of use. On the front panel of the boiler there is a simple control system with which the desired heating temperature is set. There is also a malfunction indicator in the water heater panel, which gives a certain signal if the unit is used incorrectly (overheating, incorrect operation of the thermostat, switching on without water, etc.)
Economical. Ariston water heaters have the lowest energy consumption. Average electricity savings are 35%.
Protection against bacteria. Very often, water stagnates in heaters, in which bacteria multiply over time. The ECO protection built into the water heater prevents the appearance of bacteria not only on the walls of the device, but also on its internal elements.
High intelligence. The presence of an LCD display makes it possible to set the desired operating mode: day, night and economical.

Major failures of an Ariston water heater: signs of malfunction

There are a number of signs that can help identify a heater malfunction. For example, if you notice that the water is overheating, this indicates a breakdown of the thermostat or the device turns off when heating, which means the heating element is faulty. You can also identify leaks from the bottom or side of the device - this also indicates a malfunction of the device.

To start repairing a device yourself, you need to know its structure and all its components well. This will allow you to identify the breakdown and its complexity.

Main faults:

Ten burned out;
The thermostat has failed;
The magnesium anode has exhausted its resources;
A large amount of scale has formed on the heating element;
The control unit burned out.

You need to pay attention to the electronic scoreboard; it can detect many errors. For example, a sensor differential error is detected only on it

This error can only be corrected by a specialist at the service center.

Filling with water and checking functionality

Only when clean water comes out do you turn off the mixer.

After this, the water heater must stand for at least half an hour or an hour so that condensation leaves all surfaces and there is confidence that there are no leaks.

You can then apply voltage by plugging the titanium into an outlet. To check the operation of the thermostat, use the control knob to force the adjustment to maximum and minimum.

In this case, the boiler on/off light should light up.

If the boiler operates quietly, without making any sounds, and it is not clear to you whether it is heating or not, you can check the energy consumption using the meter.

At maximum heating power of the heater, the counter will spin or blink much faster. This means that the heating elements work as they should.

So self-repair can save you a significant amount of money, the main thing is not to make some mistakes.

What types of heating elements are there for heating water with an Ariston thermostat?

In most cases, Ariston heating elements are copper, but there are also stainless steel designs. They can be different in shape, depending on the design features. If the tank is vertical, you need a straight heating element. And curved models are needed for horizontal boilers.

What does the design of the Ariston heating element look like:

Directly the heating element itself;
Tubes for temperature sensor;
A special hole for the heating element is a flange;
There are places for the anode, however, not all models have them on the flange.

Ariston heating elements are mostly called wet. This means that the heating elements are in contact with water. True, there are also closed-type models; they are built into the flask and do not come into contact with water. This heater is accordingly called dry.

Installation and connection of the boiler to the network

Under no circumstances should the ground wire be connected to the neutral wire.

The device comes with a standard cord and plug for connecting to the mains. In normal condition, when the Termex is hanging correctly, the intake tube hole inside the tank enters in the upper quarter, and the inlet pipe in the lower quarter.

To correct this drawback, you need to remove them and give them the desired shape, and also slightly bore the holes for the bolts.

Installing a boiler The first step is to fix the heater on a load-bearing wall, taking into account the fairly large weight of the equipment. Such devices do not require special installation, as they operate from a regular outlet. The device cannot withstand thermal conditions.

What affects the heating temperature of water? This design feature allows you to change the lateral tilt of the case by simply moving the bottom point of the drive. But this is only provided that the water in the system meets the necessary standards and does not contain a large amount of impurities and heavy elements, and that the installation, operation and timely maintenance rules are followed when using the device. Electrical diagram for connecting a water heater through a socket connected to a cable laid from the switchboard: The difavtomat can perfectly replace a combination of an RCD and a circuit breaker.

Unscrew the drain valve5. Also, the operating instructions for the equipment must include an electrical diagram of the water heater and a network connection diagram. Installing a boiler The first step is to fix the heater on a load-bearing wall, taking into account the fairly large weight of the equipment. Most often, the design of a water heater has two thermostats: the first controls the heating of water, and the second monitors the condition of the first.

If necessary, replace it with a fresh one. Failure to carry out cleaning work will lead to a decrease in operating efficiency and a decrease in the level of efficiency. Note that the manufacturer has established a minimum service life of a Termex water heater of seven years.

It is capable of being shaped and is not afraid of temperature changes. If the brackets are held for some time, the characteristic will change quickly. The valve is often included with the water heater, but it can also be purchased separately. Experts say that using a regular check valve is highly undesirable. When installing these elements with your own hands, turn the thread no more than once, otherwise you will damage the pipe. Connection diagram of the boiler to the water supply

DIY repair

All Termex boilers, including Stainlessg5, have an emergency shutdown. It is triggered in a situation where the socket or heating element fails. In some cases, the signal may not be sent to the emergency mechanism. Then the destruction of the tank will only accelerate. If, after several years of operation, the boiler begins to heat water poorly or gives an electric shock, then this is a sure sign that diagnostics need to be carried out.

Has several symptoms before repairing this equipment

Repairing Termex is not particularly difficult. The work consists of several parts step by step:

You should close the cold water valve on the boiler and unplug the device from the outlet. Drain the water tank completely. It is better to pour it into the toilet, as scale can clog the sink or bathtub drainage system. Unscrew the hot water hose and check valve. After disconnecting both hoses, you can remove the boiler from the wall. This will make it much easier to remove its contents. Unscrew all bolts and remove the cover. A heating element, thermostat and magnesium anode are installed inside. It is worth examining them carefully and finding out what condition they are in.

Signs of rot or cracks are a clear problem. To replace the heating element, you need to disconnect all the wires (red, blue, yellow). You need to carefully remove the thermal protection and regulator. The copper tube is very thin

If it breaks, it will have to be replaced with a new one. The heating element must be purchased for a specific water heater model. It is better to do this in service stores to avoid fakes. Install a new heating element into the boiler.

After disassembling the boiler, you should pay attention to the degree of destruction of the flange. Most likely it can be used further

In this case, repair of the Thermex water heater is not required. The nut that secures the magnesium anode also often rots.

The water heater emergency shutdown sensor is connected to the housing with thermal paste. It needs to be changed if it dries out.

Price overview

Water heater heating elements are sold in special branded stores (the price will be high here), they can also be bought on the Internet or in regular markets. Strictly ensure that the model of the heating element, its type and parameters match those of the water heater from the same series. Price Evan (Evbo-1) 90 V:

City	Price, rubles	City	Price, rubles
Ekaterinburg	1100	Izhevsk	1100
Kazan	1200	Moscow	1250
Nizhny Novgorod	1200	Oka	1100
Permian	1100	St. Petersburg (SPb)	1200
Saratov	1100	Tyumen	1200
Samara	1100	Ufa	1100
Chelyabinsk	1200	Voronezh	1200

Installation and connection methods

“Dry” heating element

A heating element is a device that requires regular maintenance. After a while, it needs to be cleaned or replaced, depending on the efficiency and completeness of the work.

To clean the heating element yourself, you need to follow the instructions:

Turn off the electric water heater.
Disconnect the electric heater from the power supply.
Open the protective panel by unscrewing the screws.
Under the panel where the thermostat and colored wires are located, disconnect the cables.
Shut off the water supply to the water supply and boiler.
Pull out the thermostat along with the heating element, removing the flange if necessary. At the same time, place a container near the opening in case there is water in the tank. Unscrew the heating element using an adjustable wrench.
Dissolve two packets of citric acid in two liters of water.
Immerse the heating element in the resulting solution and leave for at least 12 hours. After some time, the heating element is ready for installation.
Install in reverse order.

To check the correct installation of the heating element, you will need to turn on the water. If liquid leaks from the tank, the device is not connected correctly.

Design

Ariston water heater design.
(Click to enlarge) Fundamentally, the design of any water heater (boiler) resembles the design of an electric kettle with the function of maintaining a given temperature. But instead of a lid, this kettle has a safety valve.

Depending on the brand, its copyright holder includes a variety of marketing and technical options in the design. Such options are designed to distinguish the product of this particular brand from another.

The hallmark of Ariston storage water heaters is, among other things, the corrosion-resistant coating of the internal tank containing Ar+ silver ions.

This does not exclude the use of other protective coatings in other products of the company. The Ariston AM50 SH 2.0 Ei3 FE model (horizontal model) uses Ti-enamel as a protective coating.

Structurally, such a device consists of:

external, heat-insulated housing (tank);
internal tank with a volume of 15 liters to 200 liters with a corrosion-resistant coating or made of stainless steel;
Heating element – heating element: in a tank with a wet heating element – direct contact with water;
with a dry heating element – contact with water through a ceramic shell;

magnesium anode - to protect equipment from electrochemical corrosion. Does not affect scale formation;

thermostat - to receive a signal about the actual water temperature;

electronic unit - for setting and regulating the water temperature inside the tank;

gasket for the heating element fastening unit.

Device repair

Structural repair

Start the repair by finding the cause of the device malfunction. Most often, the boiler refuses to work due to a power outage or damage to the electrical circuit. If there is no voltage at the outlet, fix it.

Fault codes

Some water heaters have a panel where the reason for failure is displayed in the form of a code or word. Code E1 (vacuum) means that the cold water supply has been stopped when the heating element is on. You should turn off the heating and wait until the tank is completely filled. Only after this can you connect the device to the network.

Code E2 (Sensor) indicates a failure of the temperature sensor. It is recommended to reboot the device by briefly turning it off and on.

E3 (Over Heat) means that the ambient temperature has risen above the critical value of 95 degrees. The thermostat button must be pressed.

Leak in tank

Structural repair

Leaks may occur at the flange attachment point or at the bottom of the tank. The reason lies in installation errors, wear of soldered seams, and improper maintenance. In the absence of grounding, premature corrosion also begins.

The cause of a leak from below may be a worn gasket on the flange. To fix the problem, before disassembling the device, you need to turn it off, disassemble the flange connection and replace the deformed part. Then turn on the boiler and see how it works.

If the device is leaking at the seams, it is easier to replace the model, since it is unlikely that you will be able to repair the seams yourself at home without deforming the case. A stainless steel tank can be boiled. If there is a protective inner coating of glass enamel, welding cannot be used, since the surface layer will become unusable.

Scale

Tap water has high hardness; when heated, salt deposits are deposited on the boiler body and internal parts. What does this mean:

an increase in temperature pressure, which can trigger the RCD;
underheating;
breakdown.

It is recommended to carry out preventative descaling. The process is carried out in several stages. In order, we disconnect the boiler from the network, turn off the water supply, empty the tank, disconnect the wires and dismantle the heating element.

Then rinse the electric heater with warm water. We remove salt deposits using special descaling compounds or using home remedies by adding a bottle of vinegar to the water. It is recommended to soak the heating element in this composition until the salts dissolve.

At the final stage, rinse all parts with clean water, dry them and assemble the water heater.

Failure of the heating element

Main symptoms of malfunctions

the water does not heat up;
the RCD is triggered and the device is turned off;
insufficient heating of the working environment;
the power indicator does not light up;
noise inside the structure;
At the boiler outlet, muddy water with an unpleasant odor is drained;
knocks out the machine gun.

The appearance of the heater does not always allow one to detect a defect if the shell is not damaged. In this case, use the tester:

zero – short circuit;
infinity is a break in the spiral.

Causes:

long service life;
overheating of the heating element due to lack of liquid in the boiler;
easy operation of a filled water heater for a long time;
damaged thermostat;
voltage drops in the network.

The reason may be scale and wear of the anode. Sometimes it is enough to turn the boiler on and off several times for the device to work.

How to change the heating element

Replacing the heating element

Follow the given algorithm:

Unplug the water heater.
Close the shut-off valve at the inlet to the device.
Drain the water from the boiler through the drain pipe using a hose.
Disconnect the device from the mixer.
Now remove the heater and turn it over.
Unscrew the nuts on the flange to remove the bottom cover.
Disconnect the wires from the heating element.
Pull out the thermostat and temperature sensor.
Dismantle the non-working heating element, if necessary, lightly clean it with a screwdriver.

Now all that remains is to replace the heating element and perform the operations in reverse order.

How to check the serviceability of the heating element

To diagnose the heating element, you will need a tester or multimeter. First of all, you need to check the conductivity of the spiral. To do this, you need to attach the multimeter probes to the terminals of the part and ring. If the tester does not make a characteristic sound, the circuit has broken and the heater has burned out. Switch the device to resistance measurement mode. Depending on the power, the indicator should display a value of several tens of ohms. If the tester shows infinity, this also indicates a malfunction.

Another necessary diagnostic procedure is checking for breakdown. We apply one probe of the meter to the body, the second to the terminal of the heating element. If the circuit rings, it means the heater has failed. When the boiler is turned on, with correct electrical switching, the RCD will be triggered due to a breakdown on the housing.

Peculiarities

Today it is impossible to imagine a comfortable apartment or even a private house without hot water. Where it is not possible to use central heating, you have to install water heaters. If such a system is chosen correctly and installed properly, it will provide the household needs of a large family quite effectively. The decisive link in the heating equipment is the heating element, which is a copper or stainless steel element. Its tube contains a spiral inside, through which a strong current passes.

The heater for an Ariston and any other boiler differs from those similar devices that are mounted in electric kettles or in washing machines and dishwashers. Its total electrical power is noticeably greater, because it is necessary to heat a significant amount of liquid in a short time. The company produces both “wet”, made in an open circuit, and “dry”, hermetically sealed heating elements. Ariston Corporation uses an alloy of copper with chromium and nickel to make its heaters.

A specially designed brass flange allows the maximum amount of thermal energy to be released.

Power varies depending on the specific model. All the highest quality heating elements are equipped with a thermostat. This block stops the operation of the device as soon as its temperature becomes critical. On the other hand, the automatic system gives a command to start even when the temperature drops below a certain threshold. Therefore, when buying Ariston products, you don’t have to worry that any negative phenomena will arise or there will be a risk of fire.

How to change the device: replacing the heating element

First, as you might guess, the device is disconnected from the power supply. The outer protective cover is then removed from the assembly. Next, you need to check if there is voltage at the thermostat terminals with an indicator screwdriver. Free the terminals from the wires, just don’t forget to take a photo of the connection order. The ohmic resistance on the heating element blocks, if it shows infinity, this means that the problem is a burnt out nichrome wire or a short circuit.

Then the thermostat is removed. The ball valve at the water inlet is closed, dismantling the check valve. Remove water from the heater through the hose from the valve, or through your drain system. Then unscrew the nut securing the heating element to the special mounting plate. Then you need to squeeze the heating element with the sealing flange and anode inside the tank.

Then proceed like this:

Unfold the heating element inside the tank and pull it out;
The tank must be descaled; rinse it thoroughly;
If the heating element is working properly, then the anode should be replaced and the heating element should be cleaned of scale;
Well, if the heating element “flies”, it needs to be replaced with a new one, and the anode must also be changed;
Then assemble everything in reverse order, according to the photographs.

As you can see, in order to pull out the heating element, the most important thing is not to forget the matter of photography. Otherwise, then you’ll have to remember 100 times what followed what, and what was where. It's not easy to remove the lid on an electric kettle.

Standard instructions for an Ariston water heater 80 liters

Water heaters of this size are necessary for daily use by the whole family. The presence of sensors and temperature levels guarantees safe operation.

For long-term use of the device, it is necessary to carry out installation in accordance with all the rules or with the help of an experienced technician. To avoid breakdowns and other hassles, follow the operating rules:

The first switching on and off should be carried out with a full tank.
If the batteries are damaged, be sure to replace the weak parts.
In a room with sub-zero temperatures, it is necessary to drain the water from the heater.
Leaving the device idle for a long time without a heating function should be done with the water supply tap or valve closed. Heaters must also be unplugged from the outlet.

Devices for high-quality water heating from Ariston are presented in user-friendly sizes, equipped with all kinds of engineering improvements and are available in all major retail chains. All you need to do is select the model you need for individual installation.