"Set Square" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Barry Young wrote:

Hi everybody,
SNIP


Is the bottom heater definitely dead? Have you measured the resistance of
the element with a stat removed? If this is open circuit then it pretty
certainly *is* dead. Otherwise, it may just be a wiring problem.

If you are in a hard water area the element will have most likely split and
twisted out of shape. If the insulation resistance of the disconnected
heater is less than a Meg its a goner regardless of whether the element
shows open or a through circuit!

How did you try to remove it? You will, of course, have to drain the
tank -
but it's easiest to *loosen* the heater whilst the tank is still full of
water - so that the weight of water stops the tank from moving while you
are
applying a *lot* of torque - probably by sliding a tube over the handle of
the spanner to increase the lever arm length.

You have every chance of tearing a hole in the side of the cylinder if you
simply apply a high torque. Use a ring or box spanner and "tap" it round
with a hammer until the seal of jointing compound and corrosion detritus in
the threads is released. In very extreme cases application of heat may be
required as well but tapping is effective in about 95% of stuck element
cases.
Do it with the cylinder full until it just moves then drain off and continue
to undo it.