1. Turn off the power to the water heater at the circuit breaker.
2. Open a hot water tap to drain some water from the tank.
3. Close the hot water tap.
4. Turn the power back on to the water heater.
5. Monitor the temperature of the water at the hot water tap as the water heater heats up.
The water heater should begin heating up and the temperature of the water at the tap should rise. Once the water reaches the desired temperature, the thermostat on the water heater should turn off the heating element and the water heater should go into a standby mode. The water heater will then maintain the temperature of the water in the tank until it is needed again.
If the water heater does not turn off after the water reaches the desired temperature, the thermostat may be faulty and will need to be replaced.
