Thermostat is a device, which is commonly used in water and space heating systems, refrigerators and other equipments, which responds to any change in temperature automatically and activates switches for controlling the devices. Sometimes, a water heater stops heating water due to any problem or damage of thermostat. For example, one is going to take a shower and he/she turn on the hot water tap for hot water, instead of it, he/she receives cold water. This occurs due to damage, which may require a repair of hot water heater. If the water is not heating up that means there may be chances of damage in hot water heater thermostat.

By repairing or replacing a hot water heater thermostat, one can receive hot water again. There are many ways to repair or replace a hot water heater thermostat, by which a water heater starts producing hot water again. To repair a thermostat, first detach the access panel and check both of the hot water heater thermostats. An electric water heater has two thermostats and they are placed on upper and lower sides. These are used to control the upper and lower heating elements. Check both lower and upper thermostats that whether they need to be repaired or replaced.

Now disconnect the electric power to the water heater from the circuit panel. Detach the wires from the terminal located on the thermostat. After doing this, unscrew the thermostat from its stand and take it out. Try to repair the thermostat if there is a minor damage. If it is not in a state of repairing then replace it with other thermostat of the same size and model. A new thermostat can be purchased from any home improvement store or electrical supply outlet. Screw it on the stand and connect the wires again on the terminal.

If one is thinking of replacing both lower and upper thermostat, then he/she can repeat the same procedure of installing a new thermostat. In both cases, press the thermostats softly back against the tank to make sure it works properly. Now connect the access panel with the water heater and turn the power on from the circuit panel. Adjust the thermostats by following the directions as suggested by the manufacturer in the owner's manual provided with electric hot water heater. Examine it to make sure that water heater is now working properly.

The 59T and 66T range of thermostats are used in hot water heaters; these are designed to meet the higher electric capacity needs of electric water heater. Both of the thermostats use temperature sensitive bimetal disc to transmit snap action to the links. The speed and pressure of link separation provides a long lasting dependable control at high electrical loads. The 59T gives a stable control on temperature at all pointers over an 110F, which is an adjustable range. The 66T thermostat having a trip free manual reset operates from a non-adjustable factory calibrated temperature. These two thermostats can be used as hot water heater thermostat whether on upper or lower side.