Getting a weird smell of hot electrical. This first happened months ago so i stopped using the 120v element. On propane it works great. Finally tested the heating element and it had the same resistance a couple help videos said i should see. Pulled the element and it had white deposits but not too bad. My anode rod can completely fallen off. I had wondered if maybe the rod was interacting with the heating element somehow. I fished the broken anode rod out. Cleaned everything real good. Used a shop vac and piece of hose to suck the remaining white deposits out. Filled the water heater and turned it on. The smell is back and it seems slow to heat. After about 45 mins i turned it back off. Water was just a little bit warmer than how it comes out cold. I have the Suburban paper manual here. Not seeing anything for electrical smell. I bought the tool to remove the heating element. But waiting to buy a new element because the one i have is testing ok. Would be happy if thats the simple fix. Any thoughts on what part is making the smell. I have a fire extinguisher by the front door ready to go. Turned off the breaker to the heater and the switch is off. (side note the switch broke, so i jumpered it, thats when this smell first happened months ago)

Check the on/off button on the water heater body. They burn up all the time.

Slow heating with a normal resistance element means there is resistance somewhere else in series. As mentioned above, a bad switch switch would do that. So would a poor connection anywhere between the power source and element (i.e. thermostat or overprotection device). If you try running it again, search for something hot. Alternatively, ohm out all of the connections with power disconnected.

Remove the cover above gas valve where the 2 sets of t-stats are (Push to Reset Cover)Left side is the 120V AC set of t-statsCheck the black wires/connectionsThe drawn pan is punched out and edges rolled inward...but they are sharp and the wire insulation can get cut up causing burnt insulation and bad connections

Two tests you can run. One is the "SNIFF" test. follow the scent of hot wire and see if you can track it down (not easy) the other is the infra red thermometer test. SHOOT the wires.. all junction boxes. and such. including the breaker that feeds the water heater.. I am guessing a poor connection.

wopachop wrote:(side note the switch broke, so i jumpered it, thats when this smell first happened months ago)I think you answered your own question.Properly replace the broken switch.

Electrical smell from water heater | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

wopachop
Explorer
Mar 19, 2019
Thanks everyone. How much power runs through that exterior 120v switch? While researching a month ago i remember someone saying its a relay and does not carry much current. Im just curious.

The jumper is pretty solid. Its your regular male/female spade connectors. The connectors make good contact and the wires feel crimped nice and tight.

I will poke around and look for loose connections. Thanks for all the advice.

What about a clamping meter on the heating element wires? Would that help diagnose the problem? Actually for fun im gonna check that now. Will test the element and the switch wires.
BB_TX
Nomad
Mar 19, 2019
If not the new jumper wire, check the neutral wire connection in the junction box on the back side of the water heater. There have been several reports of that neutral wire connection being bad and burned.
Bobbo
Explorer III
Mar 19, 2019
schlep1967 wrote:
wopachop wrote:
(side note the switch broke, so i jumpered it, thats when this smell first happened months ago)

I think you answered your own question.
Properly replace the broken switch.

schlep1967 beat me to it. This sentence tells you exactly what and where the problem is. I would be willing to bet that either your jumper wire is too small or has a bad connection. That creates a high resistance connection that causes exactly the problems you are seeing. It also heats up, causing the smell you are smelling.
schlep1967
Nomad
Mar 19, 2019
wopachop wrote:
(side note the switch broke, so i jumpered it, thats when this smell first happened months ago)

I think you answered your own question.
Properly replace the broken switch.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 19, 2019
Two tests you can run. One is the "SNIFF" test. follow the scent of hot wire and see if you can track it down (not easy) the other is the infra red thermometer test. SHOOT the wires.. all junction boxes. and such. including the breaker that feeds the water heater..

I am guessing a poor connection.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Mar 19, 2019
Remove the cover above gas valve where the 2 sets of t-stats are (Push to Reset Cover)

Left side is the 120V AC set of t-stats
Check the black wires/connections

The drawn pan is punched out and edges rolled inward...but they are sharp and the wire insulation can get cut up causing burnt insulation and bad connections
wnjj
Explorer II
Mar 19, 2019
Slow heating with a normal resistance element means there is resistance somewhere else in series. As mentioned above, a bad switch switch would do that. So would a poor connection anywhere between the power source and element (i.e. thermostat or overprotection device). If you try running it again, search for something hot. Alternatively, ohm out all of the connections with power disconnected.
byronlj
Explorer
Mar 19, 2019
Check the on/off button on the water heater body. They burn up all the time.

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Electrical smell from water heater

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