Rheem SP20060 Electric Water Heater Tune-Up Kit

This was a long time in coming. My water heater has been performing below the idea for a long time and the price of a new unit prevented me from replacing it. My unit is over 22 years old and has no sign of leakage. In the 22 years I have lived here I have drained the tank three times, and that was not a full drain. I watched a Youtube video showing how to replace the heater element and thought I would give it a try when I got around to it. I had an element on my 'wish list' for a very long time but recently saw a listing on Amazon for not only both elements, but the thermostats as well and all for $33.00 So for that small amount I would have essentially a new heater. Removing the elements would allow me to assess the condition of the inside of the tank. If I encountered a lot of mineral build up I would know that this repair was only a band-aid. A friend who owns a plumbing company warned me that in all likelihood the element would be seized and not come out easily, and that it was possible to rip out the threads with the element. I was warned that if it still worked at all to leave it alone until it was done for and then replace it with a new energy efficient model. I followed the basic instructions; doing the thermostats first. Next I was to replace the bottom element since when I do the top it will spill onto the bottom work area. Neither element came loose with fairly heavy effort. There is a rubber 'o' ring between the threads and the tank so I knew it couldn't be seized at that point it must be the threads. I soaked the threaded area on both elements with PB Blaster and waited a half hour before trying again. I had bought the tool recommended and it wouldn't budge either. With continuous effort the tool began to slip on the element collar. I soaked it again with PB Blaster and waited another 30 minutes. In the meantime I went to my tool box and got out a half inch drive breaker bar. I took the new element to my container of heavy duty truck sockets and found the one that fit best.It was actually a metric socket but the size escapes my memory. I took this to the heater and with less effort than to remove a wheel lug nut I felt it come loose slowly and smoothly. I then moved to the other and the same thing occurred - they were both loose. I backed them out about a turn, sprayed more PB on them and then tightened them again. I waited awhile and then with a rocking tighten -loosen-tighten loosen motion I backed them about halfway out with no effort. I changed back to that lightweight tool and did the quick change - pulled out the old one and quickly slapped in the new one, starting it by hand before using the tool and a final tighten with my bar. I followed the instructions on how to properly fill the heater and turn it back on. I tested it in about 45 minutes and it worked magnificently as if it were new. So for 33 dollars and a couple hours of patient work time I have hot water. I am very happy with both the product and the company. The key is take your time and watch the how-to videos.

I ordered this full kit, but expected to only replace the suspect lower element in my 15-year-old Rheem 80 gallon tank. Replacement went smoothly and the new element works perfectly, which solves the problem and leaves me a lot of spare parts. The new element looked identical to the 15-year-old one. I was lucky in the sense that the old element was not seized on and the tank and element turned out to be clean and free of sediment and mineral build-up. I carefully followed the YouTube video that showed how to do it without draining the tank, which worked out great, taking about 10 minutes to do the job and losing only a couple of cups of water. I highly recommend the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyC55h7lhYM. If the URL is removed from this review, just look up "Replace Water Heater Element with Full Tank of Water" by Dan Jiles. I also bought the Camco 9953 pro socket, rather than a regular socket, since the Camco is cut flush, without beveling, and flushness is needed to reliably grip the very narrow nut shoulder on the element and avoid slipping off under torque.

Fit and works as it should.

Everything was pretty good except for the wrench I bought to use with it. The standard water heater element wrench looks like a ground down socket with a hole for a screwdriver to go through for turning. Ground down so the end is no longer beveled because the element has only about 5/32" purchase. Bah! At the least, one needs the same pressure on both sides of the socket while turning it, and turn it with something substantial enough, not that little hole just big enough for a screwdriver. I put a steel rod through there and bent it into a pretzel because the hole for it is so small, but got the old element out with ease once I figured to disfigure the perimeter of that tool enough to get grip with two vise grips clamped onto it. Stupid poorly designed heater element socket should have a substantial T handle to turn it. I could have done it with a good ratchet wrench and ground down socket easily, that stupid tool is idiotic. .

This is an acceptable repair kit with seemingly quality parts. The title is misleading however as the kit is not genuine Rheem parts. I used this kit on my 80 gallon Rheem electric hot water heater. I decided on this set based upon others' reviews and it appeared to be compatible with my unit. Replacing the thermostats are a breeze just be sure to take a picture before you take wires off so you know how to reconnect them. Replacing the elements were trickier. It look a 2' breaker bar, a special socket, and lots of force. After removing them I discovered the ones included in the kit were not exact matches. The elements in my water heater were 240v and 3000w. The elements in the kit are 240v but 4500w. Concerned with installing a higher wattage element I called a friend of the family electrician for some guidance. If your water heater is wired to a 30 amp breaker and has #10 wire running from the breaker to the water heater then using the higher wattage is acceptable. If not, then return the elements for an exact match as it's not worth the fire risk. Luckily I had the correct wiring for a safe upgrade. Installing went easily and it is helpful to add some teflon tape the threads of the elements. It should go without saying but make sure you turn off the breaker before working on your water hester. Overall a solid kit but dissapointed it was Rheem brand as advetised.

Just what we needed

Plumber review. I read through the review-comments, and so many of the reviews could be explained by understanding water heaters more. "It burnt up" = "You didn't bleed-the air out before turning the power back on." Thats 100% crucial! "Temperature this or that" = Adjust the thermostat.. the elements only do what the thermostats tell them to do. Also understand the temperature outside makes a difference as well as where in the home the water heater is located. I could go on, but suffice it to say these thermostats and elements look like better quality than most, they work PERFECT, the water temperature is set (like all thermostats) and should be left exactly where it is, its perfect. And lastly, I expect they will last a long time. Oh and make sure the thermostat is pressed TIGHT to the tank. If you don't understand these, CALL A PROFESSIONAL!!! I know we hear that every day, and most of the time (myself at least) we yawn, but not getting the thermostat clicked in right CAN LITERALLY BURN YOUR HOME TO THE GROUND! I've seen 3 different homes catch fire because DIYers didn't understand the clip system on the thermostats. GET THAT RIGHT! Life is worth more than the money you'd spend paying a plumber.

After reading the reviews on the Chinese thermostat parts, where many suffered meltdowns/fires, i really wanted to buy a better unit. I noted no mention of fires in the reviews for this brand. Visually the quality seemed very good. Male sure you inert the thermostats into the holders so that the vertical peaks go into the slots and the thermostat is held tight to the tank. Take the labeled temperature settings with a grain of salt. Mine came set slightly below 125. I prefer a temp about 130, so I reset them to a bit above 125. Wrong - way too, hot temp was about140. I ended up right back at the setting that they came out of the package and the temp is about 130. I didn't change the elements, as mine were replaced in recent years and working fine. The parts nor the package indicate where the parts are built, but I suspect not China.

Exact replacement and easy to install. working like a new water heater.

Cumple con la función perfectamente

Perfect fit and easy install

Buen producto

Fit and working no problems