Camco 4500W 240V Screw-in Foldback Water Heater Element | Low Watt Density (02583)

Easy to install and work perfectly

It did the job! I had a crooked repair guy in Plano, TX (At-Ease Plumbing, stay away from them) tell me he couldn't quote a price on the phone then when he arrived the next day, he didn't open the water heater or even bring in a meter or a tool and was telling me it would cost $575 to rebuild my 9 year old water heater or $1400 to replace, or else pay him $69 for the 2 minutes he was there? I threw him out, called another plumber, explained that I was disabled and just needed to get another year out of this. He directed me to buy this part and the tool, and the Camco tool (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006IX896/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_6) and it was under $15! I changed it myself in 30 minutes, taking my time and without draining the tank! There's a video on Youtube how to change the heating element with a full tank. I suggest you watch it and others to get familiar with this fairly simple process. Basically, you stuff a towel under the hole where the element will come out so when you pull the unit out, it catches any water. The tank will "glug" so water does not come pouring out, but in bursts as it glug, glug glugs... not very fast. Probably less than a cup of water is lost when you pull the old one out and put the new one in quickly. The old one will have sediment build up so just pull it out, wiggle, whatever to get it out fast as you can without panicking. Then, the other in and start screwing it back in place. I could do it again in less than 5 minutes, start to finish, and lose less water! Great product! Also, if your water heater is getting power but you have a cold tank, it's usually this element, which fits the top heating element of most water heaters. I hear that AO Smith can be different. Good luck!.

Excellent

To think we almost bought a whole new hot water heater!! All it took was this cheap little part and hot water heater is working like a charm, again!! Well worth the money!

Seems like a quality built element. Does the job, price was right (cheaper than local, free shipping (with Prime)). I would have given this 5 stars, because the shipper was very fast, and it seems like a good unit. As good as any you buy locally. The reason I took off a star is because of the packaging. I was secretly laughing at a review where the reviewer was complaining about the plastic. Well, I see what he/she was complaining about now. It took me longer to get the damn thing out of all the plastic than it did for me to actually install it in the water heater. It is heat shrunk packaged, and the plastic seals in and all around the element. Real pain in the ass to get it unwrapped from it. Even with a razor sharp knife. I never did get "all" of it off, but just a couple small hard to get to fragments were left on, but I gave up trying to get it all off, and just installed it. Manufactures, I hope you are reading this. Good unit, but the way you package it is nuts.. I'm just gonna stop whining and go take a hot shower.. ;)

This saved me from replacing my entire water heater. Mine has 2 elements, turns out the bottom one was bad, replaced it with this and it's still running strong.

It was an easy install. YouTube is valuable. We were running of of hat water quicker than we used too. It was the lower heating element. You need a 1 1/2" socket. Screwdrivers. Flat and phillips. Shut your breaker off and test it. Make sure to shut you water off. Fit perfect. Time will tell on longevity

Installed in cabins in remote locations and they work.