Introduction
Whirlpool has been making energy-efficient water heaters for years. In order to make them more efficient, Whirlpool developed a program called “Energy Smart” which can be found in the control boards of select models. The problem is that the program makes it difficult to bypass the control board in order to adjust your water temperature or fix other problems if they arise down the road. Luckily for you (and me), there’s no need to throw out your hot water heater just yet! Here are eleven ways you can bypass or remove Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Control Boards:
Unplug the water heater.
- Unplug the water heater.
- Turn off the power to the water heater.
- Make sure to have a working smoke alarm in your home, as well as an operational fire extinguisher and an exit plan in case of fire.
Locate the control board.
The control board is located on the side of your water heater. It’s a small black box with wires coming out of it.
To access it, you’ll need to remove the front panel from your water heater. You may also need to lower or raise an outer panel if there are obstructions preventing access to the control board.
Remove the nuts holding the board to the heater.
Use a screwdriver to remove the nuts holding the board to the heater. Don’t use a wrench or pliers, and don’t use a hammer. You may also want to avoid power tools like drills and socket wrenches as they could damage your water heater if used incorrectly.
Pull out the circuit board with your hands.
To remove the circuit board, first pull out any wires that are connected to it. Do not pull on these wires! If you do, they may break and cause damage to your water heater. Next, use both hands to grab onto both sides of the circuit board and carefully pull it out from inside your Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater control box.
Turn the circuit board over and set it down on a hard surface with its screw holes facing up.
Turn the circuit board over and set it down on a hard surface (like a table) with its screw holes facing up. Make sure you are using a hard surface that won’t scratch the circuit board, such as wood or glass. Do not set this part down on fabric, carpeting or any other flammable materials like paper towels!
Connect a jumper across each thermostat terminal.
Connect a jumper across each thermostat terminal.
This is the easiest step, but it’s important to make sure you have the right equipment and follow these instructions carefully. You will need some insulated wire and two alligator clips (if you don’t have them, you can use electrical tape). Connect one end of your jumper wire to each terminal on your thermostat with an insulated alligator clip at each end of the wire–this should be done by connecting one end of your jumper wire directly onto one side of each terminal (see Figure 1).
Cut four 6-inch lengths of bare copper wire if you are using jumper wires.
Cut four 6-inch lengths of bare copper wire if you are using jumper wires.
Use wire cutters to cut the wires, then use them again to strip off about 1/2 inch of insulation from each end of each piece. Use a small screwdriver to scrape away any remaining strands.
Slide a length of heat shrink tubing over each wire, then wrap a jumper wire around one terminal and twist the wire ends together to connect it to the terminal.
- Slide a length of heat shrink tubing over each wire, then wrap a jumper wire around one terminal and twist the wire ends together to connect it to the terminal.
- Make sure you don’t touch any metal parts while making this connection or you could get an electrical shock!
Takeaway: Bypassing your Whirlpool Energy Smart water heater control board is not difficult but you need to exercise caution and care while performing this task.
- Follow the instructions carefully.
- Be careful not to damage the wires and board.
- Be careful not to damage yourself in performing this task, as it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing or are careless in your work.
Method 1: Replace the Water Heater Control Board
- Remove the control board from your water heater
- Replace it with a new one
- Check for other problems and make repairs as necessary (if you don’t know what you’re doing, call an electrician)
- Reconnect all of the wires to their respective terminals on the new control board, paying attention to polarity (black goes to black) and orientation (make sure that flat sides face outwards)
- Install your new control board in its mounting bracket or attach it directly to a wall if there isn’t one available for use
Method 2: Bypass the “Energy Smart” Water Heater Control Board with a Relay Switch
The second method is to use a relay switch to bypass the control board. A relay switch is a simple electronic switch that can be used to control power from one source (for example, your wall outlet) to another. They are used in many applications such as cars, computers and more.
You will need:
- A 4-way relay (Radio Shack part # 275-004) or equivalent (Cisco Part # PWR10K824-2)
- Wire strippers/cutters; Soldering iron; Electrical tape
Method 3: Remove the Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Control Board and Connections, then Set Your Heat to 120 Degrees Fahrenheit
The third method is to remove the whirlpool energy smart water heater control board and connections, then set your heat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be done by disconnecting all wires connected to the control board and removing it from its slot on top of your water heater’s heating element. Once you’ve done this, take a look at how much space there is behind where your old control board was installed (see picture above). If there seems like enough room for another one, attach new connectors and reinstall them into place so that they’re flush against each other without any gaps visible in between them or anything else around them (you don’t want any leaks!). After reconnecting everything together in reverse order from how we took apart our first setup earlier today: power supply wire first followed by ground wire then hot/cold lines lastly before finally testing out whether or not everything worked properly using either our multimeter tester tool again just like before except now instead being able to adjust temperature settings since we no longer need access.
Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Unlock
- Unlock the door
- Turn off the water at your water heater (if you can’t do this, call a professional)
- Unscrew the access panel on top of your energy smart water heater to reveal its insides, which will look like this:
- Remove old control board by unscrewing four screws holding it in place and lifting out old board from its socket connections on back side of unit (see picture below).
- Install new control board into same location as old one was removed from by simply reversing steps 1-4 above!
Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Element Light On
If your Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater is heating and the element light is on, but the control board is not responding to commands, you may need a new control board. The control board can be accessed by removing the front panel of your water heater (see image below). Once removed from its housing, disconnect all wires from their corresponding terminals on both sides of it. Then remove two screws that secure each connector bracket before pulling those brackets off as well (see images below).
Whirlpool Ee3j50rd045v Control Board
Whirlpool Ee3j50rd045v Control Board is a part of the Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater. The Whirlpool Ee3j50rd045v Control Board controls the heating element and keeps track of your water temperature. If this component fails, it could cause problems like:
- The Energy Smart Water Heater will not come on at all (or stay on).
- The Energy Smart Water Heater Element Light On/Off switch may not work properly and no longer lights up when you press it in order to turn off your hot water supply valve while doing maintenance work inside your home or apartment building’s walls where these types of units are installed beside each other without any air circulation between them because they share common walls with each other which could lead to mold growth if left unchecked over time due to excess moisture build-up inside those spaces where pipes run through them so please take precautions by using fans during rainy seasons for example so as not
to let humidity levels rise too high as this could cause problems such as mildew growth along surfaces where steam tends collect after coming out from underneath cabinets above sinks etcetera…
Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Control Board Replacement
Replacing the control board is a simple process that should take about an hour to complete. Before you get started, make sure to turn off power to your water heater by turning off its breaker switch or pressing its circuit breaker button.
You’ll need:
- Replacement control board (part number EE3J50RD045V)
- Screwdriver with Phillips head bits (about $15 at Amazon)
- Remove the front panel of your energy smart water heater by lifting up on it and pulling it away from unit’s body, then disconnecting any electrical connections inside cabinet if applicable; set aside for later use if needed later in process (you may not have to do this depending on type/model). 2. Remove screws holding old control panel onto frame using Phillips head screwdriver; lift out old panel carefully so wires don’t fall out as well–these can be re-used if needed later when reconnecting new one 3.”Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Control Board Replacement”
Energy Smart Water Heater Reset
- Turn off power to the water heater and wait at least five minutes.
- Press and hold the reset button for at least three seconds.
- Turn on power to the water heater and check that the reset button has popped back up (this may take a few seconds).
Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Problems
- Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Problems
- Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Element Light On
- Whirlpool Ee3j50rd045v Control Board
- Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Control Board Replacement
Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Water Too Hot
If the water is too hot, check the following:
- Temperature setting. Make sure that you have set the temperature correctly. If it’s too high, then you may need to adjust it lower. You can do this by pressing and holding both buttons on the front of your control panel for 3 seconds until “0” appears on display, then press either button once more until desired temperature displays (between 40-130 degrees).
- Temperature sensor. Check whether there is an issue with this component or not by removing element from unit and plugging in separately; if heating element works properly but does not generate heat when installed back into housing unit then replace sensor assembly which includes wiring harnesses & mounting bracket along with new thermistor (part number W10298089). It’s recommended using only genuine replacement parts as doing otherwise could void warranty coverage offered by manufacturer!
Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater Manual
To reset your Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater:
- Unplug the appliance from its power source, then wait 30 minutes before plugging it back in again. This allows any residual electricity in the system to dissipate safely and prevents a shock hazard when you re-energize it.
- Turn off all faucets leading into or out of your appliance, including showerheads and bathroom sinks (but not toilets). You don’t want water running through any part of your house while you’re working on this project!
Conclusion
Whirlpool energy smart water heater control board is one of the most common problems that can occur in your home. To fix this issue, follow the above steps and you’ll be on your way to having a working whirlpool energy smart water heater control board again!
