If you must change one order both.
Change water heater element without draining.
Gently remove the.
Use a screw driver to remove the cover of the access panel.
You will need a large socket to unscrew the heating element garden hose to drain the water heater screw driver and a pair of pliers.
Here is how you change the elements on an electric water heater.
In this case i would shut off power turn off water supply and just remove the element as fast as you can knowing you will have some loss.
This is great and saves a ton of time.
Replacing the water heater elements will require a few tools.
Put big towel down in front of heater.
There s usually insulation between the panel door and the thermostat.
The upper panel houses the upper water heater element.
Normally there are two a high and a low elements.
If this question is pertaining to a electric tank water heater no.
The tank must be fully drained and cooled before you can change the heating element.
The thermostat should have a plastic cover.
Turn off power to heater.
Get new heater element ready remove from package put on gasket ect.
Set the insulation aside in a dry place.
Re leave pressure anywhere you want but when it s gone close the valve sink tub ect remove cover and disconnect wires.
I have viewed some videos on the internet about changing a hot water heater element without draining the tank first.
Change water heater elements without draining tanks.