Bradford White RE350T6 50 Gallon 4500W 6-Year Warranty Upright Electric Water Heater MECH-ELEMENT-LOWER Error Fix: Lower Heating Element Failed

Error code MECH-ELEMENT-LOWER on the Bradford White RE350T6 50 Gallon 4500W 6-Year Warranty Upright Electric Water Heater means: Lower Heating Element Failed. The lower heating element has burned out, causing the water heater to produce a reduced amount of hot water. With the upper element working but the lower failed, you get some hot water from the top of the tank, but it runs out quickly. The lower element does the majority of the heating during recovery. Test the same way as the upper element — disconnect power, remove one wire, and test resistance (should be 12-13 ohms for 4500W at 240V). Lower elements fail more often than upper elements because they sit near the bottom of the tank where sediment accumulates, which can insulate the element, cause it to overheat, and burn out. Flush the tank and replace the element.

The most successful fix is "Replace the Lower Heating Element" (hard difficulty, ~90 minutes). Estimated DIY cost: $15-$25. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

This error is rated high severity. You should address it promptly — continued use could cause damage or safety concerns.

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Replace the Lower Heating Element") is rated hard difficulty and takes about 90 minutes. Tools needed: Multimeter, Heating element wrench/socket, Screwdriver, Garden hose.

DIY cost: $15-$25. Professional repair typically costs $120-$200. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

The Bradford White RE350T6 50 Gallon 4500W 6-Year Warranty Upright Electric Water Heater has 8 other known error codes, including: MECH-ANODE (Anode Rod Depleted — Rotten Egg Smell or Corrosion), MECH-ECO-TRIP (ECO (Energy Cut Off) Tripped — Red Reset Button), MECH-ELEMENT-UPPER (Upper Heating Element Failed), MECH-INSUFFICIENT-HOT (Not Enough Hot Water — Runs Out Quickly), MECH-LEAK (Tank Leaking from Bottom), and 3 more.

Error code MECH-ELEMENT-LOWER also appears on 1 other Bradford White model: RE340S6 40 Gallon 4500W Short Electric Water Heater with Glass Lining. The fix may vary by model, so check each model's specific page for tailored repair steps.