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

Error code MECH-ELEMENT-UPPER on the Bradford White RE350T6 50 Gallon 4500W 6-Year Warranty Upright Electric Water Heater means: Upper Heating Element Failed. The upper heating element has burned out or failed, resulting in no hot water at all. Bradford White electric water heaters heat in sequence — the upper element heats first, then the lower element takes over. If the upper element fails, you get no hot water because the upper thermostat never switches power to the lower element. To test: turn off the breaker, remove the upper access panel, disconnect one wire from the element, and test with a multimeter for resistance. A good 4500W element at 240V should read approximately 12-13 ohms. An open reading (OL/infinite) means the element is burned out. Also test for a grounded element — check continuity between each terminal and the tank (should be open). Replace with the correct wattage and voltage element.

The most successful fix is "Test and Replace the Upper Heating Element" (medium difficulty, ~60 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 ("Test and Replace the Upper Heating Element") is rated medium difficulty and takes about 60 minutes. Tools needed: Multimeter, Heating element wrench/socket, Phillips 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-LOWER (Lower 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-UPPER 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.