[HayZee518]

before you go nuts with a hot water heater, the elements are about 11 bucks apiece. get a stamped steel wrench for the element when you get the elements. size is 1 1/2 inch.
power is fed first to the upper element at whatever the stat is set at, then it is transferred to the lower element. the top controller has a red reset button in it - try pressiing - it may reset. across the top two screws you should read 240 volts. if you have access to a clamp around ammeter, clamp it around one of the leads going to the upper element. if the element is working there should be an ampere reading of about 6.25 amps. if the element is rated at 1500 watts
try turning up the set point to a higher setting which should kick in the element.