STOP where you are at with this project. Now--does the lower element screw into the water heater tank, or does it have the four bolt which hold it on? IF it screws in, all you should have to do is unscrew it CCW (counter-clock wise) and try to remove it. Sometimes the lower element is a "J" shaped element. These will get mineral deposits on them in due time and will spread apart making it really hard to remove them. It's like pulling them out a bit, then something seems to hang up. IF this is your problem: Pull the element out as far as you can, cut the element with a hacksaw, remove the part that is outside the tank. Then---push the remaining piece of bad element far into the tank so it will fall on the bottom of the tank, like maybe use a piece of metal clothes hanger to push it far in there. It's harmless there. Done this many times. Then clean up the surfaces where the new element will seal and install the new element and DON'T forget the rubber gasket. The elements with the four bolts can be done the same way.
thing is stuck... i have totally destroyed the nut and am trying to drill it out and get it out that way..... think im better off to buy new water heater???
