How do I know my heating element is broken?

Well it all starts that or that there is no pressure build up/heating up of the boiler or that the breaker trips because of a short circuit. In most cases if the breaker trips this is caused by the heating element.

You can test the heating element with a multi meter. Measure the resistance of the heating element on the phase and null side. When broken this should give a reading of 1.  Then you can also measure a phase or null to the flange. If this gives a reading this means that it shorts out against the body of the element. Which means it is broken.

Note: if there are multiple coils connected with bridges, do remove those first. Seen this makes a incorrect reading.