(Some of my photos are posting sideways, I'm not sure why, but hope you guys can make things out)
Hey guys, thanks again for your replies. I am finally getting somewhere I think. I took off the panel at my breaker, I was wearing Salisbury elecrtrical gloves rated at 500 volts for added protection since I'm new to this. Anyways, from the pictures you can see my panel. I don't believe it has a main panel switch, or at least I don't see one here.
I did some tests on the panel. I first tested across the two nuts on the dryer's breaker (a breaker I know is working) and could get like 245 volts or something (which is correct). I then did the same test across the water heater's nuts, and was getting like 149 volts. I then tested the nut with the black wire on the breaker for the water heater across it and the neutral bar on the far right of the panel, and got like 120 volts. I then tested the nut with the white wire on the breaker for the water heater across it and the neutral bar on the far right of the panel, and got like 10 volts or something.
So it looks like I have an issue with the breaker. My first concern is, do I have to work on this without being able to shut off power? I don't see a breaker panel switch for the whole panel. If so, I will have to wear my 500 volt rated electrical gloves the whole time.
Another issue I realized is when I remove the wires from the actual water heater breaker, and then test across them (see last photos), I also get 0 volts. If I then test each wire to the neutral bar, I also get 0 volts. If I put the wires back in the breaker, I can get 120 volts from the black wire to the neutral bar. So I'm worried, if I can't get 240 volts across the wires themselves when they are taken out of the breaker, does that mean I have another power issue besides the breaker?
My next question is, do I just buy a new breaker and pop it in? Or is there something else I should do? Thanks, I'm finally getting somewhere now with this due to your guys' help.