Electric water heaters are connected to specialized circuits. It implies that nothing else is connected to their circuit breakers. Sometimes, the water heater breaker tripped and won’t reset for no apparent reason.
You may reset them anytime they trip and keep using the water heater until they do so again. Sometimes, they could trip, making it impossible for you to reset them.
Circuit breakers trip for a reason, and it can be a crisis requiring immediate assistance. Even if they sometimes misstep, there is still a cause. Always put your safety first. When working on electrical problems, always be careful. Unless you have experience, never work around electrical wires.
This piece will examine the causes of the water heater breaker tripping frequently and some potential fixes.
If the breaker trips again immediately after you reset it, this is a clear sign of a tripped circuit that requires further investigation. It’s important not to ignore this as it indicates a more serious issue with your water heater or electrical system.
Water Heater Breaker Tripped And Won’t Reset
Firstly, if your water heater breaker has tripped and won’t reset, avoid the urge to flip the breaker back on repeatedly. Doing so can overheat the wires, posing a risk of an electrical fire. This can also damage your water heater and cause wear and tear on your circuit breaker.
Before you begin troubleshooting, ensure you have safely turned off the gas supply to the water heater. This is a critical safety step, especially if you need to open the access panel or work near gas lines. From personal experience, it’s essential to double-check that all power sources are disconnected before handling electrical components.
A well-respected technician once shared, ‘Even if the breaker appears off, test the circuit with a voltage tester. This small step could save you from a dangerous electric shock.’
Instead, head to the breaker box and turn off the breaker before starting any troubleshooting.
The problem causing the breaker to trip won’t go away. Turn the breaker off and start troubleshooting right away. Thankfully, diagnosing a tripped water heater breaker isn’t that hard. You can locate the issue by using several troubleshooting techniques. Here are the main reasons and solutions.
What Trips The Reset Button On A Hot Water Heater
- Bad Thermostat
A limit switch on water heaters prevents the water’s temperature from rising 180°. The limit switch, a little red reset button on the water heater, trips when the water exceeds 180°. By reading how to reset the water heater, you can avoid getting burned or scalded by the scaldingly hot water.
A defective thermostat is the most likely reason for the limit switch to trigger. Two thermostats are in a two-element water heater, one for each element. To ensure that only one element is heated at once, the thermostats converse with one another.
Sometimes, when they malfunction, they remain in the state. As a result, both heating and cooling elements continue to operate and heat the water continually. In a similar situation, while troubleshooting a faulty thermostat, I discovered that sometimes the issue isn’t with the thermostat but with a loose connection.
A detailed inspection of the wiring and terminals revealed that tightening a simple screw fixed the problem, which was causing intermittent failures. As an expert, I always recommend taking your time with this inspection—what seems like a minor issue might actually prevent a major breakdown.
- Bad Heating Element
As we’ve already explained, most electric water heaters contain higher and lower heating components. These components cooperate to keep the water warm, which is particularly crucial for bigger tanks. When a heating element malfunctions, the water stops heating and becomes cooler than usual.
Consequently, the heating element is exposed internally and won’t harm anything if this is the case. However, this isn’t always the case.
The heating element’s casing may occasionally crack. As a result, the element’s electrical component is exposed to the tank’s water, shorting the circuit, and the water heater breaker tripped and won’t reset.
- Water Leak
If, for example, a gasket for the heating element fails, the water heater might leak into electrical components and trip the breaker. This is risky and could result in a severe electrical shock. As a homeowner who once faced a similar issue, I can attest to the importance of regular inspections.
In my case, a small leak near the heating element led to a short circuit, causing the breaker to trip repeatedly. I avoided potential electrical damage by catching this early and replacing the gasket.
Turn off the breaker immediately and fix the water leak if it hasn’t previously been done.
- Internal Wiring
The breaker might trip due to a problem with the internal wiring. Open the panel and turn the power off to find the location of the water heater’s connection to the home’s wiring. Search for burned wire ends, damaged connections, or areas where electricity has arced.
If there were an arc, smoke would probably be detected. From my personal experience as an electrician, I have seen many cases where an arc or loose wire wasn’t immediately obvious but caused repeated breaker trips. One effective method is to tug the wires lightly; a loose wire will often reveal itself this way.
Read also: Understanding Power Vent Water Heater Venting
- Wiring or Electrical Problems
If the issue isn’t the thermostat, heating element, water leak, or internal wiring, it is likely external to the water heater. It can be a frayed or defective cable, a faulty electrical panel connection, or a worn-out breaker.
Look for any damaged or loose wires in the line’s wiring. You will need to replace the breaker if it trips and there are no issues with the line. Replace the breaker with the same ratings if it is the issue. As an expert, I once faced a situation where a homeowner had replaced a breaker with a higher-rated one, thinking it would solve the problem.
However, it led to overheating and further issues. It’s crucial to precisely match the breaker’s rating to avoid overloading the circuit and causing more extensive damage.
If you replace it with a higher-rated breaker, the circuit will overheat, and the water heater breaker will not stay on with more current passing through it.
| Issue | Explanation | Expert Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Bad Thermostat | Cracked heating element casing may expose electrical components to water, leading to a short circuit. | Check connections and test with a multimeter before assuming replacement is needed. |
| Bad Heating Element | A cracked heating element casing may expose electrical components to water, leading to a short circuit. | Regular inspections can detect early signs of damage, preventing bigger issues. |
| Water Leak | Water leaks into electrical components may cause breaker trips, posing shock risks. | Immediate attention is required; replace gaskets regularly to prevent leaks. |
| Internal Wiring | Loose or damaged internal wiring can cause arcing, leading to frequent breaker trips. | Lightly tugging on wires during inspection can reveal loose connections. |
| Electrical Panel or Breaker Fault | Breaker or panel faults can cause the circuit to overheat and trip frequently. | Always replace breakers with the same rating. Incorrect ratings can lead to overheating. |
Wrapping Up
It is not enjoyable when a water heater breaker trips and won’t reset. Additionally, it may be harmful and seriously harm you or your house. Fortunately, finding the issue isn’t too difficult.
The heating element and a broken thermostat are the most likely culprits, although other wiring problems or a bad breaker might also be to blame.
Always put your safety first. When working on electrical problems, always be careful. Unless you have experience, never work around electrical wires.
