Why Does My Hot Water Heater Keep Tripping?

Hot water heaters are not just a luxury. They are an important part of our everyday life. They provide us with the hot showers and baths we need to stay healthy and clean. In addition, they are an integral part of the home, providing a never-ending supply of hot water to the family. 

But what if the heaters stop working? It is important to note that it does need regular maintenance even though it is not too expensive to replace. This is where we need to learn a bit about how these appliances work. 

It’s not always easy to figure out why a heater isn’t working when it just seems like it isn’t heating up the water. So, let’s take a look at some common problems that could be causing your heater not to work properly and how you can fix them.

Why Does The Breaker On My Hot Water Heater Keep Tripping?

If the hot water heater at your property trips a circuit breaker often, this could indicate that there’s an issue with the unit. You need to have it checked out by your home’s qualified electrical repair technician.

However, most common water heater problems often require a quick fix. The most common reasons for a hot water heater tripping are due to the following:

1. Poor Wiring Or Faulty Breakers

An electric water heater reset button issue can also be caused by loose wiring or incorrectly installed wires. You will need to call for service as soon as possible when this problem occurs at home.

It is not only a safety issue to have issues with wiring, but it can also cause problems with the water heater. In order to keep you safe from a catastrophe, your electric water heater comes with several built-in safety features. Still, you should take care of wiring problems as soon as possible.

There is a lot of heat generated when a wire is loose in the system. This can be detected by the reset button. If it is not fixed, it will repeat.

 A bad breaker may also be the cause of the problem. It is also possible for your breaker to malfunction and trip the hot water heater reset button.

The capacity of the breaker is also important. Because the electricity consumption of a water heater (like 4500W or 5500W) is different. So, you need to use the correct breaker.

Solution

It would be best to call a plumber first to see if they can handle this. Should the plumber not be able to handle this, you may need to hire a professional electrician.

Even though this problem is frustrating and time-consuming, calling a professional can quickly resolve the problem.

2. Faulty Reset Button

Damaged reset buttons can also be the culprit when the water heater reset button keeps tripping. It is possible that you need a new button if it isn’t functioning correctly.

If the water temperature exceeds 180 degrees, this reset button will shut down the unit. Wear and tear on this button can result in malfunctions over time.

It is common to have problems with the button failing to measure the water temperature accurately. Even when the water temperature is low, this can cause the system to shut down.

Solution

Replacing the thermostat is the best solution if the reset button on the water heater thermostat keeps tripping. Because the upper thermostat has this button, you’ll only need to replace it; the lower thermostat should still work. If you need to have the replacement handled by a professional, call someone who is experienced.

3. An Out-Of-Date Heating Element

As we discussed earlier, a thermostat and a heating element are some essential parts of an electric water heater. In an earlier discussion, we discussed the issues associated with a malfunctioning thermostat; in this one, we will discuss worn-out heating elements.

One of your heating elements may be damaged or worn out if the reset button on your water heater keeps tripping. You can’t run a hot water heater without this component since it heats the water.

The metal casing of the heating element may have cracked if the reset button on a water heater thermostat keeps tripping. Water contacts live wires, causing the system to be short.

The heating element keeps getting power even when there’s a short. The thermostat keeps on heating until the water reaches 180°F. If the temperature reaches this threshold, the reset button will trip, preventing a further rise.

You can tell if the water isn’t hot by how it feels. A worn-out heating element may be the cause of a decrease in water temperature.

Solution

A simple replacement of a system component is also required, just as with a thermostat. For example, replacing one of the heating elements may be necessary if your hot water heater keeps tripping its reset button. Again, a professional will be able to replace this heating element for you.

4. Thermostat Malfunction

The first place to check if a reset button keeps tripping on your water heater is the thermostat. There are two thermostats on an electric water heater; one upper and one lower. You can reset the upper thermostat by pressing the button there.

When the water temperature reaches a certain level, the thermostat turns off the heating element. Water heaters have two thermostats because they have upper and lower heating elements, which are respectively controlled by the thermostats.

To ensure that only one heating element is on at a time, both thermostats communicate with each other. In some instances, the on/off switch of the thermostat may become stuck when it experiences a problem. 

A thermostat may not switch off the heating element when this happens, causing the reset button to trip. The cycle can repeat until the problem is resolved.

Solution

When your thermostat is broken or malfunctioning, you should contact a professional for a replacement. The expert will determine which thermostat needs to be replaced. Due to the involvement of electrical components in this solution, we highly recommend consulting a professional. Or if your water heater is too old, it’s wise to replace the old water heater to prevent further cost of replacing components.

How to Troubleshoot the Water Heater Tripping the Breaker

If your water heater trips the breaker, there could be a number of reasons. To troubleshoot the problem, start by checking the breaker panel.

If the breaker is tripped, it may be due to a faulty water heater. If the water heater is working properly, but the breaker trips, it may be due to a faulty appliance.

In either case, you can troubleshoot the issue by Checking the fuses and replacing any that are blown.

But the most important things you can do, to troubleshoot the water heater tripping the breaker, unplug all the items on the circuit before resetting the breaker.

After it’s reset and rested for a few minutes, turn on or plugin items, one at a time, to determine what may have caused the overload.

If the problem persists, contact an electrician to inspect the wiring and reset the breaker.

Also Read – What Is The Difference Between Hardwired And Plug-In?

Final Words

It’s not uncommon for a water heater reset button to keep tripping, which can cause a number of issues. These issues can be very frustrating for everyone. Fortunately, finding the source of the difficulty and finding a solution are both fairly straightforward.

The problem will not be fixed by simply turning on the breaker again. Instead, call a professional to make the repairs since water and electricity are dangerous together.