why is my water heater tripping??

cc-rider · #1 01/13/11, 09:49 AM

My son just called and said his water heater keeps tripping off and he has to push the "reset" button to make it come back on. It is electric. What would cause this? It doesn't blow a circuit breaker or anything....just the water heater shuts off.

Linebacker · #2 01/13/11, 10:06 AM

I had to have my thermostat change yesterday on mine for the exact same reason.

Backfourty,MI. · #3 01/13/11, 10:32 AM

Yep, I was going to say the same thing. When ours did that it was the thermostat. When he changes the thermostat it should be fine. Very easy to do & not too exspensive either.

arabian knight · #4 01/13/11, 10:40 AM

Yes I also agree about the thermostat is bad.

stifflej · #5 01/13/11, 10:54 AM

Mine did the same thing a couple months ago, changed thermostat and it was fixed.

Nevada · #6 01/13/11, 10:54 AM

Can also be a bad heating element creating an intermittent short. Those are also inexpensive and easy to replace.

arabian knight · #7 01/13/11, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevada

Can also be a bad heating element creating an intermittent short. Those are also inexpensive and easy to replace.

I would think that if that was the case the Breaker would trip. This is just the thermostat that is tripping. The "Hi Limit" that is built in to it. That is weak and is tripping before the correct temperature is reached. That is what is happening imo.