Water heater thermostat tripping

Why Does My Electric Water Heater Reset Button Keep Tripping? So the red reset button on your electric water heater keeps popping out and needing to be reset.
Here's the most likely problem: The water in your water heater is getting too hot.
When the water temperature in your water heater exceeds 180°, the red reset button (also known as the high-limit switch) trips. This tripping protects you from getting scalded or burned when using hot water in your home.
OK, but then what's causing the water in your water heater to get so hot? The most likely cause is a bad thermostat.
How a bad thermostat causes your water heater reset button to trip Electric water heaters have a lower and upper thermostat-one for each heating element.
The thermostats are responsible for controlling the heating elements. When the water has cooled off, the thermostats kick on the heating elements to heat the water. And once the water has reached your desired temperature, the thermostats shut off the heating element.
(This is very similar to the way your heating and air conditioning thermostat controls your home HVAC system.)
But these thermostats can go bad. When they do, they sometimes get stuck in the "on" position. This means that that the heating element continues to heat your water, eventually causing the high-limit switch to trip.
The fix: The bad thermostat needs to be replaced. A plumber can use a multimeter to test the thermostats and find out which one is bad.
Other problems that can cause your high-limit switch to trip While a bad thermostat is the most common reason your water heater's reset button may trip, it's not the only one. Other common causes include:

• A shorted heating element-It may be that the thermostat is working just fine and shutting off the heating element. But a short in the element is causing it to continue to heat your water.
• Loose wiring-A loose wire in the water heater can generate heat that can cause the high-limit switch to trip.
• Bad high-limit switch-The switch itself may be malfunctioning and tripping when it shouldn't be.

Get a professional plumber's help

Do you live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and need a reliable plumber to help you troubleshoot your water heater problem? Contact MSP Plumbing. We can usually fix the problem the same day.

Double check the thermostat connection and setting; if it persists, I would add a pipe hugging thermostat connected to a shunt trip for the heater elements.

Maybe the TRD has tripped
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html
Or gas control thermostat has gone bad, due to failed thermostat or tripped FV etc
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-gas-water-heater.html
Post question on pro water heater forum
http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/
Add a comment

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

10-23-12
Your tank has a GFCI circuit breaker?
Maybe you mean ECO reset button located on upper thermostat?

If GFCI circuit breaker is tripping, turn power off, open covers inspect for burned parts, and test elements. Copy following link for troubleshoot walk-thru:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#trip-breaker

If ECO reset button is tripping, then replace both thermostats, and test elements.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Reset trips when upper thermostat senses high heat event over 150 degrees F.

High heat can be caused by:

1) Element shorted to ground through center of element. Thermostats turn off one leg of 240V circuit. Elements always have 120V available. If element is shorted to ground, it might not trip breaker, and continues to heat using one leg of 240 with circuit completed to ground wire.
Test elements:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-EH40-hot-water-heater-timer.html#120-240

2) Insulation and cover not put back over thermostat. Thermostat exposed to cool air, misreads temperature causing element to continue heating.

3) Thermostat sticking in ON position. I usually replace both thermostats at same time to save another trip.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

4) Shorted wire or loose wire at or near upper thermostat. Check that screws are very tight against copper wire.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

5) One suspect can be eliminated is 240Volt power to heater.
Your heater circuit is good.

Add a comment for more free help.
Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

Hi,

Yes, the reset probably is tripped...push in the red button hard
Then turn it on and try it...

Check out this tip..

How to replace the Thermostat and Element for Electric Hot Water Heater

heatman101

You have electric water heater.
Electric water heaters are fully repairable by homeowner.

Reliance is AO Smith company
http://www.aosmith.com/OperatingUnits/Detail.aspx?id=138&ekmensel=c580fa7b_12_0_138_3
http://www.reliancewaterheaters.com/prod/elec.html

Age of Reliance water heater is shown on serial number located on side of tank:
first digit is letter. Next two digits are numbers: for example C06 means 2006.
Serial number also shows model number & wattage of elements in case you need new element from hardware store.

ECO reset button trips when upper thermostat senses temperatures higher than 150 to 180 degrees.
When ECO energy cut off trips, it turns off power at the reset button, so the tank does not continue overheating.
Tripping reset button says tank is receiving electricity, so we can eliminate that suspect.

There are 4 reasons why ECO will trip.
1) Bad upper or lower thermostat: solution replace both thermostats for about 25$. Steps shown in link below.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
2) Loose wire or shorted wire at or near upper thermostat: Open covers on water heater and inspect parts for signs of high heat and burning.
3) Bad element shorted to ground in center of element: Solution test elements and replace defective element.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html
4) Factory-installed insulation and cover has been removed from tank: thermostat exposed to cooler temperatures, and misreads tank temperature, and then elements keep heating water.

If you want to test all the parts before replacing anything:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html


Thermostats are generic, and each functions same way and each can replace the other.
Same is true for both upper and lower thermostats

Electric water heater can be repaired by homeowner.

Four things can cause NO hot water:
1) ECO red reset button tripped. Remove top cover on water heater, push red reset button on thermostat. Put insulation and cover back over thermostat.
2) Circuit breaker is tripped, circuit breaker bad, or wire loose in breaker box. Turn breaker on-off and listen for crackling or fizzing sound, and burned smell. Test breaker for 220Volts. Test top two screws on upper thermostat to see if water heater has electricity.
3) Bad upper thermostat. Replace upper thermostat.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
4) Bad upper element. Test upper element.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

Your question is a bit hard to understand.
You need to replace elements and thermostats because water heater is tripping reset button.
Make sure you put factory insulation back in place after working on water heater, or the heater can overheat and trip reset button.

Here's how to replace electric water heater thermostats:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

Here's how to replace water heater elements (except for Rheem bolt-in elements)
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html

If heater still has problems, add a comment

It sounds like you have things pretty well covered. I would change reset and if it continues to trip breaker I would check wiring very carefully where it enters top of water heater. Check for any nicks or bare spots on wiring insulation. Other than that about all I can think of is to change breaker. Sometimes they do get weak and trip to easily. Hope this helps. Thanks