New water heater installed in Jan.2010, first no hot water at all, replaced top element have hot water now but reset button trips and have to reset it when all hot water is used. Any ideas what is wrong?

1) Reliance 606 Electric water heater, AO Smith subsidiary.
Good brand.
Copy following links:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html

2) First: Test elements using cheap multimeter from hardware store.
Next: If elements test OK, then replace both thermostats.

3) If that doesn't solve problem, then add comment Jan 2013 and report what you find.

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

1) Live answer Jan 2013.
Read why ECO trips and scroll down and read ECO keeps tripping:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#ECO
Check that thermostats are sitting flat against tank.
Look and smell for signs of burning.
Check watt rating printed on end of new element matches watt rating that shows on label on side of tank
Make sure factory-installed installed insulation is put back over thermostat and element to avoid cool room temps from affecting thermostat.
Test wires.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-wires.html
Make sure tank is wired correctly.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/WH-w-combined2-1000.jpg

2) Add comment and say what you discover

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

Guessing that you have 240Volt residential non-simultaneous electric water heater? And that you have 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire. And that water heater is located within 100 feet of breaker box. And there are no leaks running hot water out of tank. And that you installed fully brand NEW elements of same wattage as old elements. And that fully brand new thermostats were installed, and wiring exactly duplicates wiring that was present before. And that factory-insulation was re-installed over elements and thermostats.

1) Guessing the 'hot water shut off' means the ECO red reset button located on upper thermostat keeps tripping and cutting off electric power to water heater?
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/WH-w-combined2-1000.jpg
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-wires.html

2) If the ECO is tripping, then water is getting too hot, or there is shorted wire located near the upper thermostat, .
Typically replacing both thermostats and replacing elements will solve this problem .... assuming that new thermostats and elements are good, and wiring correct.
Double-Check your wiring on upper and lower thermostats.
Test wires for short.
Make sure factory-insulation is re-installed over thermostats so cool room temperature will not affect temperature reading.
Check that thermostats sit flat against steel tank.
Many short draws hot water can also cause stacking event that will trip circuit breaker.

3) Add comment and say what you find using checklist above.
Be careful to explain findings fully, using same words found on links above, so illuminated diagnosis can be made.

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

Problem has to be bad element or bad thermostat.

Test elements for short to ground through metal tank wall:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

Make sure factory-installed insulation and cover are re-installed over new thermostats so they do not misread tank temperature.
If problem does not show with elements, then replace thermostats again.

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

check with a vom set on high voltage setting. for power... black wire to black wire,, white wire to red wire on heater ground wire to tank ..on 220v there is no neutral like on 110volts..check red reset button under top panel / control push on it resets it,,,

Suddenly no hot water: Red reset button tripped, circuit breaker tripped, bad upper element, bad thermostat, loose wire, TP valve is running hot water out of tank, leaking faucet is running hot water out of tank.

1) Check for leaks.
2) Check circuit breaker.
3) Open top cover on water heater and push in red reset button.
If reset is popped out and will not reset, replace thermostat:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
4) Test upper element:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
5) Loose wire
Do full troubleshoot:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

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

If you have some hot water from dual-element water heater, then that tells us:
Water heater is 240Volt.
Upper element is working. If upper element is not working, then heater has NO hot water.
Reset button is not tripped.
Electricity and breaker to water heater are delivering 240Volts to heater.

Remaining suspects are:
1) Bad upper or lower thermostat: Solution: replace both thermostats for 28$.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
2) Bad lower element: Solution test and replace element:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html
3) Loose wire or loose connection: Solution: open both covers and inspect for burning. Tighten all screws very tight.
4) Bad wire: Solution: Buy cheap multimeter from Home Center and do a 30 minute troubleshoot of entire water heater before replacing any parts:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html
When testing for voltage, rotate multimeter dial to 240-250-277VAC
When testing elements or continuity, rotate multimeter dial to Ohms.

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