Electric Hot Water Heater Thermostat Keeps Tripping

Most electric water heaters have 2 heating elements.

Electric hot water heater thermostat keeps tripping.

A thermostat that is stuck closed may be the cause of the reset button tripping repeatedly. Why is my water heater tripping my circuit breaker. Why the eco reset button on rheem electric water heater keeps tripping. Has this ever happened to you.

Your water heater trips the circuit breaker in your house. The most likely cause of the limit switch tripping is a bad thermostat. One on top and one on the bottom. First off your electric water heater can actually trip 2 different safety features.

A red button located on the water heater itself just above the thermostat that trips when the water temperature exceeds 180 f the reset button is sometimes referred to as the eco emergency cut off or high limit switch. When a water heater starts tripping the eco repeatedly it s time to call a plumber for service. The reset button is also sometimes referred to as the eco emergency cut off switch or high limit safety thermostat switch. This tripping protects you from getting scalded or burned when using hot water in your home.

When the water temperature in your water heater exceeds 180 the red reset button also known as the high limit switch trips. The red reset button found on the thermostat of the heating element is also known as the energy cut off or eco and a high limit control and is designed as the safety device. There s a good chance that the water in the tank is dangerously hot and since the problem is usually caused by a failed component it won t get better until the bad part is identified and replaced. Your water heater reset button is a safety device that shuts off power to your water heater when the water temperature inside it exceeds 180 degrees fahrenheit.

A thermostat that does not open allows the element to operate continuously thus raising the temperature. Okay with that out of the way let s look at the possible problems that are causing your electric water heater to trip your breaker. Water heaters have a limit switch that keeps the water from exceeding 180. So you go and reset the circuit breaker.

Burnt out heating element the heating element is the part of your water heater that heats the water. When the water reaches 180 the limit switch a little red reset button on the water heater trips.