Water Heaters - Water heater or circuit breaker
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Pinkcat
12-14-07, 07:23 AM
About 8 yrs ago, I had an electric 40 gal hot water heater
installed. At the beginning of this summer, I changed both
heating elements. The water heater worked fine until about
a month ago. The circuit breaker for the heater went off.
I could put it back on and it would heat the water, but
within a few days it would turn off again. This went on for
a week or two. Now, if I put the circuit breaker on, there is
no hot water and the breaker will go off again.
My question is - how do you know if there is a problem with
the heater or circuit breaker. No other circuit breaker in the
panel is causing a problem.
Thanks, Pinkcat
installed. At the beginning of this summer, I changed both
heating elements. The water heater worked fine until about
a month ago. The circuit breaker for the heater went off.
I could put it back on and it would heat the water, but
within a few days it would turn off again. This went on for
a week or two. Now, if I put the circuit breaker on, there is
no hot water and the breaker will go off again.
My question is - how do you know if there is a problem with
the heater or circuit breaker. No other circuit breaker in the
panel is causing a problem.
Thanks, Pinkcat
Duke of
12-14-07, 07:52 PM
Is your circuit breaker 50 amp or better? When a circuit breaker trips it's telling you that you have a direct short somewhere.
I think your problem is in the water heater, make sure you have a good ground.
Duke of ....
I think your problem is in the water heater, make sure you have a good ground.
Duke of ....
boilersrus
12-26-07, 06:53 PM
Since pinkcat has not posted recently, either pinkcat is 'living' with the problem or has fixed it. It's definitely one or the other, for sure.
PINKCAT:
But, why don't you go the cheaper and easier route first? Change the 220VAC breaker that keeps tripping for about $20.00 yourself. It is probably available at Home Depot or Lowes, or maybe cheaper at an electrical supply house.
It is relatively easy to change if you have done electrical work before around the house. Or if you are not sure, go to the electrical DIY section and ask.
:alarm: Make sure you turn off the main breaker first and that you have a good flashlight and a flashlight helper (one of the kids or the wife) with you! :cool:
Then if you still have the problem after the new breaker is installed, maybe it's time to replace parts on your HWH.:thumbdn:
Keeping things simple,
Charlie:coffee:
PINKCAT:
But, why don't you go the cheaper and easier route first? Change the 220VAC breaker that keeps tripping for about $20.00 yourself. It is probably available at Home Depot or Lowes, or maybe cheaper at an electrical supply house.
It is relatively easy to change if you have done electrical work before around the house. Or if you are not sure, go to the electrical DIY section and ask.
:alarm: Make sure you turn off the main breaker first and that you have a good flashlight and a flashlight helper (one of the kids or the wife) with you! :cool:
Then if you still have the problem after the new breaker is installed, maybe it's time to replace parts on your HWH.:thumbdn:
Keeping things simple,
Charlie:coffee:
chandler
12-27-07, 05:51 AM
If the breaker is staying on for an appreciable time and you still have no hot water, then you probably have bad elements or a bad control unit on the heater. Turn off the breaker to the water heater, remove the two wires from the elements and check for continuity. If you don't detect continuity, the element is bad and needs replacing. Has the button breaker on the water heater tripped at all?
boilersrus
12-30-07, 09:36 PM
Did you invest in a new breaker yet? ;)
AFTER you install the breaker please let us know what happens. IF you are still having problems after that, we will try to help you find the problem.:)
Charlie:coffee:
AFTER you install the breaker please let us know what happens. IF you are still having problems after that, we will try to help you find the problem.:)
Charlie:coffee: