Water Heaters - Hot / Cold

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Charise
10-16-08, 09:27 AM
Our water heater has been jumping up to very high temperatures and then kicking off. What could cause this?

Pulpo
10-16-08, 06:00 PM
A temperature sensor would be the first thing that comes to mind. What brand is it?
Charise
10-16-08, 07:18 PM
Sorry, I just sent a message but not sure it went out. It's a Reliance Electric 501, model "S", 56 gal. The water gets much hotter than the temperature we set and then the heat kicks off and we have to reset it.

Bill190
10-17-08, 09:50 AM
This would be a faulty thermostat. A water heater has an upper and lower thermostat and these turn on and off the heating elements as needed.

First the upper thermostat kicks on, then when the water in the upper portion of the water heater is to the temperature set, it turns off the upper element and switches the electricity to the lower element.

Then the thermostat on the lower element will shut off when the water in the lower portion is at the temperature set.

Because of the "switching" needed on the upper thermostat and not needed on the lower thermostat, both thermostats are different.