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Author:
Unger0312 (IN)
We've been having issues with the hot water heater. Replaced the elements and nothing. Had a plumber come out who was equally baffled. He said everything appeared to be in proper working order. He shut off all water supply to see if that would do something (because the hot water pipe was also cold). Ended up leaving because he couldn't figure it out. After an entire day of leaving it like this I checked the pipe and it was hot! So we turned everything back on and had nice hot water for a few days. Then it popped a circuit breaker, and we had to do this whole process all over again to make it work. Any thoughts on what could be wrong?
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Author:
PlumberLoren (CA)
Sounds like an electrical problem. Check the size of the wires leading to the Thermostat on the WH. With new elements (be sure they are the proper size electrically for your heater)
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Author:
stuckinlodi (MO)
What size is your circuit breaker for the water heater (it is written right on the breaker handle)? The new elements come in a variety of wattages, if you installed elements that use too many amps they might be close to the limit for your circuit breaker.
Also, the water heater should be the only thing on that breaker, no other elec outlets or electrical devices. If there are and they are turned on when the water heater turns on that could be too many amps and the circuit breaker trips.
There are also a couple of thermostats on the water heater, one for each element. You could have a bad thermostat. I'd get a different plumber out to take a look, one that knows more about electric water heaters than the first one.
And sometimes a circuit breaker just gets weak and pops when it shouldn't. You can get someone to replace the circuit breaker with one having the same amps rating.
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Author:
Unger0312 (IN)
The elements I am positive are the correct ones, I've verified that. I feared it was an electrical problem, but hoping not.
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Author:
stuckinlodi (MO)
Let us know what you figure out the problem is, will help others that read this later.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
You need a plumber who knows what he is doing. There is absolutely NO REASON why, if he tested the heater properly, he could NOT diagnose and repair the problem. (It should only take about 5 minutes if he is competent).
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