the breaker keeps switching off to my water heater. What is going wrong and how can I fix it?
2007-08-19 10:46:19 · 10 answers · asked by justask23 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You probably have a shorted heater element and the Circuit breaker is working just fine. You have a couple choices.
1. Try and replace the heater element. (Bad choice) if the unit is old and you have never flushed the tank. Because the element will be rusted and corroded in place.
2). New Hot water heater...Professionally installed. Guaranteed problem resolution. Have them install a heater blanket (cost a little extra but the savings over the years is worth it.)
3). There is a slight chance the circuit breaker is bad but only a very slight chance...
2007-08-19 19:34:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
under rated breaker, old breaker needs replacing , should have a 30 amp breaker on both side if unit 220 vac.
still popps breaker check the grounding If the hot side (black wire on 110, black and red on 220) has Leakage to ground it will pop a breaker, take the ground wire off (green) and see if dont pop the breaker .Note this is dangerous wear rubber gloves, rubber boots, and stand on dry rubber matt. if the breaker remains on , you got a shorting or shorted heating element which can be changed for a few bucks. also make sure the tank isn't ruptured leaking on the hot ac. youll see alot of water around the tank.
good luck
2007-08-19 10:59:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, the circuit breaker is doing its job because something is causing an electrical short....not sure if you can fix it, but I'd call an electrician and would not use the water heater til its fixed.
2007-08-19 10:51:55 · answer #3 · answered by NakdWhtGuy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Short in the wiring or an overload at the heater. The breaker may be going bad. Switch it with another and see.
2007-08-19 10:51:17 · answer #4 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the tank runs dry, the elements will burn out. If this has happened, you can replace the elements without having to buy a new water heater. This is very easy and cheap to do yourself. Good luck.
2016-05-17 10:03:41 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
turn off the breaker and drain the waterheater with a water hose. use a set of "chanell locks" to take out the heating elements. Ill bet one of them is cracked. You can take the heating element to your local plumbing shop and replace it for 10 or 20 bucks. pretty easy fix.
2007-08-19 10:56:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the breaker pops right away, you have a short someplace and if it just pops once in a while, the breaker is weak - just replace it.
2007-08-19 15:09:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have short in the line or at the elements in the tank. Inspect the electrical line and replace the elements.
2007-08-19 10:50:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
unless you are electrically inclined, I would not even try.
Get someone who knows what they are doing to take a look at it.
2007-08-19 10:49:41 · answer #9 · answered by bgee2001ca 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
check your thermostat or your heating elements or get an electrician to check it out.
fishineasy
2007-08-19 10:58:53 · answer #10 · answered by fishineasy™ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋