Why Does My Hot Water Heater Keep Tripping the Reset Button?

What Trips the Reset Button on a Hot Water Heater?

If your morning hot shower turns into a cold shower, you may ask, “Why does my hot water heater keeps tripping reset button?” It could be as simple as a loose wire or as serious as a broken circuit breaker. 

No matter what type of repair your water heater needs, our qualified professionals at Desert Water in Peoria, AZ, will restore your hot water in a timely manner. 

Desert Water is proud to be Peoria’s water heater repair service. Don’t suffer through another cold shower due to the reset button tripping. Give us a call!

Tripped Reset Button

Until your water heater malfunctions, you may not know what the reset button is at all. This safety feature prevents the water inside your water heater from reaching dangerous temperatures that could burn you and your family unexpectedly.

When the reset button trips frequently, it could mean a few things. A plumber can determine the cause of reset button tripping and perform a repair. 

Faulty Reset Button

If you’re asking, “Why does my hot water heater keeps tripping reset button?” the most obvious cause of your hot water heater tripping the reset button is the reset button itself. By design, a reset button will perform an emergency cut if the water heats above 180 degrees. Normal wear and tear can result in a faulty reset button, which will trip at random times, no matter the water temperature. 

Electrical Problems

Water heaters contain delicate electrical wiring, which may come loose. Your reset button can detect the excess heat that loose wiring produces. In this case, the reset button keeps you safe by tripping and cutting power to your water heater. 

If you smell smoke coming from your water heater or notice melted wires, call a professional plumber right away. Repairing or replacing worn wires will remedy the issue and allow you to safely resume water heater use.

Corroded Parts

With any appliance involving water, you run the risk of corrosion. If there is corrosion on your thermostat, it cannot accurately determine the temperature of the water, causing the reset button to trip.

A way to know if corrosion is forming within your water heater is if it starts making an alarming popping sound. While it is not typically dangerous, corrosion and sediment buildup can cause further damage to your water heater. A professional plumber can treat corrosion on your water heater thermostat.

Broken Circuit Breaker

A faulty circuit breaker can wreak havoc in your home, not just with your water heater but with other appliances, too. A bad breaker will trip without cause, resulting in a power failure to your water heater. When this happens, the problem is with the breaker and not your water heater. 

Worn Thermostats

Electric water heaters have two heating elements and two thermostats. Your water heater only engages one element at a time as it maintains the water temperature inside the heater. 

The upper thermostat contains the reset button. It communicates with the lower thermostat to make sure the water maintains your desired temperature. When the two can’t communicate, your water could heat to dangerous temperatures.

If you have a bad thermostat, the lower and upper elements may engage at the same time, causing the reset button to trip. If a worn thermostat is the problem, a professional plumber can replace it.

Damaged Heating Element

If you have noticed your water doesn’t get as hot as it should, you may have a damaged heating element. The heating element has a metal casing that protects the electrical wires from dangerous water exposure.

If the metal casing cracks, it may continue to heat the water even after it reaches 180 degrees. The reset button will detect this issue and prevent you from getting burned by turning the water heater off.

An out-of-date water heater with broken heating elements or other parts is not energy efficient and ends up costing you money in high electricity bills. Arizona offers a weatherization assistance program to help protect your water heater from weather damage and lower monthly costs.

Family-Owned Plumbing Company in Peoria, AZ

“Why does my hot water heater keep tripping, and should I replace my water heater before it fails?” These are just some of the questions we answer on a daily basis. At Desert Water in Peoria, AZ, we can assess your water heater and diagnose any problems. 

If you need a simple repair or a complete water heater replacement, we can help. Call us at (602) 560-7235 to schedule an appointment.