Although wellness gurus extol the virtues of cold water immersion, we prefer our showers nice and warm. And nothing puts a damper on a morning shower like the hot water running out. Show
While there are many potential reasons you could lose hot water, a common culprit is when your hot water heater is tripped. A simple fix a homeowner can try is to reset the hot water. This eliminates the excess time, headache, and money of hiring professional help. Read more or click the video below for our quick tutorial about the electric water heater reset button. We’ve also provided step-by-step instructions on how to reset your hot water heater, and how to know if it’s a more complicated problem that requires an electrician or plumber. Understanding Your Electric Water Heater Reset ButtonWhat Trips the Reset Button on a Hot Water Heater?Water heaters are built with an emergency limit switch (i.e., electric water heater reset button) which trips to turn off the water heater if the temperature becomes dangerous to you and your family. (It usually trips when the water temperature exceeds 180 degrees.) This is to keep an electrical or mechanical malfunction from overriding your thermostat settings and prevent your water from scalding you. It’s similar to when a circuit breaker in your home trips and turns off your toaster or vacuum when you’re running one too many appliances at the same time. Likewise, the water heater’s internal safety mechanism can shut the water heater off instead of allowing temperatures to rise too high. Why Do I Have to Reset Water Heater?There are a few times when the emergency limit switch may trip and turn your water heater off. It could be something like a power surge or a thunderstorm that causes an occasional trip. If it only trips every once in a while for one of these reasons, you can reset it yourself and save yourself the trouble and cost of calling a plumber. If the water heater keeps tripping your circuit breaker or if the water heater itself keeps tripping for no clear reason, this is a red flag, and you should call in a professional. It could be a more complex mechanical issue like a short in the heating system, a loose wire, or a faulty thermostat. Is There a Reset Button on Electric Hot Water Heaters?Yes, all water heaters should have a reset button. They can also be known as the “emergency limit switch”, “emergency cut off (ECO)”, “high-limit safety thermostat switch”, or “electric water heater reset button”. Where Is the Reset Button on a Water Heater?This button is located above the heating element in contact with the tank surface, and it’s usually red. Most of the time it’s located underneath a removable panel, but sometimes it’s visible on the outside of the water heater. When to Reset Water HeaterIf you’ve run out of hot water and want to know whether to reset your hot water heater, follow the steps below to troubleshoot the problem.
4-Step Guide: How to Reset Electric Water HeaterTools to Reset Water HeaterGood news! All you’ll need to reset your water heater is a screwdriver to access the reset button and a flashlight:
Step 1: Flip circuit breakers off for safety
Step 2: Locate and identify the hot water reset button
Step 3: Press reset
Step 4: Switch breakers back on and check hot water levels
Stuck on your DIY project?Get Expert Plumbing Help Virtually to Get Unstuck in 15 Minutes.Learn More When to Call in a ProfessionalHopefully resetting the hot water heater did the trick and you can now enjoy that nice warm shower. However, there are a few things to watch for that indicate you should get expert help.
If you’re in need of a professional to safely investigate the cause or are looking for a reliable plumber in Rockville, MD, or the surrounding areas, contact us at Heil Plumbing DMV. Heil Plumbing DMV is a family-run company owned by a third-generation master plumber. We can help you with a full range of plumbing services, including toilet installation and repair, leak detection and pipe repair, water heater repair and installation, faucet repair and installation, drain cleaning, water treatment, and more. How long does it take for a hot water tank to reset?Average Water Heater Recovery Times
60-70 minutes (for a gas tank water heater) 120 minutes (for an electric tank water heater)
Do you have to turn off the breaker to reset water heater?Cut off the Power to the Water Heater
Locate your home's main electrical panel. They are usually found in the garage, a storage closet or a utility area. Either way, you need to make sure the electric power to the water heater is OFF before you go on to step two.
How long does it take a hot water heater to heat up after reset?A conventional gas tank water heater, such as one powered by propane, can take 30–40 minutes to heat water if it's starting with an empty tank.
Is there a reset button on a hot water heater?Is There a Reset Button on Electric Hot Water Heaters? Yes, all water heaters should have a reset button. They can also be known as the “emergency limit switch”, “emergency cut off (ECO)”, “high-limit safety thermostat switch”, or “electric water heater reset button”.
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