Hot water tank is not heating water, tank is only 3 yrs. old. breaker keeps on shuting off.?

Question

Hot water tank is not heating water, tank is only 3 yrs. old. breaker keeps on shuting off.?

Answer 1

What is your water hardness??

Answer 2

If she is a throwin the breaker that sound to me like an element has busted in the tank. You need to kill the power.

Remove the wires from both elements and see if either one of them is shorted to cabinet. If both element have continuity and ain't shorted to the tank then the thermostats may be faulty but that usually is because the water is getting too hot.

It could be that the breaker is going bad also. I have seen guys replace both elements and the upper and lower thermostat only to have the same problem which all along was a bad breaker.

Answer 3

sounds like you might have a bad element. turn off the power, drain and install a new element. also with the power off look for any arc spots on the wires. maybe also you could have a bad breaker. if you change it make sure you get the exact same voltage and amp.

Answer 4

If the breaker is tripping then there must be a short.  The most likely is a heater element.  That can be easily checked with an ohmeter with the unit shut off.