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Lost hot water yesterday and not much fun. Unit is 7 years old maybe, nothing leaking or burning.
I turned off double breaker, hit this red reset button and then turned power back on
and there was a big "CLUNK" at the water heater so do I assume it tripped itself again?
Not getting the lovely hissing sound. The button doesn't really click but I pushed as far as I could with back of screwdriver. Time for plumber?
Lost hot water yesterday and not much fun. Unit is 7 years old maybe, nothing leaking or burning.
I turned off double breaker, hit this red reset button and then turned power back on
and there was a big "CLUNK" at the water heater so do I assume it tripped itself again?
Not getting the lovely hissing sound. The button doesn't really click but I pushed as far as I could with back of screwdriver. Time for plumber?
What Squirl asked... Did you get hot water?
Most likely, you have a bad heating element. Could be lower, or could be upper. It's causing just enough of a "short" to trip the reset.
The good news is that heating elements are relatively cheap and easy to replace.
Depending upon the hardness of your water source, the hot water heater tank may have mineral deposits that have reached to the lower element.
If you have not been routinely draining the tank to flush it out in 7 years of service, these deposits can short out the lower element.
If you do not have the ability or equipment to test the electrical fault(s) with the unit, then all of the repairs are best left to a professional.
If you do, then it's not that big a deal to drain the tank, remove the lower element and inspect the inside of the tank, clean it out, and replace the element(s) as needed.
Ok good to know. I meant that there was no sound of it heating so no hot water. Definitely outside of my know how on the electrical. Maybe "hissing" wasn't the right description. I called someone and it will be a day before they can check. Just didn't want the guy to show up and reset it and it works.
I just moved into a house that has been vacant for over a year and have no hot water I pushed the reset and still no hot water should I drain the tank and if so will it refill itself
IF you drain a hot water tank, especially electric, make sure to turn the power to the tank OFF. If you don't you'll fry the elements if you also have the water off.
I am updating this old post to say at some point in this whole water heater event, I had the unit rebuilt. Then sometime later I was living with lukewarm water. Then I called them back when it went into full scalding mode and kept blowing the thermostat. So they offered me a discount on new water heater with good warranty otherwise it would have been another service charge or rebuild. Thanks for the sound advice.
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