Picture this. It’s a subzero Monday morning. You’ve pressed the snooze button six times, and you were about to press it a seventh time if your spouse hadn’t threatened to suffocate you while you slept. Instead, you sigh heavily, pull the covers back over your head, and dash to the bathroom. Once the shower is running and the glorious steam has reached the shower curtain, you jump in. Then, two milliseconds after you finish soaping up, your warm shower almost immediately turns into sleet. “GAAAAAAAAH!” you scream. “What the bleepity-bleep-bleep happened to the hot water?!”.
OK, admittedly, there are worse plumbing “situations” one could have. But that one, the one where shampoo is streaming into your eyes and you’re fumbling around in the bathroom for a towel while your teeth are chattering, definitely makes our list of the Top 10 Not-Fun Moments in Home Ownership.
If you have an electric water heater, it’s possible that the unit’s reset button tripped, which would explain what causes Hot-Showerus Interruptus. Every once in a while, those buttons randomly trip. Often, though, it happens because:
Remember that a water heater’s reset button has a crucial function: it cuts off power in the event of an issue, like a power surge or a broken thermostat. If your water heater frequently loses power, there is probably a problem that needs to be fixed by a qualified Columbia plumber. Additionally, keep in mind that electricity and water combined can be fatal. Never be afraid to ask a professional to check something out.
For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume that your water heater behaves itself normally and that this isn’t a recurring problem. With that knowledge, let’s go over two easy steps to get it going once more.
Find the “water heater” circuit at your electrical panel (typically in the garage, basement, or storage closet). ”.
Then, push the water heater reset button(s).
There is a reset button on your electric water heater. It’s usually red and often located near the thermostat. It could also be concealed behind a detachable metal panel on the appliance, followed by some insulation. Once you find the button, push and release it. Check to see if there is a second thermostat and second reset button while you have the access panel off. If the button trips again right away after you push it, something is broken, and you should consult a professional. If not, replace the access panel before turning the corresponding circuit breaker back to ON.
Then, push the water heater reset button(s).
There is a reset button on your electric water heater. It’s usually red and often located near the thermostat. It could also be concealed behind a detachable metal panel on the appliance, followed by some insulation. Once you find the button, push and release it. Check to see if there is a second thermostat and second reset button while you have the access panel off.
If the button trips again right away after you push it, something is broken, and you should consult a professional. If not, replace the access panel before turning the corresponding circuit breaker back to ON.
The two screws holding the control circuit panel’s door in place can be removed with a screwdriver. When you’re done resetting your water heater, put the control circuit panel door and screws in a separate location.
Your State water heater’s control circuit panel’s protective pad and insulation block should be removed to reveal the safety controls. When you’re prepared to replace them, put the pad and insulation block aside.
Locate your State water heaters control circuit panel. The control circuit panel on the majority of State water heater models resembles a rectangular metal box mounted to the water heater’s side.
When the water heats up to more than 170 degrees Fahrenheit, a safety switch found in state water heaters called a thermal or high-limit temperature switch shuts off the electricity to your appliances’ heating elements. You might be tempted to call a technician to diagnose your State water heater if it has suddenly stopped producing heat, but hold off on picking up the phone just yet. Resetting your water heater is a quick fix that practically no repair experience is necessary for, and it can get your appliance back up and running in no time.
Reinstall the protective pad and insulation block in the State water heater control circuit panel. Replace the door on the control circuit panel, then tighten the screws to keep the door in place. Once you’ve finished resetting the device, turn on the electricity to your water heater.