My electric water heater occasionally shuts off, I wake up in the morning and there is no hot water. It has not tripped the breaker, but when I shut the breaker off and turn it on again, after awhile there is hot water again. It had happened only a few times over the past three years, but has happened now three times in the past week.

I don't know if it is an issue with the heater or some wiring issue, so I don't know how to go about telling the landlord what type of service person I need.

Thanks for your thoughts.

What's the temperature setting? It should be close to 120F. There's another breaker on the upper thermostat. It's located behind the upper inspection panel. The next time you heater shuts off open the panel up and press the red button. Did that turn the heater back on? Let me know, Tom

What's the temperature setting? it should be close to 120F. There's another breaker on the upper thermostat. It's located behind the upper inspection panel. The next time you heater shuts off open the panel up and press the red button. Did that turn the heater back on? Let me know, Tom

Hi tom

I don't know where the temperature setting is.. there are two panels on the heater, one high and one low. Just to clarify, the way I have been resetting is from the main breaker, not from the heater itself. It is a john wood pro series electric heater. I have been trying to ascertain the age of the heater, I suspect it is old. The canadian registration number OG18935C doesn't indicate a date.

When it goes off again I will try the reset you suggest and get back to you.

Open both panels and check the settings. Has your water been too hot lately?

Open both panels and check the settings. Has your water been too hot lately?

Hi, I checked the settings, apparently the factory setting for this heater is 140, and that is where it is set. I haven't notice the water being hotter, but it has always been hot.

Your message has something about clicking "on the scales" to comment, I don't see that anywhere as an option but my comment is that you are being very helpful to walk me through this. Thank you.

You may have 1 or 2 thermostats, one under each plate. Also, there is a large red reset button.

apparently the factory setting for this heater is 140, The factory setting for a new water heater is 120F. However, a setting of 140 shouldn't trip the breaker. If I were on the job the first thing I would do is take my Amp Probe and check the amperage on the elements . With a 4500 Watt element you should be pulling about 19 Amps. If they check OK the next thing I would check is the breaker itself. You're going to find the problem at one of three places.
1) the elements
2) the thermostats
3) the breaker
Good luck, Tom

If resetting the breaker gets you hot water, I would say that you have a weak breaker.

Some breakers move sufficiently to be obvious when tripped. Some hardly move at all. This type feels spongy when pressed toward the on position.

While it is not all that common, a breaker can be defective or become weak over a period and trip even though there is no over current.

From you description I wold say that you have a weak breaker. Replace.

You may have 1 or 2 thermostats, one under each plate. Also, there is a large red reset button.

Thanks for your info there seem to be two saw the reset button also

The factory setting for a new water heater is 120F. However, a setting of 140 shouldn't trip the breaker. If I were on the job the first thing I would do is take my Amp Probe and check the amperage on the elements . With a 4500 Watt element you should be pulling about 19 Amps. If they check OK the next thing I would check is the breaker itself. You're gonna find the problem at one of three places.
1) the elements
2) the thermostats
3) the breaker
Good luck, Tom

Thank you tom

Since I started asking about this the heater is working normally, I will try the reset button on the heater itself next time it goes off and see what happens. I'll see if I can find somebody to come over and check the element, thermostats and breaker.

If resetting the breaker gets you hot water, I would say that you have a weak breaker.

Some breakers move sufficiently to be obvious when tripped. Some hardly move at all. This type feels spongy when pressed toward the on position.

While it is not all that common, a breaker can be defective or become weak over a period of time and trip even though there is no over current.

From you description I wold say that you have a weak breaker. Replace.


I haven't tried resetting the breaker on the actual water tank yet, up to now when it has happened I had found that resetting the breaker on the wall panel has worked to restart the heater.

Next time it goes off I'll try the breaker on the heater itself.

Thanks for your thoughts

If resetting the breaker gets you hot water, I would say that you have a weak breaker.

Some breakers move sufficiently to be obvious when tripped. Some hardly move at all. This type feels spongy when pressed toward the on position.

While it is not all that common, a breaker can be defective or become weak over a period of time and trip even though there is no over current.

From you description I wold say that you have a weak breaker. Replace.


I'm going to see if I can find someone to check for where the defect is. I appreciate all the help in narrowing down the problem, as I am a renter and my landlord is touchy about spending money, so I try to fix things myself or find a friend to help.

Thank you for your thoughts

It is the breaker in the electric panel I am speaking of.