[andersdad]

So my electric heater has had two elements changed and the upper thermostat replaced. I was still having to reset the water heater once a day once the hot water ran out. My father called a plumber and he told him to replace the last thing that hadn't been replaced yet -- the lower thermostat. I turned the power off at the breaker box and replaced the lower thermostat and went to turn the power back on, but the breaker wouldn't stay in the on position. I put the old thermostat back on thinking I got a bad new thermostat but that didn't help. The wires are all back in the original position. Any ideas?

[massplumber2008]

Hi Andersdad...

Only thing that really makes sense is that the wires got switched somehow. Otherwise, something else is seriously wrong and you really need a plumber or an electrician to pop in and resolve this for you.

If you have a new upper and a new lower thermostat available, it should only cost a service call and he can check the entire system for you.

Here, I cannot emphasize enough to you that this needs to be evaluated by a professional, OK?

Good luck!

Mark

[pghplumber]

From what you have posted, maybe the next best step is to call an electrician. If elements/thermostat have been changed and breaker keeps tripping, maybe something changed in the electrical system. I could tell you of a dozen electrical scenarios, but better to have somebody qualified look at it.

[hkstroud]

If breakers are immediately tripping off you must have wired something incorrectly. Check wiring. If you have replaced both thermostats and you are still having to reset, you must have a defective high limit switch.