Rheem
Electrical Overload or Ground Fault
Pump trips the breaker or GFCI shortly after starting or randomly during operation.
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Shorted motor windings in Rheem motor, Water intrusion into motor or junction box, Undersized breaker for pump rating, Shared circuit with other heavy loads
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety First: Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker. Turn OFF power and investigate.
- Inspect motor and wiring: Look for burn marks, melted insulation, or water inside the motor junction box. Dry and repair as needed.
- Measure motor current: With a clamp meter, measure running amps and compare to Rheem nameplate. If significantly higher, the motor may be failing or overloaded.
- Check breaker size: Verify the breaker rating matches Rheem specifications. Upgrade only if wiring size and code allow.
- Test insulation: Use a megohmmeter to test motor winding insulation to ground. Low resistance indicates a ground fault; replace the motor.
- Separate circuits: Ensure the pump is on a dedicated circuit to avoid nuisance trips from combined loads.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Rheem Pump Motor Assembly
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