Electric American Water Heaters unit displays E3; water temperature overshoots setpoint or trips high limit.

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.

Possible Causes

Upper or lower thermostat contacts welded closed, Miswired thermostats, Faulty electronic temperature sensor (hybrid models)

Safety: Overheating can cause scalding. Turn off power immediately.

1. Reset ECO: Press the red reset button on the upper thermostat.
2. Inspect wiring: Compare wiring to the diagram on the heater. Correct any miswiring.
3. Test thermostats: With power off, verify that thermostats open when temperature is above setpoint (using a heat source or by measuring continuity at room temperature if clearly overheated). Replace any thermostat that remains closed.
4. For hybrid/electronic models: Test tank temperature sensors per the manual and replace if out of range.

Medium 3/5

Upper and Lower Thermostats

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