Giant Electrical Overload / Short Circuit

Water heater trips the electrical breaker intermittently

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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 heating element, Damaged wiring insulation, Undersized breaker or shared circuit, Faulty thermostat causing simultaneous element operation

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker. Turn it off and investigate. Risk of fire or shock.

  • Inspect wiring: With power off, remove access panels and inspect all wiring for burns, melted insulation, or loose connections.
  • Test elements: Check each Giant heating element for continuity to ground. Replace any element that is shorted.
  • Verify breaker size: Ensure the breaker and wire gauge match the heater’s nameplate rating. Consult an electrician if unsure.
  • Thermostat check: Replace thermostats if they are miswiring elements to run simultaneously on a circuit not designed for it.
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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Giant Heating Element
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