Water heater trips the household circuit breaker or RCD when starting
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.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Do not repeatedly reset the breaker. Turn off the heater's isolator and leave the breaker off until the fault is found. Only qualified electricians or technicians should work on this fault.
Steps:
- Visual inspection: Look for signs of water leaks onto electrical components, especially around the pump, heat exchanger, and condensate trap.
- Dry and repair leaks: Fix any water leaks and allow components to dry thoroughly.
- Inspect wiring: Check for damaged insulation, especially where cables pass through metal panels.
- Component isolation: A technician can disconnect components (fan, pump, ignition) one by one to identify the faulty part.
Warning: RCD trips can indicate dangerous earth faults. Do not bypass protective devices.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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