Whirlpool
Electrical Overload / Short
Water heater trips breaker frequently
Advertisements
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.
Advertisements
Possible Causes
Shorted heating element to ground, loose wiring causing arcing, undersized breaker, internal control short
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Leave breaker OFF until fault is found. Verify no power at heater.
Checks:
- Inspect wiring at junction box and thermostats for burnt insulation or loose connections.
- Test each element for ground fault by measuring resistance from each terminal to tank; any continuity indicates a shorted element.
- Confirm breaker size and wire gauge match the heater's rating plate.
Corrective actions:
- Replace any shorted element and damaged wiring.
- If wiring and elements are good but breaker still trips, the control board may be shorted and require replacement.
Advertisements
Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Heating Element / Wiring Harness
Check Price on Amazon
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Advertisements