How to Reset a Water Heater in 3 Simple Steps

Do you want to reset a water heater that has suddenly stopped giving warm water?

No hot water in the house in winter is the real problem for which one must know how to do resetting so that you do not need to call anyone again and again for this small issue.

After resetting, the water comes to its normal warm state, so you should be aware of this small skill.

Whether you are using an electric water heater or want the right method to reset the gas water heater, everything will be covered in this short guide below. Let’s get started.

 

Reasons for Reset Button Tripping

Thermostats can be the reason for this tripping, but this is not the only one as there are other points as well, resulting in reset button tripping. Those reasons include:

1. If the high-limit switch is inaccurate, it will tend to malfunction, resulting in tripping. This high limit switch is used to detect the temperature of the air, and if you do not clean the switch from time to time, it will stop giving temperature details and result in tripping.
2. A loose wire can also be the reason for this issue. If it is loose or there is any other concern, this problem can arrive.
3. The shortage in the heating element is another reason. The short does not affect the working of the thermostat, but it will keep heating beyond the limit resulting in tripping.
4. If the reasons are not similar to the above-mentioned ones, then chances are there is an issue with the electricity setup and not the heater.

How to Fix when Water Heater Not Working?

Is the electric water heater not working and you are unaware of how to reset it? The process is simple and can be done at home as DIY work without calling anyone.

However, if the issue won’t be resolved with the below-mentioned points, then you can call someone. Let’s have a look at the method below.

Turn on Water Heater

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You have to open the heater to begin working. It involves different steps.

Detach Electricity

Never start working on a heater that is still connected to the power; otherwise, you will face harmful consequences. For this purpose, figure out the switch and instantly turn it off. They are usually mounted to the wall by using a cable.

To turn it off, you have to unscrew the cable. However, if the heater is directly wired, then you have to shut it down by the breaker box.

Separate the Cover Plates

You can easily find the metal plates at the bottom of the heater that you have to pull out by unscrewing them. You can use a screwdriver for this purpose as it will make the work easy.

A few heaters have double cover plates, so you must pull out every plate to find the reset button that is usually under this plate.

Get Rid of Insulation Pad

You will find an insulation pad in the heater that you also have to pull out to reach the buttons that will help you reset the water heater.

You do not need any tool to pull out that pad as it can be done with your hands. If you found this pad full of moisture, then it might be due to leakage of the element gasket.

Do not leave the pad as it is because it needs to be fixed before you reset the heater.

Press the Reset Button

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Now you have to figure out where the reset button lies so all you have to do is press it so that the heater starts giving warm water.  The steps include:

Check the Red Button

In a few heaters, the reset button is already labeled so you can instantly press it, but in a few heaters, you have to check the red button that is located on the control panel.

Press it Firmly

Once you have found the button, press it firmly. Sometimes the button becomes sticky, especially when you haven’t used it for a long time. Once you have pressed, wait for some time until you have heard the click sound.

The click sound tells you that you are successful in resetting the heater. If you didn’t hear any sound, then look after the wirings and knots of the heater.

If there is no issue with the wires, then the problem might be in the controller that needs to be replaced with a new one.

However, there are a few heaters that don’t create any noise after resetting so better leave them because your water will be warm now.

Reassemble the Heater

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Now your heater is reset, so you have to reassemble everything that you pulled out before. For this purpose:

Put the Pad Back

The insulation pad that you pulled out to find out the reset button needs to be put back in the heater. Put it with your hands in the same place from where you removed it.

Screw the Cover Plates

Both metal plates that you unscrewed need to be screwed back properly.

Connect to The Power

Once you have assembled everything, you can turn on the switch so that it starts giving hot water again. In a few hours, it will start working perfectly fine.

If your hot water heater not heating then you can simply reset it by following the above-mentioned points.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s have a look at a few commonly asked questions regarding the electric water heater reset button or why my hot water is not working.

What Causes a Water Heater to Need to Be Reset?

When the water heater keeps tripping, then you need to reset the button to avoid this problem. The tripping can be due to different reasons, including loose wiring or thermostats.

Is There a Reset Button on Water Heaters?

When you pull out the plates and insulation pad from the heater, you can easily find the reset button that is in red color and usually on the control panel.

In a few heaters, the reset button is labeled so you can easily figure it out.

How Long Do You Hold the Reset Button on a Water Heater?

It depends on how big or small the size of the tank is. So calculate the exact size of the water heater that you want. If the heater tank is small, the water will be warm within 30 minutes, but the number may exceed if the size is large.

You have to keep pressing the reset button until you hear the clicking noise.

Why is My Hot Water Heater Not Working?

It can be due to a circuit breaker that has been tripped, or the problem might be in the wiring. After resetting, it will start working like before, but if the problem is big, you might need to call a professional.

How Do I Reset My Thermostat?

Before working, never forget to turn off the thermostat. Now find out the breaker that powers the HVAC system. Once you find out, switch it off as well. Keep it off for the next 30 seconds. Later, switch it on.

Final Thoughts

I hope now you got an idea about how to reset a water heater. This is a common issue that occurs in every household in the winter season when you badly need warm water.

You can easily fix this issue at home by following a few simple steps already mentioned above. I have tried to cover these points in a simple way for everyone’s better understanding.

The next time whenever you deal with the resetting problem, this guide will assist you to perform this work at home. However, be concerned about your safety and take all the safety precautions. I hope this article will accommodate you in the future.