Water Heater Trips Breaker,,, HELP!!,,,??

[newbury]

Yes, bad elements will trip breakers. Breakers are heat protected. If calciuum buildup is enough, wire load will increase, ie more heat. Thermal breaker will trip.

more than likely, no one replaced anode either.
personally, id replace entire thing if its real old.

What's "real old"? I've had them last 20 years, then 15, then 10, all in "soft water" areas.
Are they getting like tires? Planned obsolescense?

 

[ultrarunner]

I miss the old Hoyt all copper 20 and 30 gallon gas fired water heaters ..

Made in Oakland CA for generations until moved to Reno NV and then vanished...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

What’s this generator luxury you all talkin about?

 

[ponytug]

One of these things;

AT Hand Crank Generator - Military

at-communication.com

I hear some folks even have steam powered ones...

 

[Larry Caldwell]

One of these things;

AT Hand Crank Generator - Military

at-communication.com

I hear some folks even have steam powered ones...

You don't need steam. You can feed a Stirling cycle engine with firewood or coal. It would run even better in a blizzard.

 

[rodneyn]

I installed a water softener in my home 40 years ago, so I have not had a reason to replace heater heater elements,,

My daughter's home has a typical 2-element electric hot water heater, probably 4500 watt elements, 240 volt, ~50 gallon,,,
Yes, she has high calcium water, no water softener, the elements surely have buildup on them.

Anyways, both elements show resistance, so they are not burned out,, as far as electrically concerned.
BUT, I do hear the water heater "growling" when the heater has to heat water. (Calcium buildup, I assume)

I know the elements need replaced, I have the "LOW DENSITY WATTAGE" version elements to replace the ones in the water heater now.

My real question is,,, "Hmmmm, the circuit breaker will trip occasionally!!"

Would calcium buildup cause the circuit breaker to trip, ?? OR, would the tripped breaker be do to some other issue??

Thanks for the help.

I

Calcium builds up on element takes current to heat water. More current degrades the heating element. Once degraded enough it will short to ground. Some heaters use to have anion rod in center to keep build up on elements. Some swear by it others do not. In soften water element will fail faster over time. I use to run 240 v timer on my electric water heater. Setting times for use during the day. Otherwise unit will run as it pleases. This extended my element life from 2 years to 5 years. Reduced electricity costs and gave access to the bathroom on off hours. Who wants a Luke warm shower. Wife forced me to install lp gas water heater then I was waiting to use the bathroom again.

 

[rodneyn]

Calcium builds up on element takes current to heat water. More current degrades the heating element. Once degraded enough it will short to ground. Some heaters use to have anion rod in center to keep build up on elements. Some swear by it others do not. In soften water element will fail faster over time. I use to run 240 v timer on my electric water heater. Setting times for use during the day. Otherwise unit will run as it pleases. This extended my element life from 2 years to 5 years. Reduced electricity costs and gave access to the bathroom on off hours. Who wants a Luke warm shower. Wife forced me to install lp gas water heater then I was waiting to use the bathroom again.

Soften will not fail as fast much longer period of time before element replacement. Needed to restate this.