Water Heater Breaker

[robertc1024]

Ok gents, here's the deal. Every six months or so my guest house trips the breaker going to the water heater. It's a pretty old heater ~10 years or so, but if the bottom heating element was sagging and shorting out, wouldn't it do it more frequently? Other than the breaker trips, it seems to work fine. Any ideas?

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Possible slightly loose connection that only does it under a higher demand or the breaker is old. I have replaced boat loads of breakers that just through age would not hold closed, alot of times they just get progressivly weaker and trip more often... cheap and quick to replace too.

 

[adsm08]

X2. I've seen it in my parents house before. The oven breaker would do it.

 

[RonD]

Could just be worn out and can't hold at high demand or quick demand.
A breaker can blow for a reason and then once the wiring or equipment is repaired all seems fine but breaker might not hold at higher draw any more.

If you have an electrician friend he can test the amps on the wires when Tank is on, if every thing looks fine then replace the breaker.

If its a "common breaker", i.e. two 20amp or two 30amp breakers tied together, then only one may be bad but they are designed to open both if one opens.