Electrical / hot water
Breaker trips when the water heater starts
A breaker tripping when the water heater starts often indicates a problem with the heating element, thermostat, cable or supply circuit.
Possible causes
- heating element leaking to ground
- burnt thermostat or contact
- heated or damaged supply cable
- shared circuit with other large consumers
- RCD trip caused by moisture
Safe checks
- do not reset the breaker repeatedly
- unplug the water heater if it has a plug
- check whether the problem disappears without the heater connected
- send photos of the heater, socket and panel
Risk
Water heaters combine water and electricity. If protection trips, checks should be done with measuring instruments, not repeated trial and error.