Water heater problem

Question

We've been traveling since the end of May. Our Suburban water heater worked fine using the electric heating element for about two months. Then it began turning itself off during the night. I go outside and push the reset button and it works fine for a day, then quits. Pushing the reset button gets it working again for awhile, but then it quits again. Any thoughts on what the problem may be?

P.S. The heater works fine on propane, so we are not without hot water.

Thanks.

Mike

mtpockets1 · Answer

I had to replace the elec thermostat on mine.  There is one for elec and one for gas.   You should have two reset buttons, one elec and one gas.  My elec was the one on the left.  Simple to replace and as I recall about $20.

jwakeman · Answer

Had a problem similar last winter. It turned out to be the upper limit switch. Replaced that it has been working fine. The switch module showed a little bluing on on end of it.

old-biscuit · Answer

What you are resetting is the high limit t-stat for the electric element.
That means the normal t-stat is not opening when reaching temp set point.

Normal temp t-stat could be failing (loose connections, bad terminals) or it may not be in tight contact with tank wall.
(Fortunately the high limit is opening...that's why you have to reset it)

Get a new t-stat set for the electric element.

rmalik1 · Answer

MTPockets1 wrote:I had to replace the elec thermostat on mine.  There is one for elec and one for gas.   You should have two reset buttons, one elec and one gas.  My elec was the one on the left.  Simple to replace and as I recall about $20.X2

recveh2005 · Answer

Many thanks to you all for your help - Donna and really appreciate it.

A comment is in order, though. For the price that Suburban gets for their water heaters, they should be good for more than two months!!!

Mike

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Water heater problem

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