Hot Rodd water heater needing reset often

OP...........
Anything :H

I take it its the t-stat that is tripping and needing reset ????

The t-stats are factory set...normal controlling t-stat for 120*F (adjustable by end user) and the ECO Energy Cut Out/HI temp t-stat 170*F (fixed)

IF normal t-stat doesn't shut down heating at 120*F then the ECO will open at 170*F and have to be MANUALLY reset

If normal t-stat is NOT held tight against tank wall it can NOT open at correct temp so temps can go higher...can be intermittent
If normal t-stat as failed closed heating will continue until ECO trips...would happen every heating cycle
ECO could be opening at to low of a temp.....rare

IF blue/red wiring on the t-stats are loose/dirty/bad connections...intermittent issues can occur

The most often thing for trip outs to happen is an overload condition. The most often overload condition is a weak connection. Check the electrical wiring from the source to the device, and then back on the neutral for loose wiring.

When service people replace your failed appliances, they always tighten your wiring, and they know which ones have failed, and which ones you replaced that are perfectly good but the wiring failed. Do your troubleshooting before you replace the unit.