Electric Hot Water Heater Thermostat Reset Button

An electric water heater reset button is positioned above the thermostat which is behind a panel on the front of the tank.

Electric hot water heater thermostat reset button.

So the red reset button on your electric water heater keeps popping out and needing to be reset. The reset button is also sometimes referred to as the eco emergency cut off switch or high limit safety thermostat switch. Some tanks have two thermostats and two reset buttons. Your water heater reset button is a safety device that shuts off power to your water heater when the water temperature inside it exceeds 180 degrees fahrenheit.

When the water temperature in your water heater exceeds 180 the red reset button also known as the high limit switch trips. The water in your water heater is getting too hot. If it won t stay in it may mean that you have to make repairs. To reset it you ll need to press the red reset button on the eco which is usually attached to the upper thermostat.

Here s the most likely problem. Other reasons for a hot water heater reset button to trip. Thermostats aren t the only parts on an electric water heater that can wear out and trip the reset button especially if you re finding you have to reset the water heater frequently or you run out of hot water fast and often. The high limit switch is bad.