My water heater (just replaced last winter) is not working. I went to the service panel and looked at the breaker. It was in the "on" position. Still, I pushed it a little just to be sure. I then heard a buzzing, snapping sound. Well, then my water heater started working again. But later in the day it again stopped working. I went to the breaker again but this time nothing happens.
Something tells me that there is nothing wrong with the water heater, but all that buzzing sound in the panel is not good and is the culprit. I've been reading up on replacing a breaker. Is this the likely solution?

 

Either that or cutting the main and tightening up the breaker screws may fix it (remember...the two legs above the main will still be HOT even with the main breaker off, whichever you do).
Test before touching.
Good luck!
Mike

 

Do not replace the breaker! At least not yet.

When resetting a breaker, never simply push it towards the on position. Always push it firmly to the off position and then back to the on postion.

Do not be so quick to absolve the water heater. There are a lot of books on home maintenance (e.g., the Reader's Digest Fix-it yourself manual) that provide a step-by-step procedure for testing all the components of a water heater.

If this heater was replaced recently, please consider whether this new water heater is higher wattage than the old one was. Perhaps you are simply overloading the circuit.

Only replace the breaker after you have ruled out everything else.

 

Thanks for all the speedy replies. I'm still mulling it all over as to what to do. The water heater was replaced last winter under my home warranty, which is still in effect. So I'm thinking about calling them and have them send out the plumbers that installed it. I'll keep you posted. And now that I think I've figured out how to stay in the same thread, John, I will do that!