Hello - I'm brand new to this forum. I'm searching to understand why my Power Miser 8 seemed to flip the reset switch today. Originally I jumped in the shower and noticed no hot water so I went to the hot water heater to start tinkering with things.

I believe the following is a possible culprit. My wife made a statement that the water she was in the kitchen using was considerably hotter than normal.

Originally I shut down power and looked to pull the lower element but I could not get the tank to drain out the bottom spiquot which is also another question. Please advise how to properly drain. I read that you are to open all hot water faucets and cut off supply line and someone typed to take out the pressure relief valve, however, I could not get that to budge...any other idea (or just man-up and crank on it).

So after messing with that I finally noticed (sorry this is embarressing to myself) the reset switch. I pushed it and heard a click and would not do anything else when depressed so I put everything back together and I could tell the unit was on because of the light and it was proved as I was able to get a hot shower.

?'s - What caused the reset to be needed? Did my wife's comment of the water being too hot mean anything to that. Also, draining method.d

Sorry this was such a long post.

Thank you,

Sounds like a thermostat is or was stuck closed. While you are in there might as well change out both the upper and lower thermostats. Make sure you have the breaker off.

If no water comes out of the drain valve, probably is plugged with sediment. Could try and stick a coat hanger in it to clean anything out.

Yeah, I have a well so there's a good chance that build up over the 17 years will have it get that way.

How much do the thermostat's cost? The water heater is ~17 years old. I don't really want to put a lot into it. I'm running natural gas to the home and will eventually go with it as a source for hot water.