MY HEATER IS DCH-E10...... EVER SINCE I PUT IT IN THE RESET BUTTON TRIPS ABOUT ONCE PER DAY.. ONCE RESET I CAN USE IT NO PROBLEM... BUT WHEN IT SETS UNUSED FOR A TIME... IT TRIPS AGAIN.... I RESET IT AGAIN AND IT WORKS UNTIL THE NEXT NONE USE TIME. IT DOES NOT TRIP WHEN IN USE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO

Why Does My Electric Water Heater Reset Button Keep Tripping? So the red reset button on your electric water heater keeps popping out and needing to be reset.
Here's the most likely problem: The water in your water heater is getting too hot.
When the water temperature in your water heater exceeds 180°, the red reset button (also known as the high-limit switch) trips. This tripping protects you from getting scalded or burned when using hot water in your home.
OK, but then what's causing the water in your water heater to get so hot? The most likely cause is a bad thermostat.
How a bad thermostat causes your water heater reset button to trip Electric water heaters have a lower and upper thermostat-one for each heating element.
The thermostats are responsible for controlling the heating elements. When the water has cooled off, the thermostats kick on the heating elements to heat the water. And once the water has reached your desired temperature, the thermostats shut off the heating element.
(This is very similar to the way your heating and air conditioning thermostat controls your home HVAC system.)
But these thermostats can go bad. When they do, they sometimes get stuck in the "on" position. This means that that the heating element continues to heat your water, eventually causing the high-limit switch to trip.
The fix: The bad thermostat needs to be replaced. A plumber can use a multimeter to test the thermostats and find out which one is bad.
Other problems that can cause your high-limit switch to trip While a bad thermostat is the most common reason your water heater's reset button may trip, it's not the only one. Other common causes include:

• A shorted heating element-It may be that the thermostat is working just fine and shutting off the heating element. But a short in the element is causing it to continue to heat your water.
• Loose wiring-A loose wire in the water heater can generate heat that can cause the high-limit switch to trip.
• Bad high-limit switch-The switch itself may be malfunctioning and tripping when it shouldn't be.

Get a professional plumber's help

Do you live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and need a reliable plumber to help you troubleshoot your water heater problem? Contact MSP Plumbing. We can usually fix the problem the same day.

Always helps if you give more info. BUT Going on what you say, I can only assume electrical heater, With faulty element. Replace element.

Need a new thermostat to keep the unit from tripping

Must be electric water heater:
Test elements:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

It can be the breakers in your house or the reset button is malfunctioning

Hi,

Yes, the reset probably is tripped...push in the red button hard
Then turn it on and try it...

Check out this tip..

How to replace the Thermostat and Element for Electric Hot Water Heater

heatman101

You posted under Marathon electric heater.
If you have tankless or tank-type gas heater, information below does not apply.

Absence of hot water say upper element is not working.
1) This can be caused by tripped reset button located on upper thermostat. Open upper cover and push in reset button. Put ear against tank to hear bubbly fizzing sound. Put insulation and cover back over thermostat. Continue reading information below because reset button trips when thermostats are bad or element is shorted.
2) Upper thermostat is bad. Replace upper thermostat. I usually replace both upper and lower thermostats.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
3) Electricity going to water heater from breaker box is interrupted.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Test-electricity-to-water-heater.html
4) Upper element is bad. Test element. Replace element if needed.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html

5) Add a comment for more free help.

6) Also take advantage of fixya phone service.
For a price, expert speaks with you over phone while you work on heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

You have electric water heater.
Electric water heaters are fully repairable by homeowner.

Reliance is AO Smith company
http://www.aosmith.com/OperatingUnits/Detail.aspx?id=138&ekmensel=c580fa7b_12_0_138_3
http://www.reliancewaterheaters.com/prod/elec.html

Age of Reliance water heater is shown on serial number located on side of tank:
first digit is letter. Next two digits are numbers: for example C06 means 2006.
Serial number also shows model number & wattage of elements in case you need new element from hardware store.

ECO reset button trips when upper thermostat senses temperatures higher than 150 to 180 degrees.
When ECO energy cut off trips, it turns off power at the reset button, so the tank does not continue overheating.
Tripping reset button says tank is receiving electricity, so we can eliminate that suspect.

There are 4 reasons why ECO will trip.
1) Bad upper or lower thermostat: solution replace both thermostats for about 25$. Steps shown in link below.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
2) Loose wire or shorted wire at or near upper thermostat: Open covers on water heater and inspect parts for signs of high heat and burning.
3) Bad element shorted to ground in center of element: Solution test elements and replace defective element.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-element.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html
4) Factory-installed insulation and cover has been removed from tank: thermostat exposed to cooler temperatures, and misreads tank temperature, and then elements keep heating water.

If you want to test all the parts before replacing anything:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html


Thermostats are generic, and each functions same way and each can replace the other.
Same is true for both upper and lower thermostats

Electric water heater has panels located on front of water heater.
Remove top cover, and insulation to reveal thermostat and element.

Stand on dry surface, including boards or plywood.
Do not hold screwdriver in mouth.
Do not touch any metal.
Red reset button is located on thermostat.
Push in reset.
If reset will not re-engage, then thermostat may be bad, or some other problem exists.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html
Screw terminals on thermostat are live.
When finished, insulation and cover must be put back over thermostat so thermostat not exposed to cool air that will cause thermostat to misread tank temperature.
Put ear against tank to hear bubbly-fizzing sound that says water heater is working.

If water heater is leaking or wet, do not touch unless circuit breaker is turned off.

Electric water heater is fully repairable by homeowner.
ECO red reset button trips when upper thermostat senses overheating.
You many have underlying problem if reset continues tripping:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

If your water has NO hot water, then click circuit breaker

Next, click red reset button.
Turn off power.
Open cover on water heater.
If heater has 2 covers, open top cover
After re-seting water heater, insulation must be put back over thermostat to prevent cooler air from affecting thermostat.

1) Reset button is a good starting place to check water heater.
Reset clicks off for a number of reasons, including overheated water.

2) Reset will not reset, then replace thermostat.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

3) Resets clicks on, but clicks off again later, you should diagnose the problem.
Clicking reset is not a hazard
Click the reset as often as you want until you have time to diagnose.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

4) Reset is not tripped, and you still do not have hot water:
Then use tester on top two screws (T1 - T3 screws -or- 1 and 3 screws) of upper thermostat to check if you have power.

If you have power, then replace thermostat.
If problems continue, a full diagnosis is needed as per the link above

If you need more help, add a comment and I will respond