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Older 1970's electrical panel might need to be replaced. Very occasionally the breaker for the new water heater will trip. It trips maybe once every couple months and the property could be sold at any time and the owner plans to sell it as is and may not wish to invest in a new panel.
There may be electricians out there who are self employed and could have a match for the old water heater breaker.
That said the likely cost parts and labor to install a new panel? Thanks.
To me, it sounds like you should be asking how much a new water heater, or somebody who knows how to troubleshoot electrical problems costs, not how much a new breaker panel is.
9 times out of 10, if a breaker is tripping it's doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing.
Constantly resetting it or replacing it usually isn't the right answer.
To me, it sounds like you should be asking how much a new water heater or someone who knows how to troubleshoot costs, not how much a new breaker panel is.
9 times out of 10, if a breaker is tripping, there's usually a good reason.
The new water heater may not be compatible with older electric parts. The owner wants to replace the entire panel. The only devices on the panel are water heater, lights, refrigerator, other 110 volt items. No A/C and no clothes dryer and no electric stove.
The new water heater may not be compatible with older electric parts. The owner wants to replace the entire panel. The only devices on the panel are water heater, lights, refrigerator, other 110 volt items. No A/C and no clothes dryer and no electric stove.
The hot water heater has a current rating on it. Is it less than the breaker size?
If yes, replace the breaker. This is a job for a careful amateur.
If no, then you have a problem, because the wire is probably too small. But panel is still not the problem.
Now if someone wanted to replace the panel because it will be new and glossy...have at it.
(I have ruled out possible problems with the water heater...because it's new).
(I have ruled out possible problems with the water heater...because it's new).
Not a good reason to rule something out, especially in this day and age of cost cutting and consumers who demand cheapness over quality.
I don't know if the water heater is faulty or not, but if the problems didn't start until after the new water heater was installed, I would be looking at it, along with it's amp rating/amp draw compared to the breaker size, and for any loose connections or pinched wires or stray wire strands or anything else that could have been overlooked during the install.
Older 1970's electrical panel might need to be replaced. Very occasionally the breaker for the new water heater will trip. It trips maybe once every couple months and the property could be sold at any time and the owner plans to sell it as is and may not wish to invest in a new panel.
There may be electricians out there who are self employed and could have a match for the old water heater breaker.
That said the likely cost parts and labor to install a new panel? Thanks.
Had the same issue a while ago with a new hot water heater. The company which does all my HVAC, electric and plumbing came out and could not figure it, they even replaced all the workings of the new hot water heater; then the lead commercial electrician came out. One look at the panel and he saw the issue. He said the breaker for the hot water heater should not have any breaker above or below it. Sure enough that was the cause.
A year went by and the main breaker went on the box from the 1970's. Naturally it was on a Sunday after dark and it was pouring and cold. The maker is not even around anymore - who would have thought these breakers would not be universal? I ended up paying about $2,000 I think, a bit high perhaps, but that included them coming out on a Sunday in the pouring rain, finding a rebuilt main breaker in another county, and giving me the use of it until the new box could be put in.
Older 1970's electrical panel might need to be replaced. Very occasionally the breaker for the new water heater will trip. It trips maybe once every couple months and the property could be sold at any time and the owner plans to sell it as is and may not wish to invest in a new panel.
There may be electricians out there who are self employed and could have a match for the old water heater breaker.
That said the likely cost parts and labor to install a new panel? Thanks.
First thing I'd look at is the current draw for the new water heater. Until you confirm that its current draw is below the breaker size, do not assume you need to do anything else.
Of course, if you do find the water heater's too big for the circuit you'll have to have a new circuit put in, or take out your new water heater and put in one with less current draw.
If the circuit is of appropriate capacity for the water heater, then the next step would be to confirm that the current draw is as per the nameplate. Then you'd probably want to replace the one breaker; they're simple mechanical devices and the little spring can lose its force. They generally fail safe, which is to say by tripping when not wanted; rather than failing by not tripping when needed - which would be a fire risk.
I don't see anything here that indicates a whole new panel is required.
I don't see anything here that indicates a whole new panel is required.
Except one. Don’t know the brand. If it’s a F-P panel, it’s worth replacing.
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