GFCI outlet & Power-vent water heater

17 years ago

Here is the storyÂsomewhat shortened. About 4 months ago woke up to little hot water. Discovered that the GFCI outlet the Natural Gas Power-vent water heater was plugged into had tripped. I reset it and the water heater restarted.

A couple days later the same things happened, but this time not only did the water heater start when I reset it, I heard a sump-pump kick on for a few seconds and then the GFCI outlet tripped again. I unplugged the sump-pump (moved it to a different circuitÂ.didnÂt realize it was on the same circuit as the water heater), reset the GFCI outlet and the heater started up.

A few weeks went by when I woke to little hot water again. Reset the GFCI outlet and the water heater stated up. This started off happening 1-2 per week and over the past week has moved to 1-2 per day.

I replaced the GFCI outlet, but that did not help. I disconnected everything down line of the outlet, so only the line from the breaker to the outlet and only the water heater plugged into the outlet. The GFCI outlet is still randomly tripping. When I reset it, the heater starts and runs for about 15 minutes until the water is back at temp and then turns off (not tripping). I have never actually seen it trip. I can come back after taking a hot shower and it sometimes is tripped but other time is not.

OK last bit of infoÂ.the water heater is 12 years old (probably nearing the end of its life), but I donÂt want to replace it if there is an unrelated electrical problem causing the GFCI outlet to trip.

Suggestions?

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Comments (9)

joed
17 years ago
Install a dedicated circuit to the water heater with a single receptacle(not a duplex) and do not put a GFCI. Single receptacle dedicated circuit is not required to be a GFCI in an unfinished basement.
hexus
17 years ago
"Install a dedicated circuit to the water heater with a single receptacle(not a duplex) and do not put a GFCI. Single receptacle dedicated circuit is not required to be a GFCI in an unfinished basement."

not true under the 2008 code.
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countryboymo
17 years ago
I have a dedicated circuit for my freezer downstairs because one time it tripped a GFI and I lost the contents. It was less than a year old then and over 2 now and not a problem since. I was told by more than one in appliance repair to ditch the GFI on it. I wonder if a GFI breaker might be less prone to tripping... any thoughts?
hexus
17 years ago
"I wonder if a GFI breaker might be less prone to tripping..."

no it wouldn't.

as for "ditching the GFI" which they never should have told you in the first place... again, under the 2008 code in unfinished areas (basement, or garages) all receptacles must be GFI protected. Yes even garage door opener outlets must be GFI protected.
The single device exception no longer applies under the new code.
What I'm getting at, is you can do whatever you want, however if you want to sell the house or whatever I recommend you have it up to code.
scottium
Original Author
17 years ago
The water heater had been plugged into the outlet for at least 2 years (was there when we moved in) without incident, before this problem started. Not sure what could have changedÂ

I moved the heater to a circuit without a GFI, seems to be functioning fine for the past 36 hrs.

Code or no code requirement, it makes sense to me that the water heater should be on a GFI. I may try changing it from a GFI receptacle to a GFI breaker. Are GFI breakers less prone to tripping from appliances?
Skapare
17 years ago
The water heater element may be cracked and leaking current into the water. This is a good reason to have GFCI protection on a water heater.

A GFCI breaker may be more prone to tripping due to the additional capacitance of the full circuit run.

Most homes have a water heater with 4500 watts on a 30 amp circuit and usually hardwire. The GFCI requirement applies only to 15 and 20 amp circuits (although IMHO the water heater should ultimately be GFCI protected regardless of wattage/amperage).
van356
17 years ago
It's a gas water heater. That's why it has a power venter.
petey_racer
17 years ago
"Code or no code requirement, it makes sense to me that the water heater should be on a GFI."

Can you tell me why you say this?
scottium
Original Author
17 years ago
petey....I may be off base, but since the receptacle is located between the washing machine and the water heater in a basement, wouldnÂt it be good to have this circuit GFI protected? You never know when there could be a water leak/flood.