State Select Water Heater Reset Button
On this page (5 sections)
The Short Answer: On an electric State Select, the reset button is the red button on the high-limit switch (ECO) above the upper thermostat, behind the upper access panel. It cuts power when the water gets too hot. It sits beside live 240-volt terminals, so turning off the breaker and having a qualified person find the cause comes before any reset. Gas State Selects do not have this button.
What the button does
The ECO (energy cut-off) is a safety switch that opens if the water at the top of the tank gets far hotter than the thermostat setting. When it trips, both elements lose power and the tank cools. It does not reset itself. A trip means something let the water overheat, or the switch itself has failed. Pressing the button does not fix that cause.
On gas State Select models, the button on the control knob is part of the pilot-lighting procedure, not an overheat reset. For gas models, see State Select gas troubleshooting.
Why it trips
| What happened before the trip | Common cause |
|---|---|
| Tank was drained or partly empty when power was on | Element overheated in air (“dry fire”); element often ruined |
| Trip after years of normal use, water was scalding first | Upper thermostat stuck closed |
| Trip with a burning smell or brown plastic | Loose wire at the thermostat or element; heat damage |
| Repeated trips weeks apart | Element shorting to the tank, or a failing thermostat |
| Trip after a lightning storm or power surge | Possible ECO or thermostat damage |
| Trip and water inside the access panel | Leak reaching electrical parts |
What you can do
- Turn off the breaker for the water heater before anything else.
- Look for water on the floor, at the access panels, and around the fittings on top. If anything is wet, leave the power off; see water heater leaking from upper thermostat.
- Confirm the tank is full. If it was drained recently, open a hot tap with the breaker off and let it run until the flow is steady with no air.
- Note the history: when the trip happened, whether the water was too hot before it went cold, and how many times it has happened. This tells the technician where to start.
Most State manuals describe the reset procedure for qualified service. Because it means removing the cover and insulation next to energized terminals, this guide does not walk through it.
What the technician will check
A technician will confirm power is off at the terminals, then test both elements for continuity and for any short to the tank, check that each thermostat opens and closes at the right point, and inspect wire connections for heat damage. Only after the cause is found will they reset the ECO and watch the heater complete a heating cycle.
Typical repairs: a replacement element (minor), a combined upper thermostat and ECO assembly (minor to moderate), or tightening and repairing burned connections. If the tank is leaking onto the controls, the heater needs replacing.
If resets have become a routine, see why do I have to keep resetting my water heater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I just press the reset and see if it holds? A: The button is next to live terminals, and a reset without finding the cause usually leads to another trip or more damage. Turn off the breaker and have the heater checked.
Q: What if the button will not stay in? A: Either the water is still too hot for the switch to reset, or the switch has failed. Both need a technician.
Q: Why is my water scalding and then cold? A: A thermostat that sticks closed heats the water until the ECO trips. Leave the power off; continuing to reset it lets the tank overheat again.
Manuals and supporting references
These links distinguish general safety information from model-specific documentation. A manual directory helps you locate your unit’s instructions; it does not establish that every model uses the same parts, codes, or test values.
- A. O. Smith: standard electric no-hot-water diagnostic chart (opens in a new tab)Professional diagnostic context for standard electric storage heaters; not instructions to open or test your appliance.
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