Most heaters are plugged into a wall with a cable. You may have to unscrew the cable or turn a knob near it to shut off the electricity. [2] X Research source If your water heater is wired in directly you’ll need to turn it off at the breaker box.
Whether you need a Phillips or flat head screwdriver depends on your plate.
If there is any moisture on the pad or near the reset button, it is likely that an element gasket is leaking, which will need to be fixed before resetting the water heater.
If you don’t hear a click when you press the button, or if it pops right back out, check all the heater’s wiring for nicks or loose wire nuts. If the wiring is fine, then the controller probably needs to be replaced. Every heater is different. Some heaters may not click when you press on the reset button. If you don’t hear the click even after pressing on the button for about five seconds, reassemble the heater anyway. It will probably still restore hot water.
