Utility Over Voltage Is A Killer

Utility Over Voltage Is A Killer


One of my customers had a problem with his Rheem Proterra heat pump water heater, it was tripping the breaker on a daily basis.  

The Way It Works

The Proterra is a hybrid system, it utilizes a combination of a heat pump and electric resistive heating to ensure the domestic hot water stays at set point.  It can be set up in a few different ways to achieve this.  But we’re not here to discuss its operation, we’re here to find out why it was tripping.  

The Problem And The Solution

After a quick visual everything looked okay, expect for signs of over heating on the upper resistive element.    

The tank is rated for 240v but the incoming voltage was 255.4 volts, after an hour or two, the voltage had increased even more so.  I informed the customer and he then contacted the utility, they showed up within an hour and corrected the situation.  After the voltage reduction, the breaker did not trip again. 

Check out this Instagram post and conversation on this topic.  

Follow Gary on Instagram for daily tips & memes.

Utility Over Voltage Is A Serious Problem

The utility company’s swift response demonstrates they take these voltage issues seriously, as excessive voltage can cause widespread issues beyond just one appliance. This case serves as an excellent reminder why taking multiple voltage readings over time, rather than a single snapshot measurement, can reveal developing problems that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Learn more in the following a short podcast where this call is described in detail.  

Side Note: Don’t Jump To Conclusions – Measure First (And Often)!

253V may damage appliances. Contact your utility immediately.

Voltage in the 253v range can be a slow death for sensitive electronics.  My suggestion: Don’t go staright to, “that unit is a piece of shit”.  Be thorough, check your incoming voltage.  

This where voltage monitoring can come in handy, it can be set up to shut down equipment if voltage becomes too high or too low (brown out) and can be paired with a surge device for added protection.  

I recorded a podcast with this particular customer as to why he chose to go the electrification route for his heating, cooling and water heater.  

For more exclusive, educational HVAC/R content.  Subscribe to our newsletter.

Top Tech Tips, Twice A Month.



Whether you require installation, repair, or maintenance, our technicians will assist you with top-quality service at any time of the day or night. Take comfort in knowing your indoor air quality is the best it can be with MOE heating & cooling services Ontario's solution for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation that’s cooler than the rest.
Contact us to schedule a visit. Our qualified team of technicians, are always ready to help you and guide you for heating and cooling issues. Weather you want to replace an old furnace or install a brand new air conditioner, we are here to help you. Our main office is at Kitchener but we can service most of Ontario's cities


Source link