Why does my hot water heater keep tripping the breaker?

What is actually tripping is the high temperature limit, this could be caused by a couple of things. If the thermostat has gone bad keeping the element on when it shouldn't be or one of your elements has a minor short to ground it will still heat the water when the thermostat is not calling for it to heat. If you change both elements and both thermostats (the top one is a thermostat/high limit combo the bottom one is just a thermostat) this will take care of the problem. Just make sure after you change all these that the water heater is full of water before you turn it back on otherwise you will burn out your new element(s). I hope I helped and good luck!

It is tripping for a reason. You need to find out why. It could be a heating element is either going out or has gone out. The thermostat sometimes will wear out as well. The best thing to do is use a multi meter and check for a ground, if there is you need to see whats caused it. Usually th element has burned out. If there isn't a ground fault then hook a amp clamp meter and measure the amps, if they are higher than whats stated on the unit change out the heating elements. If you don't have either meters, then call in a plumber and he/she can fix it up for you.

It sounds like your hot water heater element is fixing to go out it will probably quit heating at all before long....