No Hot Water? What to Do

Cold shower, cold dishwasher, and a tank you cannot see into. Most no-hot-water calls come down to a handful of causes, and two or three are things you can check in your own garage in a few minutes. Start with what kind of heater you have: gas or electric. The label on the tank says.

Electric Heater: Check These Three Things

1. The breaker. Find the double-pole breaker for the water heater. Push it fully off, then on. If it trips again right away, leave it off and call a plumber or electrician.
2. The reset button. Turn the breaker off first. Open the upper access panel, move the insulation aside and press the red reset button. If it keeps tripping, a thermostat or element is bad.
3. The thermostat setting. Set the dial around 120 degrees.

Warm but never hot usually means the lower element failed. No heat at all can mean the upper element or thermostat. These are replaceable parts.

Gas Heater: Check These Three Things

1. The pilot or igniter. Look through the small window at the bottom. No flame means it went out. Newer units may show a blink code on the control instead. Follow the lighting steps on the label.
2. The gas valve is open. The handle on the supply line should run parallel to the pipe.
3. The thermostat dial on the gas control is not turned down or on vacation.

If you smell gas at any point, leave the house and call from outside. Natural gas inside Lawrenceville city limits is supplied by the City of Lawrenceville, which is a separate number from a plumber. If the pilot will not stay lit after two tries, the thermocouple or gas control is likely bad, and that is a job for a plumber who handles water heater repair.

Tankless Units

Check for an error code on the display and look up the meaning in the manual. Common causes are a blocked vent, a clogged inlet filter, a tripped breaker or a lack of gas supply. Scale on the heat exchanger causes lukewarm output. If it has never been descaled, say so when you call.

Signs It Is More Than a Reset

• Water around the base of the heater. Shut off the cold valve on top and read what to do about a leaking water heater.
• Rust-colored hot water, or popping and rumbling from the tank.
• A heater past 10 to 12 years old. See how long a water heater lasts.
• Breakers that keep tripping.
• Hot water only at some taps, which can mean a mixing valve or crossed lines and not the heater.

When You Call

Call (770) 285-5619 and we will connect you with an independent local plumber. Have the age, fuel type and the heater's location ready. If it is in the attic or a tight closet, say so, because access is one of the things that changes the price. Ask for the price of repair and replacement before any work starts.

FAQ: Common Questions About No Hot Water