Hot water heater not working? Try troubleshooting with these tips
By Thumbtack Staff•Last updated Nov 19, 2021
Last updated Nov 19, 2021
Your hot water heater is complicated. But not so complicated that you can expect ice-cold showers to become part of your routine.
Hot water heater problems? Here's how to troubleshoot the problem.
If your hot water heater isn't working, keep reading to learn how to fix it with these easy tips. If these tips don't work, a specialist will likely need to make some repairs.
1. First, turn off the power, gas and water supply.
Your gas hot water heater isn't a toy. It’s a highly pressurized machine. Always turn off the gas and power before working on your heater. If there’s standing water, shut off the gas and water supply to the heater and step away. Contact a licensed professional to handle the rest. When in doubt, put safety first.
2. Surviving off cold water alone? Turn the gas control knob.
If your pilot light is off, it means your water tank isn’t lit. With gas water heaters, no flame means no heat. To check your pilot light, turn the gas control knob on your heater to the setting marked “pilot.” This keeps the burner from igniting while you’re checking things out.
Lift up the bottom cover to see if there’s any flame on the pilot gas supply tube. You’ll find instructions on your tank to relight it if needed.
3. What to do if the water heater pilot light won’t ignite
If your pilot won’t light, you might have issues with your thermocouple, which measures the temperature in the tank, or sediment buildup in your pressure relief valve. Either way, there’s little you can do without bringing in a professional to flush your water heater tank or install new parts.
4. Hot water heater isn’t getting power? Check your circuit breaker.
Your electric water heater won’t work if it isn’t getting power. If the lights aren’t on and the system has gone cold, the issue is likely the power supply. Luckily, it’s an easier fix.
Start by checking the circuit breaker that controls the tank. Your circuit breaker, or fuse box if your house is older, is a metal box attached to the wall with a thin metal door. It can be installed inside or outside the house. Contact your landlord or seller if you can’t find yours.
5. Frequent fixes might be a sign it’s time to replace or unlink a circuit
If a fuse or circuit has been tripped, reset it by flipping the breaker off and on, but don’t force anything. Make sure that your water heater isn’t sharing a fuse with any other appliances. The heightened voltage from a shared fuse or circuit could easily cause your system to short.
If it’s blown, you’ll have to replace it with a fuse of the same rating. If you’re not sure where to start, have an electrician check it out.
6. Thermostat not working? This could be the cause.
If you have to leave your hot water faucet running for an unusually long time before the water gets hot — or you run out of hot water pretty fast when you’re showering — you might need to replace your electric heating element.
Most electric water heaters have two heating elements: one at the top of the tank and one lower element. Power enters the system at the top, runs to the high-temperature cut-off switch in the middle, and flows out to the thermostat. When the water at the top of the tank is hot, it turns off, and the lower element kicks in to heat the next batch of water.
7. Replace your electric heating element
Testing and replacing your system’s heating element is inexpensive, but it requires extreme care around wires and outlets. Plus, you’ll need specialized tools like a non-contact voltage tester and a continuity tester. You could start a fire or worse if you handle these things wrong. Play it safe and hire a skilled pro to do it for you.
How much does it cost to repair leaks, replace heating elements and more?
Water heating problems are some of the most common plumbing issues. On average, water heater repairs cost $604-$2,070, depending on what’s wrong. Some problems, like tank leaks, may not be fixable and can signal that it’s time to replace an older water heater:
- Clean and repair thermocouple: $395
- Replace thermostat and/or heating element: $150–$200
- Leaks: Generally not affordable to repair, unless the unit is still under warranty
Tank-style water heaters use natural gas or an electric coil to heat the water in the tank. Gas water heaters are generally less energy-efficient than electric water heaters, but the cost of electricity may make gas a better choice. It really just depends on how you use your heating system. Water heater issues are similar and depend on whether you have a gas or electric heater.
The cost to replace the thermostat or heating element is about the same. Costs can vary for a full replacement of the heater.
Who to hire to fix your water heater
You could start a fire if you’re not careful. If the problem is more complex than a flipped breaker or unlit pilot light, call in a pro:
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