Common Reasons Why Your Hot Water Heater Isn’t Working

Water Gets Too Hot

Ouch! You wanted a hot shower, not boiling! If you have a newer model electric water heater, your water heater works with a thermostat (actually, two thermostats). If this thermostat has been jostled — or purposely reset — by someone in your home, the water flow will be much hotter than you expected.

FIX: Adjust the thermostat to a more moderate setting for producing hot water. Forty-nine degrees Celsius is recommended to prevent scalding.

Water Doesn’t Get Hot

This is the opposite of the previous problem, but it’s almost as bad. Your flow of hot water is merely lukewarm or even incoming cold water. Once again, an incorrect thermostat setting, or a faulty thermocouple in a gas water heater, could be to blame. Another explanation might be that there’s no power to the water heater (in the case of an electric heater) or the pilot light has gone out (if you have a gas unit).

FIX: Adjust your thermostat as necessary. If that doesn’t do the trick, check the power supply. Another possibility is the replacement of a damaged thermocouple in gas water heaters.

Leaking Water Heater

A leaking water heater (a sign may be low hot water pressure, or not enough hot water to shower) might be a reason to push the panic button… but first, take a few minutes to check where the leakage is coming from. Leaks near the top of the heater tend to indicate a problem with a valve, which won’t need a major repair. However, a leak from the water heater base is more serious.

FIX: You may need a qualified plumber to replace your drain valve or TPR (temperature pressure relief) valve. When your water heater is leaking from below, your plumber might be able to fix it if you call them soon enough. Otherwise, you will need to have a new water heater installed.

Noisy Water Heater

Sometimes your water heater might make some peculiar noises, loud enough to compete with your singing in the shower. Are these a cause for alarm? It depends on exactly what kind of sounds you are hearing. Sizzles and rumbles are both red flags, indicating a heavy sediment buildup in your hot water tank that might cause a breakdown in the near future. In addition, banging is a sign of a water hammer, which can lead to serious damage to your pipes.

FIX: To stop sizzling or rumbling, turn off the tank and have it flushed by a reliable plumbing company ASAP. Ask your plumber to install a water hammer arrestor to quiet down the banging and save the pipes.

Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

Many pilot lights go out once in a while, but when your water heater pilot light keeps going out continually, it’s a problem. And the chances are good that that problem stems from either a shortage of combustible air or a malfunctioning thermocouple.

FIX: Increase the air supply around your water heater by cleaning dust and lint off the appliance and clearing any clutter from the area around it. A bad thermocouple will require expert plumbing repair and is more than basic gas water heater troubleshooting.

Water Smells Bad

The water from your residential plumbing pipes should smell neutral. If it has a strong unpleasant odour, something’s wrong. To check whether your water heater is at fault, turn on a hot water faucet and let it run for a few minutes. And, yes, use your nose to determine exactly what you are smelling.

FIX: For a garlicky odour, relight the pilot light on your water tank. When you detect the scent of garbage, you’ll need a professional plumber to flush the hot water tank and possibly replace the anode rod. A strong smell of rotten eggs could signal a hazardous gas leak; turn off the gas supply if possible, get everyone out of your house, and make an emergency call to the gas company.

Water Looks Brown Or Rusted

The first thing to do is ask yourself, “Is the brown, rusty-looking water coming only from my hot water taps?” If the answer is yes, then most likely, either the anode rod or the water heater interior is starting to rust, especially if your hot water heater is nearing the end of its life expectancy. (A “no” answer means the issue does not originate from the hot water heater but rather from the water supply.)

FIX: Contact a plumber to inspect the water heater. If you catch the problem quickly enough, it might be fixable. Otherwise, you’ll need a water heater replacement. Consider installation of an efficient new tankless water heater.

https://www.huskyair.com/blog/hot-water-heater-isnt-working/

REASONS YOUR HOT WATER HEATER IS NOT WORKING & HOW TO FIX

Unlike appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, the hot water heater in your home is used on a daily basis. This appliance is utilized to provide warm water for daily tasks including washing dishes, showering, laundry, and washing hands. Since your family utilizes the water heater on a daily basis, it is not unusual for problems to form. Fortunately, tank-style hot water heaters are engineered with a minimal number of parts. In fact, you may be able to repair a problem with your hot water heater without calling a professional. If your hot water heater is not working, we’ve compiled a list of ordinary issues and how to fix them.

Loose or Damaged In-Line Valve

Unlike a water leak near the bottom of your water tank, a water leak on top of your system can be easily fixed. A common cause of water tank leaks includes a loose in-line valve. This is a handle that is located at the top of the water tank that is engineered to activate or deactivate the flow of water. To fix this problem, you will need to secure the nut that holds the ball or in-line valve in its location. If the leak becomes more severe once it is tightened, you will be required to travel to your local hardware store to purchase a new in-line valve for your water heater.

Damaged Pressure Relief Valve

Most types of water heaters are equipped with a pressure relief valve that is engineered to discharge pressure from the water tank when it becomes too high. If this valve on top of your water heater begins to leak, we recommend purchasing a new one online or from your local store. The process of removing and replacing pressure relief valves is not complicated.

No Warm Water

If you have an electric water heater in your home, the most typical cause of a lack of warm water is a broken heating element. Your water heater is equipped with two heating elements that are tasked with heating incoming water in the water tank. Once a heating element begins to malfunction, you will have little to no hot water to use for showering, cleaning, and laundry.

On the other hand, there are a variety of problems that may stop the production of warm water in a gas water heater. This issue may be produced by a blown-out pilot light or a malfunctioning gas valve. A lack of hot water in your house may also be caused by a damaged thermocouple. Each of these components is able to be easily replaced by purchasing new components. If your hot water heater is not working, you should either purchase new parts or call a licensed plumber to receive help with a water heater repair.

Low Supply of Hot Water

Are you continuously running out of warm water? This issue may be a byproduct of a cracked dip tube. This tube is engineered to push cold water to the base of your water tank to be heated. Once a crack or hole begins to form in the dip tube, the incoming supply of cold water may be released near the top or middle of your tank. As a result, the cold water on top of the tank will be sent to the faucets and showers in your house. This hot water heater problem can only be fixed by replacing the dip tube on your system. Since the process of installing a new dip tube is complex, we recommend calling a certified technician for help.

A low supply of warm water may also be a signal of excess sediment buildup in your water tank. As your water heater reaches the middle of its life cycle, minerals in water including magnesium and calcium will begin to collect at the base of the water tank. As the minerals continue to grow, there will be less room in the water tank to store hot water. To resolve this problem, flush your water heater to remove the excess minerals.

Water is Too Warm or Cold

If the water in your shower feels uncomfortable hot or cold, you can adjust the temperature of your water by changing the settings on your thermostat. Setting the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit may help you save money on your utility bills. This is an excellent temperature to use if you’re worried about scalding or skin irritation. Does this temperature feel too cold? You may also adjust the thermostat to 140 degrees Fahrenheit to make your showers more pleasant. If your hot water heater is not working when you change the temperature, this is an indicator of a broken thermostat. Immediately find a certified plumbing or heating contractor in your area to repair or replace your thermostat.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is not always caused by a malfunctioning water heater. If you live in an older home with smaller water pipes, the flow of water will be restricted prior to reaching our kitchen or bathroom skins. The only way to eliminate this hot water heater problem is to connect new ¾-inch water lines to your system. Another type of problem that may negatively impact your water pressure includes calcium deposits in water pipes.

As magnesium and calcium begin to form in your pipes, the diameter of your water lines will become smaller. As a result, the warm water from your water heater will not be able to travel in an efficient manner to your sinks or appliances. Since the process of replacing water pipes includes removing drywall, an average homeowner that does not have a plumbing license will not be able to fix this hot water heater problem.

https://www.wmhendersoninc.com/blog/8-reasons-your-water-heater-is-not-working-how-to-fix/#:~:text=If%20the%20hot%20water%20heater,anode%20rod%20in%20your%20system.

Common Reasons Why Your Hot Water Heater Isn’t Working

Water Gets Too Hot

Ouch! You wanted a hot shower, not boiling! If you have a newer model electric water heater, your water heater works with a thermostat (actually, two thermostats). If this thermostat has been jostled — or purposely reset — by someone in your home, the water flow will be much hotter than you expected.

FIX: Adjust the thermostat to a more moderate setting for producing hot water. Forty-nine degrees Celsius is recommended to prevent scalding.

Water Doesn’t Get Hot

This is the opposite of the previous problem, but it’s almost as bad. Your flow of hot water is merely lukewarm or even incoming cold water. Once again, an incorrect thermostat setting, or a faulty thermocouple in a gas water heater, could be to blame. Another explanation might be that there’s no power to the water heater (in the case of an electric heater) or the pilot light has gone out (if you have a gas unit).

FIX: Adjust your thermostat as necessary. If that doesn’t do the trick, check the power supply. Another possibility is the replacement of a damaged thermocouple in gas water heaters.

Leaking Water Heater

A leaking water heater (a sign may be low hot water pressure, or not enough hot water to shower) might be a reason to push the panic button… but first, take a few minutes to check where the leakage is coming from. Leaks near the top of the heater tend to indicate a problem with a valve, which won’t need a major repair. However, a leak from the water heater base is more serious.

FIX: You may need a qualified plumber to replace your drain valve or TPR (temperature pressure relief) valve. When your water heater is leaking from below, your plumber might be able to fix it if you call them soon enough. Otherwise, you will need to have a new water heater installed.

Noisy Water Heater

Sometimes your water heater might make some peculiar noises, loud enough to compete with your singing in the shower. Are these a cause for alarm? It depends on exactly what kind of sounds you are hearing. Sizzles and rumbles are both red flags, indicating a heavy sediment buildup in your hot water tank that might cause a breakdown in the near future. In addition, banging is a sign of a water hammer, which can lead to serious damage to your pipes.

FIX: To stop sizzling or rumbling, turn off the tank and have it flushed by a reliable plumbing company ASAP. Ask your plumber to install a water hammer arrestor to quiet down the banging and save the pipes.

Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

Many pilot lights go out once in a while, but when your water heater pilot light keeps going out continually, it’s a problem. And the chances are good that that problem stems from either a shortage of combustible air or a malfunctioning thermocouple.

FIX: Increase the air supply around your water heater by cleaning dust and lint off the appliance and clearing any clutter from the area around it. A bad thermocouple will require expert plumbing repair and is more than basic gas water heater troubleshooting.

Water Smells Bad

The water from your residential plumbing pipes should smell neutral. If it has a strong unpleasant odour, something’s wrong. To check whether your water heater is at fault, turn on a hot water faucet and let it run for a few minutes. And, yes, use your nose to determine exactly what you are smelling.

FIX: For a garlicky odour, relight the pilot light on your water tank. When you detect the scent of garbage, you’ll need a professional plumber to flush the hot water tank and possibly replace the anode rod. A strong smell of rotten eggs could signal a hazardous gas leak; turn off the gas supply if possible, get everyone out of your house, and make an emergency call to the gas company.

Water Looks Brown Or Rusted

The first thing to do is ask yourself, “Is the brown, rusty-looking water coming only from my hot water taps?” If the answer is yes, then most likely, either the anode rod or the water heater interior is starting to rust, especially if your hot water heater is nearing the end of its life expectancy. (A “no” answer means the issue does not originate from the hot water heater but rather from the water supply.)

FIX: Contact a plumber to inspect the water heater. If you catch the problem quickly enough, it might be fixable. Otherwise, you’ll need a water heater replacement. Consider installation of an efficient new tankless water heater.

https://www.huskyair.com/blog/hot-water-heater-isnt-working/

Common Water Heater Issues and What You Should Do

What Type of Water Heater Do You Have?

Before we begin it’s first important that you identify the type of water heater you have on your property. There are two main types of water heaters out there: conventional and high efficiency.

Both of these types of products typically use either gas or electricity to heat power. There are also solar water heaters that use a thermal collector on the roof or yard to heat the water.

While these models are not as common, they can cut heating costs in half. In this article, we will focus on conventional and high efficiency.

How Do My Electric and Gas Water Heater Work?

Though they look similar, electric and gas water heaters work very differently. It’s important to know their basic function because often problems can be specific to the heating source.

In the electric model, a thermostat on the side of the machine detects the temperature of the water in the tank. When the temperature needs to rise electricity flows to a heating element suspended in the water.

Gas models also use a thermostat device — typically with a mercury sensor at the tip and an additional sensor called a thermocouple. The thermocouple detects whether the pilot light is on and controls the flow of gas.

When the thermostat drops below the appropriate level gas is released which becomes ignited by the pilot light. The flame heats the bottom of the water tank which causes hot water to rise and cold water to drop.

This natural circulation continues until the water reaches the desired temperature. Then, the thermostat triggers the gas control valve to shut off the flow of gas.

What Are the Most Common Issues and How Do You Fix Them?

n this section, we’ll go over some of the more common problems that people deal with when their water heater starts acting up. Keep in mind that some problems, like a broken pilot light, are specific to gas water heaters.

Also, remember that the best defense against water heater issues is regular maintenance. Check out some of these great tips for improving the lifespan of your water heater.

Not Enough Hot Water

This problem is common if you live in an apartment or a house with a lot of people. Too many people use the hot water supply in the tank and the machine struggles to produce more in a timely fashion.

There’s a variety of solutions to this problem, but an easy method is simply to adjust the temperature dial on your heater and wait thirty minutes.

If you have an electrical water heater, then a power surge caused by the device may cause the circuits to trip.

You should contact an electrician quickly if this issue keeps happening — it means wiring issues are causing the machine to draw more power than it needs. You may also want to try draining your water heater.

The process of draining removes the hard water sediments that cause your machine to run less efficiently. If you want a full walk-through of how to drain water your water heater tank, then make sure to read our article before you begin.

If none of these solutions fix the problem, then the issue likely lies in a malfunction component — likely a pressure relief valve or heating element.

Changing Water Temperatures

Often it’s a joke that some showers have two temperatures: scolding hot and ice cold. Unfortunately, this common feature can be a symptom of a bigger problem.

If you notice this temperature change when you shower or do the dishes, then you should check the thermostat on the side of your water heater. First, make sure it’s set to your desired temperature.

If it still exhibits drastic temperature changes, then you may need to replace the thermostat or the heating unit inside the product. The problem may also lie in the size of the product. Remember that tanks should hold roughly 20 gallons of water per person living in the house.

A Leak in the Water Heater

A water heater leak can cause serious water damage to the floor and electrical components near the device. Remember that you should always turn off the gas or electricity and let the device cool down before inspecting for a problem.

You may be able to fix the leak by tightening screw and pipe connections as these are common causes of minor leaks. However, if you notice a substantial leak at the base of the water heater, then you should contact a technician to inspect and replace it.

Rumbling Sounds

Rumbling sounds are a sign of a serious water heater issue. Unusual sounds may come from burning sediments or malfunction heating components. If you think you hear your heater boiling, then you should turn it off immediately.

This symptom is a sign of building pressure in your tank which could cause it to explode. You can likely solve this problem by draining your tank and clearing out any sediments. However, if the problem persists you may want to call a professional.

Rusty or Smelly Water

If your water smells then there is likely rust or bacteria in your water tank. These problems can cause orange discoloration and a smell like rotten eggs. However, you should first make sure that your tank is the issue and not the water source itself.

Run cold water and see if the smell persists. If the smell only comes from hot water, then the problem is the water heater. If not, then it’s the water source. If the problem comes from your tank, then it’s likely a malfunctioning anode rod.

An anode rod is responsible for cleaning any bacteria from the tank, so this is the most likely symptom. Unfortunately, changing an anode rod requires extensive knowledge of the system. As such, you will likely need the help of a professional.

Poor Water Flow

Changes in the water pressure that comes out of your shower or sink is likely a sign of sediment buildup at the bottom. Follow our previous advice — drain the tank and flush out any of the sediments.

If the problem persists, then you’ll need to check the pipes around your device. Hire a professional plumber to clean or replace the pipes around the water heater.

No Pilot Light

Gas water heaters require a pilot light to ignite the gas that warms the water. If your pilot light is out, then try reigniting it by repeatedly switching the ignitor switch. If your pilot light continues to go out, then it’s a symptom of a larger problem.

You can first try cleaning it — sometimes dirt or grime can buildup and snuff out the spark.

However, the problem can also cause things like malfunctioning thermostats, broken gas valves, or air in the gas line. First, try cleaning it and if it still goes out, then troubleshoot the various parts and replace whichever one malfunction.

https://happyhiller.com/blog/common-water-heater-issues-and-what-you-should-do/