Waking up in the morning and finding that your shower isn’t sending any hot water your way is one of the more unpleasant surprises you can encounter. Any time that your home suddenly loses its supply of hot water is an emergency situation. What can you do about it? Below, we’ll show you the best way to go about restoring your water heater to full function.
First, make sure this isn’t a supply problem
If you have a standard storage tank water heater, it’s possible that the supply of hot water has been drained from overuse. Give the water heater time to heat up more water. If nothing happens, it’s time to seek elsewhere for the answer.
Check the water heater thermostat
Many water heaters have a thermostat or limit switch on them. If the thermostat is set incorrectly, the water heater may stop working.
Check on the pilot light (if applicable)
Older gas-powered water heaters usually rely on a pilot light to ignite their burners. If the pilot light goes out, the water heater won’t work and you’ll have to re-light the pilot. If you have a water heater that uses electronic ignition, it’s possible that the igniter has failed, in which cases you’ll need to have technicians replace it.
Check the gas supply line
The water heater may not be receiving gas because of a shut valve. Turn the gas knob back into place to open the line. However, don’t tamper with the gas line any further than this!
Tripped circuit breaker
This applies to electronic water heaters. If the heating elements cause a circuit breaker to trip, there won’t be any power to the system. Reset the breakers to see if this fixes the problem.
Call for professionals
If you can’t find out the reason for the loss of hot water with the steps above, don’t attempt any more fixes on your own. You need to have water heater repair professionals on the job. They’ll track down the source of the water heater failure and repair it. If the problem can’t be repaired, they’ll arrange for the installation of a new water heater.
Ken Neyer Plumbing, Inc. provides comprehensive water heater services in Hyde Park, OH. You can reach us 24/7 for emergency services.