A water heater is among the essential appliances, as it is responsible for heating water for the entire home. If it stops working, it can significantly impact the household’s quality of life, as they can’t shower, wash the dishes, or do the laundry. Therefore, resolving an issue with the water heater as soon as possible should be a priority.
Please keep reading to discover how to troubleshoot a gas water heater that’s stopped working.
CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL
Before troubleshooting, it’s important to note that water heaters are typically not safe to work with when handled by non-professionals. Namely, they contain pressurized scalding water that can lead to severe burns when not handled correctly. In addition, flammable gas fuels these devices, and homeowners shouldn’t take the risk of a gas leak lightly.
Considering the complexity of this appliance and the associated risks, homeowners should hire a professional to deal with a water heater malfunction.
ENSURE THERE IS NO HOT WATER THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE
No hot water throughout the house usually indicates that the gas water heater isn’t producing heat. However, homeowners should check if this is genuinely the case instead of jumping to this conclusion immediately.
The first step is to ensure the entire house is without hot water. To do so, check every hot water fixture and faucet. If there is at least one faucet or fixture that produces hot water, the heater is working. In that case, the issue is probably localized in the malfunctioning faucets.
Next, homeowners should check other gas appliances in their homes. If these appliances aren’t functioning correctly, the gas company has probably shut off the home’s gas supply. Therefore, contacting them should resolve the issue.
The final step is to check the heater’s temperature-pressure relief valve and the outlet pipe above the heater. If they are warm, the water heater is working. In that case, a blockage is probably causing the issues with hot water.
However, if the temperature-pressure valve and the outlet pipe are cold, the water heater has undoubtedly stopped working.
TROUBLESHOOTING A MALFUNCTIONING GAS WATER HEATER
After establishing that the water heater isn’t working, homeowners can try to identify the issue.
The pilot light going out is a commonly-known issue. This light looks like a small flame or an LED light located at the bottom of the water heater tank. It would be best to dim the room lights while checking for the pilot light, as it can be relatively small.
If the light is out, homeowners should follow the instructions on the water heater to relight it. However, several reasons might cause the light to stay off:
- Air in the gas line
- The shut-off gas valve on the gas supply
- Low gas pressure
- A defective thermocouple
Water heater repair experts will be able to identify the exact problem and resolve it safely and quickly.
If, however, the pilot light stays lit, the water heater should start working. The heater failing to do so means the pilot light didn’t cause the issue. In that case, a defective gas valve or thermostat might be the culprit.
Since an incorrectly operating gas valve can lead to a gas leak, the safest option is to contact a professional immediately.
ENJOY WARM WATER IN SAFETY
Homeowners who smell gas—often signaled by the smell of rotten eggs—should ensure the gas supply valve is off, ventilate the space, and contact a professional for help.
Water Heater Pros provides water heater installation and replacement services for Las Vegas and surrounding area residents and businesses. Our expert technicians install both traditional and tankless water heaters for homes and other buildings with gas or electric service. We offer the highest quality installers for efficient, versatile water heaters such as Rheem. Ruud, high-efficiency tankless Navien units, and more. Ask about our installation specials.