Hot water heaters cost anywhere from $800-$1,600 to replace. These crucial elements of your home provide hot water on demand and come in a variety of sizes. As with any appliance, they can malfunction. The most common problem with your water heater is no hot water. When your water heater has no hot water, how do you fix it? There are many ways to diagnose and fix a broken water heater and some you can even fix yourself, saving you money. So get your tools, then read on for common fixes for a broken water heater.
Gas Water Heater
With a gas heater, the most common problem you’ll run into is the pilot light going out. It’s the simplest fix and every water heater has instructions for relighting its pilot light posted right on the heater. If that’s your problem, then congratulations, you fixed your water heater.
If the pilot light refused to light, it could be one of several problems. It could be air in the gas line, which is common in new units. You purge the air by holding the pilot knob down longer.
The gas valve might be turned off on your water heater. You’ll want to make sure it’s open, with the handle parallel to the gas pipe. You might want to check the gas pressure as well, as low gas pressure can cause the pilot light to repeatedly go out.
If the pilot light still goes out, it’s a possibility that the thermocouple went bad. The good news is that it’s a cheap part, it costs twenty dollars. You can fix it yourself if you are so inclined, otherwise visit benjaminfranklinplumbingmi.com to make an appointment!
Electric Water Heater
With an electric water heater, things might be a little more complicated. As with any electronic device, make sure the power to the water heater is off before you do any work on it. Also, avoid working on it if there is water pooled beneath the water heater.
The first step is to make sure the circuit breaker that leads to your water heater hasn’t tripped. If it was, head to your breaker box and reset it. Flip the switch all the way to off then back to on again.
The next thing to check is the fuses if you have no hot water. If a fuse is blown, always replace it with the same kind. If the breaker keeps tripping or the fuses keep blowing out, then you want to call an electrician to check things out!
Inside the panel on your water heater rests the high-temperature cutoff. The reset for this should rest inside your water heater’s panel. Push this and you should hear a clicking sound, restarting the heater.
Your Water Heater Has No Hot Water
If your water heater has no hot water, don’t panic. These steps can help you diagnose the problem to see if you do need to call a professional. Remember, in case of a gas leak, leave your home and call your gas provider immediately!
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