Having to bear with the morning cold because there is no hot water when you turn on the hot water faucet or shower can mess up your entire day. The only reasonable explanation is that something is wrong with your water heater or light. Fortunately, there are some easy fixes to liven up those chilly mornings! This blog post discusses some of the most common causes and what to do when your water heater and pilot light are not working.
What is wrong with your heater?
Several factors may cause your water heater to fail. In most cases, you should consider the following when trying to diagnose the problem:
Gas leaks
Leaking gas in your heating system can cause your water heater’s pilot light to go out. If the gas leaks in your heater for too long, this is a major safety hazard that can lead to serious health problems not addressed early enough. If you do smell any unusual fumes in your home, turn off all valves related to the heater and call a professional right away.
Thermostat issues
If the thermostat malfunctions, your water heater may not be able to maintain the temperature you set. This may cause the water to remain cold even when you are trying to use hot water. The best way to tell if this is your problem is by checking whether or not there’s any temperature change when you turn on the heater with both knobs set at the same position.
Gas valve issues
If there are any problems with the gas valves on your heater, this is another common cause of heating issues. You can check it by turning off all fuel supply to the water heater and waiting for a few minutes before turning it back on. If there’s no change in temperature when you switch between any two available settings, the problem may be related to faulty gas valves.
Leaking tank
Whenever you notice water leaking from the bottom of your heater, this is usually an indicator of a crack in the tank. If you check under your heater and see any wet stains or rusting on it, most likely, these are warning signs for further problems with your heating system.
Broken gas valve
If the gas controller on your heater is broken, it may be unable to shut off completely. This can cause issues with how much gas supply gets into the water heater tanks. If you are unsure what’s wrong, turn off all valves connected to the heating system and call a professional immediately to restore the gas flow.
Water heater malfunction
Finally, many issues with your water heater can be due to malfunctioning parts, such as the heating elements. This is often the most difficult issue to diagnose because you may not notice any signs until it’s too late and damage has already been done.
How do I fix my heater?
Depending on the cause of your problem, fixing it might take some time. Once you have identified what’s wrong with your water heater, here are some simple DIY fixes to get everything up and running again. Gas line leaks are a major safety hazard that can lead to serious health problems if left unaddressed for too long. You should always contact a professional natural gas company if you notice any signs of gas leakage in your home. If there are any wet stains or rusting under your heater, it may be an indicator that there’s water leaking. If so, it usually means cracks in your heating system that will need to be fixed. Broken gas valves are another common cause of heating issues and can often lead to more severe problems with your electric water heater if not diagnosed right away. Turn off all the fuel supply and call a professional for assistance.
How do I fix my water heater pilot light issues?
If there are no leaks or broken valves, then the problem could be with the light. You can quickly fix this by following these steps:
– Check for proper ventilation in your room with a gas leak detector before continuing to work on your heater.
– Turn off all fuel supplies to the hot water heater and wait for several minutes before attempting any repairs or adjustments on it.
– Remove safety caps from valves carefully and only after the heater is completely turned off.
– If you notice that the light won’t stay lit up, try checking for signs of corrosion or any debris buildups.
It’s always best to call the professionals as soon as possible rather than trying to fix the issue yourself as it can cause further damage.
When to call the professionals
When you follow all the steps above but nothing is working, there may be issues with the thermocouple and other parts of your hot water heater that may need replacing. Suppose your pilot light does not seem to turn back on even after completing all the steps above. In that case, it’s best to call a professional as soon as possible before continuing with any further repairs or replacements yourself.
Forget About Those Cold Morning Showers-Contact M5 Plumbing!
Our technicians will provide you with reliable heating services, from gas water heater installation Vancouver, WA and repairs to maintenance. Give us a call, and we’ll be there in no time to fix your emergency.