If your water heater stops working, start by checking for leaks or a gas smell, then confirm the heater has power or gas, and look at the temperature setting. If those basic checks do not get it running, turn the heater off and call a plumber rather than trying to repair internal parts yourself.
Safety Checks First
A rotten-egg smell near a gas heater means you should leave the home right away and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. If you see water pooling around the tank, close the cold-water valve that feeds it and turn off the heater. These problems need a professional, not a reset.
Gas Heaters
Look through the small viewing window near the bottom to see whether the pilot light or burner is lit. If the pilot is out, the heater’s label usually explains how to relight it. Only try this if you are comfortable and there is no gas smell. If it will not stay lit, a safety sensor may be faulty.
Electric Heaters
Check the breaker panel to see whether the heater’s breaker has tripped. Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off, since that can mean a wiring or element problem. Do not remove the access panels on the heater, because the parts behind them carry live power.
Other Things to Rule Out
- The thermostat may have been turned down by accident
- In an apartment, the building’s boiler may be the source
- A gas utility outage may affect the whole street
- Very old heaters may simply have reached the end of their life
Most tank heaters last around 8 to 12 years, so age is often part of the story.
If the heater still is not working, the controls and parts can be tested and repaired. If the heater is near the end of its life, comparing repair and replacement options can help you decide. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.