No hot water usually means the water heater is not heating because the pilot light or igniter has failed on a gas model, a breaker has tripped or a heating element has burned out on an electric model, a thermostat has failed, or the gas supply has been interrupted. In apartment buildings, a central boiler problem can also cut off hot water to every unit.
Check for Safety Problems First
If you smell gas near the heater, leave the home and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. If water is leaking from the tank, close the cold-water supply valve and turn off the heater. These issues need a professional, not a reset.
Gas Water Heaters
Look for the small viewing window near the bottom of the heater. If you cannot see a flame, the pilot may be out. The instructions on the heater’s label explain how to relight it. If the pilot will not stay lit, the thermocouple or gas control may need repair. Do not keep trying if it fails more than once.
Electric Water Heaters
Check the breaker panel. If the water heater’s breaker has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call for help, since that can mean an electrical fault. Elements and thermostats are behind panels with live wiring, so testing them is a job for a professional.
Building and Utility Issues
If you live in an apartment, ask neighbors whether they have hot water. If they do not, the building’s system may be down, and management should handle the repair.
Old age is another common cause. Most tank heaters last about 8 to 12 years.
If the heater will not restart, a plumber can find the cause and get hot water back. If your heater is past its prime, weighing a repair against a new heater is worth doing. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.