What To Do When Your Water Heater Is Not Working

Is your water heater acting up and not functioning properly? You’re probably feeling frustrated, scared, and unsure of what to do next. It’s natural to have those feelings when something you depend on isn’t working like it should.

In this blog post, we’ll explain all of your options so that you don’t have to worry about going without hot water any longer!

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Continue reading to learn more about what you can do if your water heater is not working.

Shut off your water heater at the breaker box if it’s not working

If your water heater isn’t working, one of the first steps you should take is checking its breaker at the breaker box.

If you find that it is tripped, reset the circuit breaker and wait for about 15 minutes for it to heat up. If the water heater still isn’t operating optimally, shut it off at the circuit breaker. This will ensure safety by ensuring that no current is sent to the appliance while any maintenance or repair work needs to be done.

To further ensure safety, make sure all power is off before attempting to service any part of your water heater system.

Is water leaking from the water heater tank?

Checking to see if there is any water leaking from the water heater tank on a regular basis can help maintain proper efficiency and operation of your home’s hot water system.

By performing inspections and making simple repairs as needed, you can save yourself time, money, and inconvenience in the long run. This particularly applies for storage type water heaters, which would benefit from periodic inspection and possible replacement of hoses that appear to be worn or damaged.

Make sure to inspect all connections for deterioration regularly. Doing this will ensure that your water heater unit is functioning properly and help you avoid headache-inducing pipe leaks down the line.

Open the water heater unit’s pressure relief valve

If you’re asking yourself “my water heater is not working — what could be the problem?”, it may be a sign of excessive pressure buildup within the system. As such, the most sensible course of action is to open the pressure relief valve to allow any trapped pressure to escape. This should be done with caution, however; make sure you are wearing appropriate protective equipment and that you are standing away from the release point when opening the valve.

Additionally, it may help to attach a hose so that you do not get sprayed by any hot water or steam that escapes. Taking these safety measures can help ensure that opening your water heater’s pressure relief valve runs smoothly and without incident.

See if the water heater’s pilot light is lit – if it’s not, relight it following the manufacturer’s instructions

Before attempting to relight your water heater’s pilot light, you should always check to make sure it has gone out.

If the gas smell remains even after turning off the heater for a few minutes, it is essential that you do not try to relight the pilot flame. Instead, get in touch with a professional to take care of the situation. Otherwise, if you need to relight the pilot flame, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions located in your owner’s manual.

Be sure to first turn off both the power and gas supply before relighting. Make sure that once lit, there is no visible evidence of any leaking gas or faulty wiring at any point. If everything checks out, restart your water heater and make sure your pilot light stays lit!

If you suspect that your hot water heater is not working, call a professional to come take a look

If you have noticed that your water heater is making odd noises, isn’t heating the water as it should, or if you just feel like it has been running for too long, it might be time to call a trained, professional plumbing technician. A qualified service technician can accurately assess the situation and resolve any issues that may exist with the unit.

Furthermore, they can take a look at any other potential problems and make sure everything is up to code. Calling a professional to inspect your water heater can save you time and a significant amount of your hard-earned money by preventing additional issues down the road.

What to do when your water heater is not working — Conclusion

If your water heater is not working, please contact a professional plumbing service for assistance.

Local, professional plumbers are able to help you fix your water heater swiftly and professionally.