| Your water heater is probably one of the single | | | | You may need to call the manufacturer to get a |
| most expensive components of your plumbing | | | | complete pilot assembly and new cover seal in |
| system. It costs a lot of money to buy it and it | | | | order to repair these models, but the procedure is |
| costs more money to operate it. If your water | | | | still pretty much the same once you get the |
| heater isn't working properly it can make your life | | | | parts. These parts are usually covered by the |
| miserable. Unless you really like cold showers it is | | | | manufacturers warranty. |
| a big deal when your water heater has problems. | | | | |
| | | | | The Gas Control Valve |
| When To Call A Plumber | | | | If you are sure you have gas, and replacing the |
| This is a good time to talk a little about when it is | | | | thermocouple doesn't fix the problem, the gas |
| appropriate for you to fix things yourself and | | | | control valve is about the only thing left to check. |
| when you should probably go ahead and call a | | | | This is a fairly major repair so if you aren't very |
| plumber. Water heater problems are a good | | | | comfortable working with gas connections you |
| example of when this choice is important. | | | | may want to call a licensed plumber for this. |
| If you water heater itself is leaking, as opposed | | | | |
| to the piping connected to it leaking, this probably | | | | Electric Water Heaters |
| means that it needs to be replaced. It is virtually | | | | |
| impossible to repair a leaking hot water heater. If | | | | Electric water heaters use, you guessed it- |
| you can't confidently say you know how to install | | | | electricity, to heat the water. If your electric |
| a water heater you really need to use caution. | | | | water heater isn't working the first thing to do is |
| A water heater replacement raises a lot of | | | | check your breaker or fuse box. Many electric |
| safety concerns and there are some fairly | | | | water heaters also have a separate disconnect |
| technical skills needed to do the job right. It is | | | | box at the water heater, check this too. |
| usually better to call a licensed plumber if yours | | | | If you are sure you have power, the problem is |
| needs replacing. Licensed plumbers know how to | | | | either your heating elements or thermostats. Most |
| install a gas water heater without creating a | | | | electric water heaters have two of each, upper |
| potentially dangerous situation (and how to install | | | | and lower. In order to check or replace a water |
| electric water heater without getting electrocuted | | | | heater element you will have to turn off the |
| in the process). | | | | breaker serving the water heater circuit and |
| | | | | remove the access cover on the water heater. |
| You Can Do It! | | | | At this point you might get lucky and find the |
| On the other hand, if you have a non-leaking | | | | easiest way to fix an electric water heater. |
| water heater and no hot water, you can often | | | | |
| correct that yourself without calling a plumber. | | | | The Reset Button |
| You don't need any really technical skills to learn | | | | Many thermostats have a reset button which can |
| to troubleshoot water heaters, just a little | | | | sometimes be pushed to reset the circuit and get |
| common sense and patience. | | | | the water heater working again. To find it you |
| The first good news is that, although the trend is | | | | may have to carefully remove any insulation |
| toward more economical water heaters, the basic | | | | covering the thermostat. If the reset button has |
| operation and controls haven't changed much | | | | been tripped you should be able to hear and feel |
| over the years. So some basic knowledge will | | | | a definite click when you push it. If you think it |
| allow you to troubleshoot water heaters of | | | | was tripped, put everything back together, turn |
| almost any age or manufacturer. | | | | the power on and check for hot water in about |
| | | | | an hour. |
| Gas or Electric? | | | | If the thermostat can't be reset you will need a |
| There are two main kinds of storage water | | | | voltage meter or continuity tester before going |
| heaters (we won't get into tankless models here): | | | | any further. There's not room in one article to |
| gas and electric. This indicates what sort of | | | | cover electrical diagnostics but you can perform a |
| energy source is used to heat the water. | | | | simple continuity check on the elements to make |
| | | | | sure they make a complete circuit. |
| Gas Water Heaters | | | | |
| Gas water heaters use natural gas (and | | | | The Heating Elements |
| sometimes LP) to fuel a burner which in turn | | | | First, make sure the power is off to the water |
| heats the water sort of like a pot on the stove. | | | | heater! Then locate the heating elements. The |
| They have only a few components that control | | | | elements will have two wires connected to each |
| whether or not you have hot water. | | | | one and will either have a big hex nut where they |
| | | | | screw into the tank or will be fastened to the |
| The first thing to check if you have a gas water | | | | tank with a bracket and usually 4 bolts. After |
| heater and no hot water is whether or not you | | | | confirming that the power is indeed off to the |
| have gas. I know it my sound silly, but I have | | | | water heater, remove the 2 wires from the |
| gone to many homes only to find that the gas | | | | element and check for continuity. If there is not |
| had been turned off for one reason or another. If | | | | an intact circuit between the two terminals on the |
| you have a gas stove see if it works. If not | | | | element, it is bad. |
| check your meter to make sure it's on. | | | | If one or both of the elements is bad it is |
| If you have gas, the next step is to check your | | | | probably a good idea to just replace them both. |
| pilot light and, if it's out, try to light it. The lighting | | | | You will need to shut off the water and drain the |
| instructions are usually right on the water heater. | | | | water heater to replace the elements. If they are |
| If your gas has been off it may take a while for | | | | the hex nut style, you may need a special socket. |
| the air to bleed out and the gas to get to the | | | | You can usually find these tools where you buy |
| pilot, so be patient. | | | | the elements. Make sure the water heater is |
| | | | | completely full and all air bled from the system |
| The Thermocouple | | | | before turning the power back on or you will ruin |
| | | | | the new elements by "dry firing" them. |
| If your pilot won't light, or won't stay lit, the | | | | |
| thermocouple may be the problem. This looks like | | | | The Thermostats |
| a copper wire coming from the control box on | | | | If the elements are OK and don't need to be |
| front of the water heater and going down to | | | | replaced, it is probably the thermostat(s). It is a |
| where the pilot light should be. It has an enlarged | | | | good idea to replace both thermostats if there |
| tip at the pilot end. | | | | are two, they are fairly inexpensive. Just remove |
| The thermocouple is positioned with it's enlarged | | | | the wires, connect the new one the same as the |
| end in the flame of the pilot. This heat from the | | | | old one, put the access plate back on and turn |
| pilot flame causes a tiny electrical signal to be sent | | | | the power back on. You should have hot water in |
| to the control valve, telling the control valve that | | | | about an hour. |
| there is a flame present so it's OK to let the gas | | | | |
| through to the main burner when the thermostat | | | | Know Your Limitations! |
| calls for heat. . You can change a thermocouple on | | | | Learning how to troubleshoot water heaters can |
| most water heaters with only a small adjustable | | | | be fairly simple but you do need to understand |
| wrench. Just make sure that the bulb end is | | | | and be comfortable working with gas and |
| securely positioned in the pilot flame. You can get | | | | electricity. Either one can literally kill you if you fail |
| a new thermocouple at most hardware stores for | | | | to observe the proper safety precautions. If you |
| under $20. This will usually correct a pilot light | | | | aren't qualified or aren't sure about something it is |
| problem. | | | | better to be safe than sorry. |
| On more recent water heaters, the combustion | | | | This article is for information purposes only and in |
| chamber may be sealed. If you have one of | | | | no way should be interpreted as an |
| these there will usually be a small inspection | | | | encouragement to attempt any repairs for which |
| window you can look through to check the pilot. | | | | you are not qualified. |