
No Hot Water
Going without hot water for one day is an inconvenience; going without it for several usually means the unit's failing rather than just having an off day.
When this becomes an emergency
- No hot water from any fixture, not just one.
- Hot water that runs out after a few minutes instead of lasting through a shower.
- A pilot light or ignition that won't stay lit.
- Rust-colored water or a rotten-egg smell coming from the hot side only.
What a pro does
A plumber starts by narrowing down whether the problem is the whole system or just one part of it, since no hot water anywhere in the house points somewhere different than hot water that runs out fast in one shower. A gas unit that won't hold a pilot light usually comes down to a thermocouple or a control valve, both fairly quick fixes once confirmed. An electric unit with the same symptom means checking a different part entirely, the heating elements or the thermostat inside the tank. Not the same fix at all. Most water heaters in this area sit in a garage, which swings through a wider temperature range across the year than a conditioned utility closet would, and that extra stress adds up over the unit's life. Sediment from the area's moderately hard water settles at the bottom of a tank over time too, insulating the burner from the water above it and making the unit work harder just to reach the same temperature it used to hit easily.
Frequently asked questions
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