Water Heater Repair FAQs #2

Water heater indicator light & reset button FAQsa
Water heater trouble in cold weather FAQs
Water heater won't keep running FAQs

Water Heater Won't Keep Running FAQs

Water heater won't stay on: do I need a new one?

My water heater, was working fine, but it just went off, pilot lights but don't stay on, it's the hole water heater or just the thermocouple? On 2018-10-07 by Eddie Q -

by (mod) - things to check before replacing your water heater

I wouldn't start by assuming the problem requires a water heater replacement. It could be a problem of lack of fuel or a bad thermocouple.

Basic Water Heater Troubleshooting Guides

1. No hot water: If you have no hot water at all, but cold water comes out of the hot water faucets, make sure that your water heater has fuel (oil or gas) or power (electric, solar).
   
   Also check for a defective high temperature limit switch (there is a reset switch on the thermostat) or for a defective upper thermostat (you'll have tepid hot water but no HOT water).
   
   See NO HEAT - NO HOT WATER: HEATER DIAGNOSIS for details about troubleshooting when you have no hot water at all.
2. Hot water pressure or flow: if your problem is gradual or long-standing poor hot water pressure, or flow, that is, water comes out of the faucet or shower weakly or too slowly, start your diagnosis here
   
   at HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS (the article below)
   
   Poor hot water flow, or bad hot water pressure, which is usually a piping or clogging problem, mineral clogging at a water tank or tankless coil, or an overall building water pressure problem. In the article below we describe how to improve hot water pressure and flow.
   
   If your hot water pressure has suddenly been lost but you still have some, poor hot water flow,
   
   see HOT WATER PRESSURE LOSS
3. Hot water quantity: if your problem is gradual or long-standing poor hot water quantity, that is your water is hot enough, but you run out of hot water too soon.
   
   If you do not have not enough hot water quantity, you are running out of hot water very quickly. Insufficient hot water quantity may be due to the way hot water is being made: a water heater that is too small, a tankless coil on a new small heating boiler, or an instantaneous water heater that is being asked to supply hot water too rapidly.
   
   Diagnosis and repair for hot water quantity are
   
   at HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT. 

Water Heater Indicator Light FAQs

Water heater red light goes on and has to be pushed

Oil hot water heater works, but instead of heating up water again, red light switch goes on. When red light switch is pushed, hot water red light switch is pushed, hot water comes On 2018-08-08 by Wen

by (mod) - calorifier / geyser / water heater light code diagnostics

Wen

You'll need to see the specific light code diagnostics in the manual for your water heater brand and model\ as there is no one generic "right" answer to light code diagnostics.

Sounds as if a thermostat is failing or the temp is set too high but I can only guess.

Watch out: OR your water heater is detecting an unsafe condition and is tripping a safety reset button OFF;

So do not keep pressing that "light" or button - it could be unsafe to do so. Instead call repair from a trained service tech.

Search InspectApedia.com for WATER HEATER MANUALS if you need yours

I pressed the safety switch on the water heater

No hot water in my house at all reset hot water heater and hot water came and left now only cold water and I’m not getting any water in my shower in my first bathroom On 2018-02-20 by Noel

by (mod) -

Noel,

If you re-set a safety switch on your water heater and had hot water, then lost it again, check the reset-switch again.

If it has popped-up, I would NOT keep re-setting it as that may be unsafe. Instead, call a plumber or electrician (if it's an electric water heater) for repair.

Water Heater Failures in Cold Weather FAQs

Cold outside, now no hot water

It is very cold outside. We let it drip all night but we have no hot water only cold. I have a new hot water heater. - On 2018-01-17 by Leslie Rollings

by (mod) - frozen pipes - no hot water?

Leslie

Could your water heater cold-in or hot-out pipes be frozen?

Watch out: leaving a water tap dripping in very cold freezing weather can cause an ice build up in the building drain at the building exit, bursting the pipe and requiring costly repair.

Detailed help is at PIPE FREEZE-UP POINTS 

Cold weather, running water sound in pipes, what do I turn off?

The hot water system doesn’t seem to have turned off this morning with the central heating as usual.

There is a constant sound of water running up to the towel rails which are on the same system. Anything I can turn off? On 2018-01-01 by Pippa

by (mod) -

Pippa

If it's very cold where you are located it might be normal for the heat to run continuously.

You can of course lower a thermostat to well below room temperature to see if that turns off heat; if it doesn't then it's time to call for repair.