It’s a cold morning and you really want that warm shower. Now suddenly if you find out that the shower water is cold and your water heater is not working, your whole morning could be ruined. We understand how frustrating this can be. The technical guides for thermostats may help you here.
If you’re looking for a detailed guide, rest assured aswe collected all the ways you can fix your water heater and get that cozy warm water for your shower.
Let’s go through some of the common problems you might face and how to solve each of them through gas water heater troubleshooting.
Topics Covered
Problem 1: Water Temperature is Not Right
This is the most common problem you will face from the water heater. Here, either the water is not warm enough or too warm.
Water is Cold or not Warm Enough
If the water out of the heater is too cold then the problem is because of problems in the pilot light or due to sediment buildup inside the water tank. Either if you are thinking how to fix water not getting hot then you need to troubleshoot it through a few steps.
Check the Thermostat
This is very basic and you need to check the thermostat first before diving into other steps. Normally, the water inside your water heater should stay around 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Of course, it will vary based on the type of heater model and you need to find that out from the user manual. Check if the water heater is operating at that temperature or not. If it is colder then you need to set the right temperature on your thermostat or reset it.
Following are the steps of resetting the thermostat
- Locate the thermostats at the top and bottom of the tank and check for power supply.
- You will see a red button. Push the button, hold it for around 05 seconds and then release it.
With this your thermostat will be reset. However, if it still doesn’t work after you set the thermostat then you should replace the thermostat.
Check the Pilot Light
Water is heated by the gas that is ignited with the pilot light. Now, if the pilot light is not working then the ignition will not happen. At first you need to check the pilot light and if you see it is not lit or flickering then you need to fix the situation. There are many reasons for the pilot light to be off such as not having enough gas to work on gas devices.
Check if there is any Sediment Build Up
One of the problems with gas water heaters is that it is prone to sediment build up. Mineral deposits keep settling inside the tank and then block the element at the base of the tank. This leads to an insulated layer which means the water doesn’t get heated enough.
To solve this, you need to look for any sediment and if there is then just flush the water heater and it will get unclogged.
Water is Too Hot
This is a simple case where it just means that the thermostat has been set too high. Check the thermostat and see the temperature set. Set it back to around 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, the next set of problems typically have got nothing to do with the thermostat but need to be discussed since they are the most problems associated with gas water heaters.
Problem 2: Water is Discolored and Smells Bad
Both the rusty water color along with bad smell is an indication of a major problem related to the water tank or again the formation of sediments inside. Let’s go through each of the problems first.
Water is Discolored
Firstly the water may look rusty. This is an indication of a corroded anode rod or tank. Now, if the water doesn’t look rusty but still has a color in it or looks dirty then it is because of the sediments in the water heater.
To solve the problem of corroded anode rod, you need to hire a plumber to replace the rod but for solving the sediment problem you need to flush the water heater.
Water Smells Bad
If the water smells bad then it is most likely to smell like rotten eggs. Now that happens when bacteria forms inside the water tank. To solve this, you need to keep flushing the water tank multiple times until the smell is fully gone. But a very strong smell can indicate a gas leak and in that case you need to evacuate the house immediately and contact the gas company.
But if the water smells like sulfur then it means your pilot lights are lit out. You need to light the pilot lights back and if it still persists then there is an issue with the gas line, you need to call the gas company for that.
Problem 3: Water is Leaking Out from the Heater
When there is any leak from the heater, at first you need to check if it is happening at the top or from the bottom of the heater. The top of the heater means that the reason is loose or defective valves, and all you need to do is just fix the valve and tighten it back.
But leak from the bottom of the heater shows a potential corroded surface and it needs help from the plumbers to fix.
Problem 4: Water Heater is Noisy
Unsettling noise in front of the water heater is also another sign of sediment build up in the water heater.
As discussed earlier, you need to turn off the tank and flush the water heater. If you seek help from a professional then go for installing a water hammer arrestor to tone down the noises and save your pipes.
Problem 5: Pilot Light Keeps Going Out
Despite everything being in the correct state you will see the pilot light keeps going out randomly or the gas heater not working but pilot light on. This is a symptom of a problem in the thermocouple. If the thermocouple is damaged then you need to consult a plumber to replace the thermocouple or fix it.
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