In other words, you HAVE to have that pilot lit for a period of time before the gas valve will stay open. The other less common problem would be the gas valve. Dependable Storage Supply. According to Energy.gov, “For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand (or tankless) water heaters can be 24% to 34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.” Tankless water heaters (if gas-fired) will save homeowners over $100 annually the longer they remain in service. Troubleshooting water heaters that use natural gas will often focus on the gas valve and burner assembly. This can affect the amount of hot water you have and potentially damage other components. Explosions can result from natural gas that is not burned. Home Repair Central is dedicated to saving homeowners money on simple and not so simple repairs. Minerals in the water, even city water can build up over the life of the water heater. After watching this, you will know everything about your water heater and then some! It uses the thermocouple to determine when it is safe to release the gas. Press J to jump to the feed. The hotness of the gas burner depends on its regulator. It does however vent water which can seem like a leak. There is not a lot that can be done to fix one that is bad, short of replacing the gas valve. The water heater may be too small for the demand. If it is set too high, it may just need an adjustment. Depending on the cause of the problem, the solution can be extremely simple, or complex and expensive. This type of valve has a useful lifespan that is shorter than other types of valves. The main concern with the thermostat is getting the temperature set right. A bad gas valve will not allow any gas to go to the burner or pilot light. If you don't then either the valve is faulty, or there is no gas. See 'Venting a Gas Water Heater' for information on keeping your vent clear. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Installation costs can run from $200 to $1,600. The anode rod has metal in it that is supposed to oxidize in place of the steel in your tank. Dryer?) A gas leak is an entirely different problem than a broken water heater. Gas has an odor to it that you are probably familiar with. If it won't light at all, see the article, 'Fixing Hot Water Heater Gas Valves' for the issues surrounding this device. A new hot water heating unit can run anywhere from $350 to $3,500. Tall 12 Year 38,000 BTU Ultra Low NOx (ULN) Natural Gas Tank Water Heater. A place where people can come to learn and share their experiences of doing, building and fixing things on their own. Many problems can have more than one cause. Others may require some work. Also, this type of heaters has an ignition system that uses either a 120V power supply or small batteries. State water heaters are designed to be long-lasting. One end of this thermocouple goes into the flame of the pilot, the other goes to the control valve and terminates at an electromagnet. If there are no leaks, take a look at the gas valve. The thermocouple is usually the problem when this happens. That depends a lot on where it is leaking and how much. The article 'Hot Water Heater Dip Tube' addresses this problem. Even though the initial price of the unit can be higher, the investment is often paid back over time. The first hurdle will be deciding what type of water heater to purchase. The gas valves can be changed, but depending on local law it might require a license to buy. High efficiency models will have a plastic vent that may go horizontally out of of the house. No luck. Gas hot water heater troubleshooting often involves the thermocouple. At this point you will have to decide if you are up to the task of replacing the water heater yourself. Sediment can build up in the bottom of your hot water heater over time. Could be cheaper to install a new tank than just a valve depending on plumber cost. The dug up the street and put a new line in. Switch off the gas valve and turn off the electric supply to the heater at the circuit breaker — watch the pilot light go out to ensure no more gas remains. There are two key topics associated with 'Gas Hot Water Heaters'. WARNING!! Do you have more people in the house, perhaps visiting? A defective thermostat is also possible. Check the pilot light. If the pilot light lights and then shuts off it is not the gas valve. Make Sure the Gas Is OFF!!! They came to the house and snaked the one. A clogged or partially clogged vent can cause this problem. However, this will depend on whether your stove is gas or electric and if you still have electricity. See the article 'Water Heater Sizes for Households'. Caution needs to be exercised to make sure the gas is shut off and only turned on when the pilot is lit. Click on the link above to get to the information. Coldwater settles to the bottom of the tank, where the water heater gas burner heats it. Attach a hose to the drainage pipe and let the water flow into a drain. Before you start the water heater, make sure you have sufficient gas pressure as well as water pressure available. Follow the above link to get to an article that discusses the issues related to the pilot light. Tankless gas water heaters come with a higher initial cost; however, you’re saving more than $100/year on hot water heating costs because natural gas is that much more cost-effective. Some common problems for all types of Hot Water Heaters are, pressure relief valves, leaks, sediment, drain valves, anode rods and dip tubes. The other reason would be a defective valve that vents even when there is not a problem. Click this link to get the good or not so good news. It's ALWAYS the thermocouple. Try to find a match for your situation. Rheem Performance Platinum 50 Gal. When a sufficient charge is built through the thermocouple, the electromagnet is charged. Expert Installation Available $ 749 00. The thermostat is part of the gas valve. Ugh. Home » Gear » Top 10 Best Gas Water Heater In 2021 – Ultimate Reviews And Buying Guide. There are several reasons why you might need to turn off the gas supply to your water heater. The Water In Your Tank Can Be VERY HOT!!! See the article 'Water Heater Temperature Settings' for instructions. Over time the minerals in the water will build up inside the tank and some of them can oxidize, thus causing a dark color and odor. See below for guidelines on what to look for and information on how to fix it. Natural Gas Can BE Dangerous!!! WARNING!!! See 'Fixing Electric Water Heaters'. Benefits of Gas Tank Water Heaters. You be the judge. The amount of hot water you have will be affected by it, when it is broken. Natural Gas Can Explode! Add that to a service call and you should be looking at $100, more or less. It also uses an integral thermostat to know when more heat is needed. Then, double-check that the gas is on. If you hold the knob in the "pilot light" position for ten seconds, you should smell gas. When the metal is gone the steel core and your tank start to rust, thus discoloring the water. If not, then all the gas company. and see if it's getting gas. Not sure which kind you have, see 'Identifying Water Heater Types', for a description of each type. However, you can always just look at your gas valve right at the water heater. Find out what can go wrong with this part and what you need to do to fix it. Thanks for the advice! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If the handle is perpendicular to the pipe, lol, someone shut off your water heater's gas. WARNING!!! Take a look at the possible problems below. This is caused by a dissolved anode. Read through that information before you proceed. Go to the article 'Gas Water Heater Thermocouple Issues' for information on this common repair. The Hot Water Can Be VERY HOT!!! The first thing to check is the thermostat. This is a common do it yourself repair that you will probably be willing to attempt. At the bottom of your water heater, remove the … The first thing I would assume is the thermocouple. See 'Fixing Hot Water Heater Gas Valves' for the issues surrounding this device. If you're water won't heat up, the pilot light on your water heater may have blown out. Learn what you need to do to get rid of the sediment inside your hot water tank. State gas tank water heaters install with ease alongside various venting options that fit any home. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Follow the above link to get to an article that discusses the hot water heater thermocouple. THIS is where most people hear the hiss, due to the much increased volume of gas that is now allowed to flow. If you can get some help, you may want to consider it. Some things can be tightened to stop the leaks. We have tried to point you in the right direction for finding the answer to your problem. A bad gas valve will not allow any gas to go to the burner or pilot light. This gas hot water heater troubleshooting exercise starts with the thermostat. Copyright 2010 - 2019 Home-Repair-Central.com, Problems With a Gas Water Heater Thermocouple, Identifying and Repairing Water Heater Problems, Problems with Gas Water Heater Pilot Lights, Replacing a Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve, Checking a Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve. A clogged or partially clogged vent can also cause this problem. No Gas To Water Heater, No Gas To Water Heater Suppliers Directory - Find variety No Gas To Water Heater Suppliers, Manufacturers, Companies from around the World at water heater ,solar water heater ,gas heater, Cooktops Believe it or not, it is an important feature of your hot water tank. Some repairs that result from gas hot water heater troubleshooting are fairly simple. No gas, no hot water. Go to the article 'Repairing a Leaking Hot Water Heater' to track down your problem. Rheem Performance 38 Gal. Gas or propane water heater systems usually come with an insulated tank that stores water until the user needs it. See if this is something you can fix. Electric water heaters are usually simpler to install than gas heaters since they don’t need to be vented and they don’t need a gas connection. See the article 'Checking a Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve' and 'Checking for Plumbing Pipe Leaks' for more information. When the pilot is not on, the valve will not allow any gas to be delivered. Badly clogged vents will result in dangerous gases building up in the home. Issues with this item are found in the article, 'Checking Pressure Relief Valves'. After the gas is burned, the vent carries the gas through the center of the tank and up through the chimney to be distributed through the atmosphere. How hard is it? Now when I press down of the gas control knob in the pilot position to light the pilot I do not hear the. Natural gas can explode. More questions that this article answers. The water heater gas valve is able to interpret this electrical current and tell whether or not the pilot light is lit. Natural and propane gas can explode. Therefore the water heater gas valve has safety devices built in. The thermocouple provides a safety feature for a gas hot water tank. Again the thermocouple could be at fault. (If it wont stay lit after two minutes, you have a bad thermocouple, at a minimum). Additionally, the chimney that the vent is attached to, can be clogged. You may be tempted to turn up the temperature on you water tank, however, this can be dangerous. While rare, gas leaks are serious. The unit itself is maybe 10 years old. Don't have a gas water heater? The easiest and simplest method to heat bathwater when there is no gas running to the water heater is to use the stove. The other less common problem would be the gas valve. First thing is to use another gas appliance (furnace? Thanks! Those CAN be replaced, if the rest of the water heater is in good condition. Thanks for the info, guys! Sediment in the tank can also discolor the water. You do not pay anything extra and your purchase helps support our work. Scalding and severe burns can occur in a matter of seconds when the water temperature is too high. On the other hand, some repairs are not that hard. The thermostat is part of the gas valve. Gas hot water heater troubleshooting always seems to start with the pilot light. Simple Installation. See 'Hot Water Heater Gas Valve' for information on what can be done. Go to the article 'Hot Water Heater Gas Valve', for direction on issues with the gas valve. 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