Common Gas Water Heater Problems and Solutions
- No hot water
- Not enough hot water or water not hot enough
- Water too hot
- Relief valve leaks continuously
- Relief valve leaks and hot water has not been used
- Relief valve drips after heavy use of hot water
- Drain valve leaks
- Cold water supply valve leaks
- Water pipes leak
- Hot water rusty
- Hot water smells bad
- Water heater rumbling
- Water heater sizzles
- Water heater noisy
- Hot water or tank sooty
No hot water
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Pilot light out | Relight pilot light |
| Pilot light does not stay lit | Replace thermocouple |
| Repeated pilot outages | Check for floor drafts, check and clean flue and vent |
| Temperature control turned off | Reset temperature control |
| Temperature control faulty | Call for service |
Not enough hot water or water not hot enough
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Heavy household demand for hot water | Stagger use of hot water or have a larger water heater installed |
| temperature control set too low | Raise temperature control settings |
| Poor burner flame slows recovery time | Check and clean flue and vent |
| Sediment in tank slows heater recovery time | Drain and refill tank If rate of sedimentation is high, have water softener installed |
| Hot water faucet leaks | Repair faucet |
| Loss of heat | Insulate tank and hot water pipes |
| Incoming water too cold | Raise temperature control settings |
| Dip tube broken | Call for service |
Water too hot
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Temperature control set too high or frequent short draws of hot water cause buildup of very hot water in to of tank | Lower temperature control settings |
| Temperature control faulty | Call for service |
Relief valve leaks continuously
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Relief valve faulty | Test and replace valve If pressure reducing valve in system, call for service |
Relief valve leaks and hot water has not been used
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Excessive pressure in supply water | Lower temperature control settings Have pressure reducing valve installed |
Relief valve drips after heavy use of hot water
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Water at top of tank too hot | Stagger hot water use or lower temperature Test and replace valve |
Drain valve leaks
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Valve loose or faulty | Tighten valve handle Replace washer or valve |
Cold water supply valve leaks
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Valve faulty | Replace valve |
Water pipes leak
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Pipes broken or corroded | Have pipes replaced |
Hot water rusty
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Water heater tank corroded | Drain and refill tank Check and replace anode rod Lower temperature control settings Have water heater replaced |
| Galvanized steel water pipes corroded | Have pipes replaced |
Hot water smells bad
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Magnesium anode rod reacting with sulfurous hot water | Replace with aluminum anode rod Have water heater replced |
Water heater rumbling
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Sediment in tank traps pockets of very hot water | Drain and refill tank regurarly Have water softener installed if sedimentation rate is high |
Water heater sizzles
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Water leaks into burner chamber | Have water heater replaced |
Water heater noisy
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Burner pops when heater turns on or off | Have gas company check burner and gas pressure |
| Noisy combustion from burner | Eliminate any strong floor drafts If problem persists, have burner and gas pressure checked |
Hot water or tank sooty
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Improper ventilation | Check and clean flue and vent If problem persists, have burner and gas pressure checked |
