Water heater troubleshooting - Gas or electric
Before doing anything, check for the odor of gas. If you smell gas call your gas supplier immediately and have them check for leaks. If possible turn off the gas supply and get out of the building.
Do not attempt to repair your water heater unless you are qualified. Call a licensed plumber for repairs. We also advise that you install a carbon monoxide detector to help prevent poisoning.
Electric water heater problem
Check main fuse or breaker, reset or replace if necessary.
Water heater thermostat or element may be defective.
Gas water heater problem
Make sure gas supply line is turned on. Remove the inner and outer burner access covers. Can you see if the pilot light is lit?
Not enough hot water
Check the thermostat setting, it may be set too low. But be careful, a hotter setting can lead to scalding within seconds. Check the dip tube, if the dip tube has broken or fallen off, incoming cold water will be drawn out through the hot water outlet without being heated. Other possible causes are clogged burners and low gas pressure.
If you have an electric heater the problem could also be: lower thermostat or element may be defective, wiring problems or scale built up on elements.
Slow hot water recovery
Sediment buildup in bottom of heater, flushing the water heater may help. Other possible causes may be insufficient combustion air caused by insufficient ventilation, a clogged flue (could be dangerous and allow carbon monoxide poisoning), or improper burner operation.
Pilot light is lit
Turn on a hot water faucet and let the water run. Check to see if burner comes on. If not run the hot water several more minutes. If the burner still does not come on the problem could be a defective control valve/thermostat. Check to see if the control valve knob is in the “on” setting and not set to the “pilot” position.
Pilot light won’t stay lit
Sometimes a draft will blow the pilot light out. Make sure the burner access covers are in place. Other causes are dirt in the gas line, defective or loose pilot safety switch connection.
Pilot light is not lit
Follow the instructions posted on your water heater and attempt to re-light pilot with care.
Make sure gas valve is open. If the pilot light will not re-light, the problem could be that gas is not reaching the water heater or a clogged/dirty pilot line. Call PDM for help.
If the pilot light will light but does not stay lit when the gas valve control is released the problem could be a defective pilot safety switch or perhaps a loose pilot safety switch connection to the gas control valve. Make sure the pilot safety switch connection to the control valve is tight.
Burner flame noisy (whistling)
Problem may be improper gas pressure or dirty burner orifice. Check, adjust and clean.
Yellow flame
Problem could be scale on top of burner, dirty burner orifice, flue way clogged or improper gas pressure. Clean and adjust.
Burner flame floats
Problem may be improper gas pressure, wrong orifice or clogged flue. Clean and adjust.
Temperature and pressure relief valve leaking water
Do you know what happens when relief valve is stuck closed?
Blow-up? Click to see video. Valve should open when the water temperature or water pressure gets too high. If the inlet to the water heater is fed directly from the water main with no pressure relief valves or check valves between them then when the water heats up, it expands, the extra volume of water simply flows back toward the water main. If however there is a blockage such as a check valve or pressure reducing valve with a defective bypass then the increase in water volume has no where to go and the pressure with increase dramatically. Placing a water heater expansion tank in the line at the inlet will give the increased volume of water someplace to go and prevent operation of the relief valve.
Another possibility is that the City water pressure has increased above the setting of the relief valve. Again the installation of an water heater expansion tank will solve the problem.
Popping or banging noise
Scale can build up in the bottom of the tank causing all sorts of noises to occur while the water heater is heating water. Try flushing the tank or least emptying a few gallons thru the drain. Make sure you turn off gas or electric before flushing. Be careful as the hot water could scald you within seconds.
Soot
Combustion air inlets or flue-way is restricted or not enough ventilation air supplied to room. Also, may be improper gas pressure or dirty burner orifice. Remove obstruction or debris from heater or flue way and improve ventilation. An obstruction could create carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hot water smells like rotten eggs
Certain types of bacteria can react with the magnesium anode rod resulting in a rotten egg odor. Clean the tank using chlorine bleach or by changing the anode rod to aluminum usually will solve the problem. If older heater, you’re better off replacing with new efficient unit.
Rusty or black water
Anode rod may have dissolved or there is excessive sediment build-up. Check anode rod. You may be better off replacing tank with an energy efficient model. Save on future repairs and utilities.
Milky water
May be as simple as aerated water. Allow a glass of hot water to set for a few minutes. If the water turns clear, the condition is a natural occurrence. If not, call PDM for help.
Leaking tank
Replace the water heater with energy efficient model.
Water heater emergency shut down instruction.
1. TURN GAS OR ELECTRIC OFF: Gas: Twist dial on top of thermostat to OFF position Electric: Turn power supply OFF to the water heater at appliance or at breaker/fuse panel.
2. TURN WATER SUPPLY OFF: Twist handle on water valve above heater clockwise till it stops. If water does not stop, turn OFF main water valve next to water meter.
3. DRAIN HEATER IF NECESSARY TO AVOID WATER DAMAGE: Attach garden hose to drain faucet at bottom of heater and run opposite end to a lower location so hot or rusty water won’t cause damage. Open hot water faucet at a sink to allow air to enter heater. Be careful about scalding hot water!
4.Call Technician for help.