At a glance
- Symptom
- Cold taps all round
- First move
- Check the pilot or the breaker
- Phone
- (365) 363-2754
- Read next
- How to Flush a Tank Water Heater
Gas or electric: it changes the list
Most Ajax homes run a 40 or 50 gallon tank in the furnace room, either gas-fired with a vent to the outside or electric with two heating elements. Many of them are rented through a water heater rental company, so before any repair, check the label on the tank. A rented tank is usually serviced by the rental provider under the terms of the agreement, so check the current terms before calling anyone else.
Common causes on a gas tank
- The pilot has gone out, often after a draft or a dirty burner
- A worn thermocouple or flame sensor that no longer holds the gas valve open
- A power-vent fan or its pressure switch has failed
- The gas control has been turned to off or vacation by accident
Common causes on an electric tank
- A tripped double-pole breaker in the panel
- The high-limit reset button on the upper thermostat has tripped
- A burned-out lower or upper element
- A failed thermostat
Checks you can safely do
- Look through the sight glass on a gas tank. No flame, and the pilot light procedure on the label is the first step.
- On a power-vent model, check that the plug is in and the fan runs.
- On electric, check the breaker. If it trips again, stop and call.
- Look at the base of the tank. Water there is a different problem: a leak.
What we do on the call
For gas, we test the thermocouple output with a meter, clean the burner and pilot assembly, and replace the thermocouple, igniter or flame sensor as needed. Power-vent units get the pressure switch and venting checked. For electric, we test each element for continuity with the power off, then swap the failed element after draining the tank. Either way, we flush the sediment while the tank is down and test the relief valve before the burner or elements go back on.
Local tip
Lake Ontario supply through Durham carries enough calcium that scale piles up under the burner. A gas tank that rumbles before it quits is often cooking under a layer of scale.
When it means replacement
If the tank is leaking from the body, or it is past roughly ten to twelve years and parts are failing one after another, a repair is not good value. We will tell you plainly on the call.
Questions we hear on the phone
Can I relight the pilot myself?
Many tanks list a safe relighting procedure on the label. Follow it exactly. If you smell gas, do not light anything; leave and call the gas utility.
Why does the hot water run out quickly?
A dead bottom element is the usual electric culprit; with gas units heavy sediment can cut capacity.