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Message
Hot Water Heater Issues
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:19 am
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:19 am
Quick question for y’all - a few days ago the pilot light in our hot water heater turned off, after relighting and then turning the gas on the flame will stay on for a few hours before turning off again — basically I’ve been turning it on to shower every night for the past few nights.
Anyway, last night I did the same thing - relit pilot light and then turning up the flame, but now when I go to turn the flame up it shuts off. So no more warm showers for us.
Anyone have an answer for a) why the light won’t stay lit and b) why it turns off everytime I increase the flame — I’m following all instructions on the heater.
TLDR: faulty flame on hot water heater, need help.
Appreciate any responses - hope everyone had a merry christmas!!!
Anyway, last night I did the same thing - relit pilot light and then turning up the flame, but now when I go to turn the flame up it shuts off. So no more warm showers for us.
Anyone have an answer for a) why the light won’t stay lit and b) why it turns off everytime I increase the flame — I’m following all instructions on the heater.
TLDR: faulty flame on hot water heater, need help.
Appreciate any responses - hope everyone had a merry christmas!!!
10
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:20 am to TheJunction
Why you heating hot water?
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:20 am to TheJunction
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:22 am to TheJunction
You will probably need to replace your thermocouple, not hard and most places where you bought your tank will give you a new one. Good luck.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:23 am to TheJunction
How old is the water heater?
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:23 am to TheJunction
Seems like a waste of energy, why not just buy a regular water heater?
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:25 am to Schmelly
Absolutely.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:27 am to Schmelly
quote:
Why you heating hot water?
of all of the OTisms that people complain about being overused and played out, this one has probably run its course, looonnnnng ago
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:29 am to joshnorris14
Gas is cheaper. It's cheaper to burn the fuel yourself than pay an electric company to burn it for you and convert it into electricity.
Costs me about 200 bucks to heat and cook all winter with gas. One months power bill would equal that if I ran electric heat
I always have extra thermocouples. Also...while you are in there check the vent on the underside of the pilot. If it gets clogged up with soot it can cause pilot problems
Costs me about 200 bucks to heat and cook all winter with gas. One months power bill would equal that if I ran electric heat
I always have extra thermocouples. Also...while you are in there check the vent on the underside of the pilot. If it gets clogged up with soot it can cause pilot problems
This post was edited on 12/26/24 at 8:33 am
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:29 am to Schmelly
quote:
Why you heating hot water?
Bc that’s exactly how tank water heaters work.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:36 am to TheJunction
Probably the thermocouple, like folks have said. But something you said caught my attention. You have a pilot light. That isn't common in newer water heaters.
This may not be your issue, but if you also have gas home heaters, and your neighbors have gas heaters, sometimes you can have low natural gas pressure that will cause a pilot light to go out. When that happens, the water heater will not work (obviously). So if the pattern suggests that the pilot won't stay lit, it may be nothing other than that.
One way to help notice this is if you also have a gas stove, every once in a while check whether the burners can reach full power. If not, there is low pressure in the gas system that may be contributing to your issue.
This may not be your issue, but if you also have gas home heaters, and your neighbors have gas heaters, sometimes you can have low natural gas pressure that will cause a pilot light to go out. When that happens, the water heater will not work (obviously). So if the pattern suggests that the pilot won't stay lit, it may be nothing other than that.
One way to help notice this is if you also have a gas stove, every once in a while check whether the burners can reach full power. If not, there is low pressure in the gas system that may be contributing to your issue.
This post was edited on 12/26/24 at 8:39 am
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:51 am to TheJunction
Could be a lack of oxygen, check for a filter.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:57 am to TheJunction
If it's an older water heater, check to make sure the air vent is clear of obstructions like hair, or dust devils, if there isn't enough air flow, the heater wont come on. This will be underneath the tank, not on top.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 9:00 am to VernonPLSUfan
Awesome thank y’all very much! Will definitely try and replace the thermocoupler and see if that helps.
Not sure on the age, but I’m assuming it’s less than 10 years old.
Not sure on the age, but I’m assuming it’s less than 10 years old.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 2:51 pm to TheJunction
quote:
a few days ago the pilot light in our hot water heater turned off,
You must have one of them "smart" water heaters. It knows it doesn't have to heat hot water, so it turns itself off.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 7:02 pm to TheJunction
There are several things that will have the symptoms your describing, one is the thermocouple thats been mentioned, also there were control valve issues in that era of water heaters, & a blocked vent can cause issues. If there is a lot of black soot on the burner and inside the heater the main control valve is either going out or the tank is collapsing around the vent (not common) The control valves will leak a small amount of gas and have a small "dirty" flame which soots up the burn chamber and will cause the tank to overheat and trip out the high limit and or burn the Oxygen in the burn chamber and put itself out. In other words if its not the thermocouple call your plumber!!!!
Posted on 12/27/24 at 6:48 am to TheJunction
quote:
Not sure on the age, but I’m assuming it’s less than 10 years old.
Here is a guide to determining the age of your water heater.
https://hotwatersolutionsnw.org/how-to-determine-the-age-of-your-water-heater/
Posted on 12/30/24 at 10:44 am to TheJunction
Check the age on it. It’s probably more cost effective to just replace with new unit of some type.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 10:08 am to Schmelly
quote:
Why you heating hot water?
If you don’t heat hot water, it doesn’t stay hot.
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