No Hot Water
No hot water usually comes down to one failed part: a pilot or thermocouple on gas heaters, a reset switch or element on electric ones, or an ignition fault on tankless units. Most of these are same-day fixes.
Why your water heater stopped making hot water
| Situation | Usual cause | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Gas tank | Pilot out, worn thermocouple, failed gas control valve | $100 to $400 |
| Electric tank | Tripped high-limit reset, burned-out upper element, bad thermostat | $200 to $400 |
| Tankless | Ignition fault, flame rod, error code, scale | $150 to $600 |
| Any type | Tank failed and leaking, so it was shut off | Replacement |
National ranges from published cost guides. Your plumber quotes your job after seeing the heater.
No Hot Water, explained
Gas water heaters
The pilot heats a thermocouple, which tells the gas valve it's safe to open. When the thermocouple wears out, the pilot lights but won't stay lit, and you lose hot water. If the pilot stays lit but the burner won't come on, the gas control valve is the usual suspect.
Electric water heaters
Electric tanks have two elements and two thermostats. If the upper element fails, you get no hot water at all. If the lower one fails, you get a little hot water that runs out fast. A red reset button that keeps tripping points to a failed thermostat or element.
When it's not worth fixing
If the heater is 10 or more years old and the repair is a gas valve or multiple parts, ask about replacement. A new tank costs more today but avoids paying for a repair on a tank near the end of its life.
Do this first
- Electric: check the breaker. If it tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Gas: look through the pilot window for a small blue flame, and check that the gas supply valve is open.
- Tankless: write down the error code on the display.
- Smell gas? Don't relight anything. Leave and call your gas company from outside.
Related water heater services
No Hot Water questions
Why do I have no hot water but the pilot is lit?
The burner isn't getting gas. That is usually a failed gas control valve or thermostat, or a clogged burner orifice.
How long does it take to get hot water back?
After a repair, a standard 40 to 50 gallon tank takes about 30 to 60 minutes to heat fully. Electric tanks take longer than gas.
Why does the hot water come back for a while and then go cold again?
On gas heaters this is a classic weak thermocouple. On electric heaters it's often a failed lower element or a thermostat that's sticking.
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