gas water heater not working - maintenance

Gas Water Heater Not Working? Here’s a Troubleshooting Guide

If you’ve ever wondered why your gas water heater’s not working — or want to know what to do if it ever does — this troubleshooting guide is for you.

How Does a Gas Water Heater Work?

A gas-fired water heater typically heats about 40 to 60 gallons of water to 120 to 140 degrees (we recommend 120 degrees). And it does this every single day for about 10 years. A lot can go wrong with such an important household workhorse. That’s why it’s smart to learn how they work and how to troubleshoot them.

When a hot water faucet is turned on, hot water flows from the gas water heater’s tank through the hot water outlet. It does this as cold water is entering into the tank through the dip tube.

Sensing the drop in temperature, the thermostat opens a valve that sends gas to the burner, where it is ignited by the pilot or an electric spark. Heated air is then vented from the burner chamber through the flue (and its heat-retaining baffle). The air then exits out the draft hood and vent.

gas water heater not working - diagram
This diagram of a gas water heater indicates where the most important parts of the tank are located.

What is A Gas Water Heater’s Recovery Capacity?

Recovery capacity is the number of gallons that can be heated from 50 degrees to 150 degrees (Fahrenheit) in one hour. This figure (and the capacity of the tank) is stamped on a metal plate affixed to most gas water heaters.

Insufficient hot water is a common complaint usually caused by a water heater that is too small. In other words, the problem is usually that the demand for hot water is greater than the capacity of the tank to hold hot water.

gas water heater not working - chart of recovery capacity
This chart indicates the number of minutes it takes to recover your hot water capacity. It is has been calculated based on a 75% recovery efficiency.

Gas Water Heater Maintenance

Here are 4 simple maintenance chores that will increase your water heater’s efficiency. You should make these routinely as follows:

  1. Vacuum under and around the water heater to keep dust from clogging the pilot and the burner
  2. Drain the tank periodically to check for sediment
  3. Disassemble and clean the vent and draft hoot once a year
  4. Test the water heater’s temperature and pressure release valve (T&P Valve) once a year

PRO TIP: Before working on a gas water heater, be sure to close the gas shutoff valve. For repairs to the control unit, pilot, burner, and gas supply lines (or to replace a leaking or corroded tank), you should consider hiring a trusted plumber. If the tank is leaking, make sure your plumber is an emergency plumbing specialist.

Gas Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide

If your gas water heater is not working, review the table below for the symptoms, probable causes, and what you’ll need to do to fix the problem.

Final Thoughts

The above maintenance tips and troubleshooting guide should help you quickly identify the problem if you have a gas water heater not working.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help safely maintaining, repairing, or replacing your gas water heater.

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.

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