

The flame should be bright blue with a yellow tip. Look at the burner flame and note the color. It’s also possible you have a burner problem. If your hot water usage is more than 75% of the water heater’s capacity, consider installing a bigger water heater. If you need 30 gallons of hot water and you have a 40-gallon tank, you’re fine. Keep in mind that your household needs 75% of your water heater’s capacity for hot water. Turn your water heater temperature up to the 120-140 degree range.Don’t shower, run the dishwasher, and wash clothes at the same time.If the tank is too small for your heating needs try the following tips: The size of your hot water tank determines how much hot water you have available. When you run out of hot water before the shower is over, there may be more than one problem. Continue reading and find out why that happens. Maybe you have hot water, but it doesn’t stay hot long enough for you to finish your shower. Once you flip the switch back on, if it doesn’t remain fully on, you may have a bad circuit breaker. If that doesn’t work, perform a hard reset by shutting off power to the water heater at the circuit breaker box. Wait about ½ hour and see if your water heats up. Turn off the water heater for a few minutes and then turn it back on. Sometimes the thermocouple just needs an adjustment so that the tip lines back up with pilot light flame.įor electric hot water heaters, start troubleshooting with a quick reset.

The thermocouple is a safety device that stops gas flow when the pilot light goes out. If it’s not the pilot light, check the thermocouple. Next, verify the pilot light hasn’t blown out. If you suspect there’s no gas, call the gas company. If it’s gas, the first thing you should do is make sure you have gas access. What do you do when the hot water runs out? The solution to your hot water dilemma depends on whether you have a gas or electric hot water heater. Your idea of starting the day off right includes a cup of steaming coffee and a hot, luxurious shower. Are you prepared for what happens when this critical appliance stops working?ĭon’t panic! Instead, read our water heater troubleshooting tips and the solutions to 7 common water heater problems. In fact, most water heaters give their owners about 8-12 years of service. But like all home appliances, water heaters don’t last forever. Today, water heaters are an essential part of daily life. Of course, the Romans didn’t invent hot water heaters, but they certainly had the right idea about soaking in heated water. Our love affair with hot water goes back to the Romans, who built baths filled with hot water.
