Water heaters
Water Heater Not Heating? How to Troubleshoot It
Updated · Written by the SteadWell team
Electric water heaters
Electric heaters have two heating elements, each with its own thermostat, plus a high-limit reset button behind the upper access panel.
- No hot water at all: check the breaker, then press the red reset button (power off first)
- Hot water runs out fast: the lower element has likely failed
- Water is lukewarm: a thermostat or upper element problem
Gas water heaters
Gas heaters use a pilot or electronic igniter. The control knob should be set to On, not Pilot or Vacation.
- Pilot won't stay lit: usually the thermocouple or flame sensor
- Pilot lit but no burner flame: gas valve or control problem
- Smell gas: leave the house and call the gas utility from outside
Hot water, but not enough
Sediment settling in the bottom of the tank takes up space and insulates the water from the burner. Rumbling and popping while heating is the sign. Flushing helps on younger tanks; on an old tank, heavy sediment is a sign it's near the end.
Repair or replace?
Parts like elements, thermostats and thermocouples are worth replacing on a heater under about eight years old. A heater over ten years old needing a major part, or any tank leaking from its body, is usually a replacement — see our guide on when to replace a water heater.
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an on-site assessment. Read our editorial standards.