No Hot Water? What to Check First
Modern Perspective Plumbing, licensed plumbing contractor in Grover Beach, serving San Luis Obispo County
First check whether the whole house is out or only one faucet. If it's the whole house, check the breaker on an electric heater, or the gas supply and error code on a gas or tankless unit. If you smell gas, don't relight anything.
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What to do first
- Run hot water at a second faucet to see if the whole house is out.
- Electric heater: check whether the breaker tripped. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Gas tank: follow the lighting steps printed on the heater only if you don't smell gas.
- Tankless: write down any error code on the display.
Call right away if
- You smell gas. Leave the house and call 911 and your gas company from outside
- There's water around the heater
- The breaker trips again or the pilot won't stay lit
We answer Monday–Friday 8AM–5PM. After hours, we take your details and call back first thing the next business morning, or Monday morning on weekends. No crew goes out overnight.
What usually causes it
- One faucet only. Usually the faucet or its valve, not the water heater.
- Pilot or gas supply. A gas heater may have lost its pilot or gas supply, or have a failed control part.
- Electric parts. A tripped breaker, a high-limit switch or a failed heating element is common.
- Tankless scale or error. Mineral buildup and error codes can shut down a tankless unit until it's serviced.
Coming out to look is free, and you get the price before any work starts. Learn more about our water heater repair and replacement.
Common questions
Why do I have hot water in one room but not another?
That usually points to the fixture or a mixing valve, since the heater itself is working.
Should I repair or replace an old water heater?
It depends on the failed part, the age of the heater and whether the tank is leaking. We'll show you both options and the price before starting.