Troubleshooting Your Gas Water Heater
April 10, 2024
Natural gas is a popular fuel for water heaters, due to its low cost and widespread availability. Both storage tank water heaters and tankless water heaters may use gas to heat water for your Omaha home. If you experience trouble with a gas water heater, there are a few simple troubleshooting steps you can try to determine the cause of the problem. If you can’t diagnose the issue or aren’t sure how to restore your home’s hot water, calling for professional gas water heater repair in Omaha is the easiest and fastest way to address a hot water problem.
No Hot Water
Both storage and tankless water heaters can suddenly stop delivering the hot water you need for daily comfort. If your water heater stops producing hot water, check that the heater is receiving electrical power and gas. All gas-powered water heaters have a thermocouple attached to the pilot light assembly, which stops gas flow if the pilot light has gone out. Check that the pilot light is burning—if not, you can try to re-light the pilot yourself, but if you aren’t sure how to light the pilot or think there may be a problem with the pilot assembly or gas line, call your professional plumber for help. Over time, pilot assemblies can accumulate dirt and soot that affect the pilot’s quality and its ability to stay lit; your plumber can clean the assembly and offer advice on future pilot maintenance.
Insufficient Hot Water
If your water heater isn’t producing enough hot water, there may be several factors to blame. A storage water heater suffering from severe mineral buildup or a failing burner system may not be able to heat the entire tank evenly or quickly, resulting in insufficient hot water when you open the tap. If your tankless water heater isn’t producing enough hot water, it may be experiencing an issue with its heating system as well, or your home may be suffering from a drop in water pressure that affects the tankless system’s ability to heat the water as it flows from your water main to your fixtures. Flushing a storage water heater may improve its hot water production, but if this step is not successful or your home has a tankless water heater that is producing poor results, call for professional gas water heater repair to solve the problem.
Cooler-Than-Expected Water
All water heaters have a thermostat that allows you to set the temperature of the water. If your water heater produces water that is colder than you expect, check that the thermostat is set correctly—setting the thermostat to 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit should be sufficient to produce water hot enough for all your daily needs. Storage tank water heaters that aren’t producing water at the expected temperature may have a problem with the burner assembly or the thermostat; a tankless water heater producing water that is too cold may have scale buildup affecting its heat exchanger element. If you aren’t able to successfully raise the temperature of your water by increasing the thermostat setting, it’s time to call your plumber to check and clean or repair the affected elements of your water heating system.
Our plumbers are pleased to provide experienced gas water heater repair in Omaha, including a storage tank and tankless models. We will arrive quickly to assess the situation and restore your hot water for minimal daily disruption. You can find out more on our website, or check out our blog to learn more about home water heater systems.