A well-maintained home is something that everyone appreciates. A water heater that lasts longer without breaking down is certainly something that everyone appreciates. But what happens when your water heater breaks down or malfunctions? What should you do if your water heater isn't working properly? There are many issues that can arise with a water heater, and each one has its own unique set of problems and solutions. But no matter what kind of problem you're dealing with, there are always some basic things you can try before calling in a plumber or emergency technician. A general rule of thumb when troubleshooting a water heater is to first check for any obvious problem with the water heater such as an obvious leaking or smell of gas. Next, you can try to shut off the power to the water heater while it's still running to see if that fixes the problem. Finally, you can try to identify and turn off the breaker for the water heater to see if that will fix the problem. Here is a guide to troubleshooting a water heater:

Confirm the water heater is running on gas.

The first thing you want to do is confirm that the water heater is actually using gas. Some water heaters are electric, but most are gas. You can confirm that the water heater is using gas by visually inspecting the burner on the side of the water heater. You can also smell for gas to confirm that there is a gas smell coming from the water heater. If the water heater is a gas water heater and it isn't working properly, you likely have an issue with the gas supply to the water heater. If the water heater is an electric water heater and it isn't working properly, it's possible that the electrical circuit breaker for the water heater has tripped.

Confirm there is water in the water heater and it isn't frozen.

If the water is frozen in the water heater, you likely have an issue with the thermostat or the temperature sensor in the water heater. The first thing you want to do is confirm that there is water in the water heater. If there is water in the water heater, you can turn off the power to the water heater to see if the water will flow again. If the water remains frozen, you may need to call a plumber to come out and repair the water heater. Once the water has thawed out, you can then try to turn on the power to the water heater again and see if the water will flow again. If the water stops flowing again, you will need to replace the water heater.

Turn off the power to the water heater and then turn it back on.

If you have turned off the power to the water heater but the water still isn't flowing, you should try to turn the power back on and then back off again. This may force the breaker that's controlling the water heater to reset. If this doesn't work, you will need to call a plumber to come out and repair the water heater.

Turn off the breaker for the water heater.

If you have already turned off the power to the water heater, you will need to turn off the breaker for the water heater. You can do this by locating it on the wall behind the water heater. If you are unable to shut off the breaker, you will need to call a plumber to come out and repair the water heater.

Confirm the pilot light for the water heater is lit.

If you've tried all of the above and the water isn't flowing from the water heater, the last thing you should try is to confirm that the pilot light for the water heater is lit. If the pilot light isn't lit, the water won't flow from the water heater. To confirm that the pilot light is lit, you will need to shut off the power to the water heater and then open the lid of the water heater. Once you have done this, if the water flows from the faucet, the pilot light is probably lit.

Summing up

A water heater that isn't working properly is a big problem for anyone who uses water in their home. There are many issues that can arise with a water heater, and each one has its own unique set of problems and solutions. But no matter what kind of problem you're dealing with, there are always some basic things you can try before calling in a plumber or emergency technician. First, you can try to confirm that the water heater is actually using gas. Next, you can try to confirm that the water isn't frozen. Finally, you can try to confirm that the pilot light for the water heater is lit.