Water Heater

There’s nothing worse than jumping into a shower to be met with freezing cold water. Unfortunately, this can happen when your hot water heater is not working correctly. While the cause of this can vary, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to get your water heater up and running again.

The first thing to do if your water heater is not heating is to check the power source. If the breaker is tripped, it will need to be reset. If the problem persists, contact a plumber for help.

Another possible issue is that your water heater repair may not be filling with water. A leaking water heater can leave you without hot water for long periods of time, and you should check the area around your water heater for signs of a leak.

What to Do If Water Heater is Not Heating?

If your water heater is leaking, you should turn off the power to the unit immediately and consult a professional. A leaking water heater can be dangerous, and a professional will be able to help you determine the source of the leak and repair it. If you notice that your water is smelling or appearing discoloured, this can be a sign of a corroded tank. If this is the case, it will require a replacement of the tank, and a plumber will need to come out to install it for you.

Lastly, if you hear loud noises coming from your water heater, it could indicate that the temperature pressure valve is not working properly. This valve is designed to release excess pressure from the water heater when the temperature reaches unsafe levels.

If your electric water heater is not producing hot water, the most likely culprit is a broken heating element. Using your voltmeter, disconnect the power to the heater by turning off the circuit breaker located at the service panel. Then, remove the access panel, insulation, and plastic safety guard from each of the two heating elements on the water heater. Once you’ve removed these, you can use your voltmeter to measure the resistance of each of the heating elements. The lower heating element should read around 13 ohms, while the upper should read about 240 ohms. If either reading is not correct, your water heater’s heating element will need to be replaced. You can see how to replace this part in our Replacing a Heating Element video.