Troubleshooting Water Heater Guides

Apartment Water Heater Not Hot Enough: Tenant Checks

Why apartment hot water is only lukewarm, what a tenant can check without touching the heater, and how to report it so the right repair gets made.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Apartment Water Heater Not Working: Tenant Steps

What a tenant can safely check when the apartment water heater stops working or leaks, how to limit damage, and what to report to the landlord.

Continue reading →No hot water

Brand New Water Heater Has No Hot Water

A newly installed tank with no hot water usually has a startup problem: a closed valve, no power or gas, a dry-fired element, or a plumbing mix-up.

Continue reading →Pilot and ignition problems

Brand New Water Heater Making Popping Noises

Popping or ticking from a new water heater: air, pipe expansion, condensation on a gas burner, or a delayed-ignition bang that needs a technician.

Continue reading →No hot water

Brand New Water Heater Only Gives Warm Water

A newly installed water heater making only lukewarm water: how to tell a mixing or plumbing issue from a heater fault, and what the installer checks.

Continue reading →No hot water

Can You Still Use Water If the Water Heater Is Leaking?

Yes for cold water, once the heater's cold inlet is closed. Why running hot water feeds the leak, how to isolate the heater, and which leaks can wait.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Expansion Tank Full of Water: Failed Bladder Signs

How to tell an expansion tank has waterlogged, why it makes the T&P valve drip, and why adding air does not fix a failed bladder.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Expansion Tank Pinhole Leak: What It Means

A pinhole or rust weep on an expansion tank shell means the tank needs replacing. How to confirm the source and limit water damage until it's swapped.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Hot Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs: Causes and Fixes

Why hot water from a tank smells like rotten eggs, how to tell it from a gas leak, and the fixes manufacturers list: chlorination and a different anode.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

How Long Do Water Heaters Last? Tank, Tankless, Heat Pump

Expected life of tank, tankless and heat-pump water heaters from DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturers, what the warranty tells you, and when to replace.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

How Long Does a Water Heater Take to Heat Up?

Recovery times for gas, electric and heat-pump tanks from manufacturer spec sheets: about 1 hour for gas, 2 to 2.5 for electric, longer for heat pumps.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

How to Drain a Water Heater With No Floor Drain

Options for draining a tank water heater when there is no floor drain nearby: a hose to a lower point, a pump, or buckets, with the safety steps first.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

How to Flush a Water Heater: Steps From the Manuals

How often A. O. Smith, State, Rheem and Bradford White say to drain and flush a tank water heater, the owner steps, and when to call a plumber.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

How to Reset a Water Heater: Gas, Electric, Tankless

What "reset" means on each type of water heater: the electric high-limit button, relighting a gas control, power-vent and tankless resets, and when not to.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

How to Turn Off a Water Heater in an Apartment

Stop a leaking or malfunctioning apartment water heater: shut the cold-water valve, turn off gas or power if safe, and report it to your landlord.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Low Water Pressure After Installing a Water Heater

Hot water pressure drops after a new water heater usually trace to a partly closed valve, debris in aerators or filters, or an undersized connector.

Continue reading →No hot water

No Hot Water After Flushing the Water Heater

Why a tank has no hot water after flushing: not completely refilled, drain valve open, pilot out, breaker off, or an element damaged by powering it empty.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

PVC Pipe Leaking at a Water Heater: Which Pipe?

A leaking white plastic pipe at a water heater may be a condensate drain, a vent, or a relief-valve discharge line. How to tell which and how urgent it is.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

SharkBite Water Heater Connector Leaks: Causes

Why a SharkBite push-to-connect fitting leaks at a water heater: insertion depth, pipe prep, side load, or heat, and how the joint is fixed.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Should You Turn Off the Water Heater If Water Is Off?

When the water supply is shut off, whether to turn off a tank or tankless water heater, why draining is the real risk, and how to restart it safely.

Continue reading →No hot water

Solar Water Heater No Hot Water in the Morning

A solar water heater that is hot at night but cold by morning is losing stored heat or its backup is not running. The usual causes, by system type.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

T&P Valve Leaking After Testing It: What It Means

Why a water heater relief valve may keep dripping after its test lever is lifted, how long a drip is normal, and when the valve needs replacing.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

T&P Valve Leaking on a New Water Heater

Why the relief valve on a newly installed or newly replaced tank drips: thermal expansion, high house pressure, debris on the seat, or overheating.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Tankless Coil Water Heater Problems

Lukewarm, uneven, or discolored hot water from a boiler's tankless coil usually traces to boiler temperature, scale in the coil, or the mixing valve.

Continue reading →RV water heater troubleshooting

Turned On a Water Heater Without Water?

Powering an empty electric water heater usually burns out the element within moments. What to do now, and how gas, tankless and RV heaters differ.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Coming From the Top of the Water Heater

Water on top of a tank heater usually comes from a fitting, connector, relief valve, or anode port. How to find the source and when it means replacement.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Dripping Inside the Water Heater

Water inside a tank heater may be flue condensation, a fitting leak running down, or a failed tank. How to tell them apart and what to do.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Alarm Going Off: What Is Beeping?

Find what is beeping: a tankless controller, heat-pump water heater, leak sensor, or a nearby smoke or CO alarm, and what each alarm needs.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater and Furnace Both Not Working

When the water heater and furnace stop together, look at what they share: gas or propane supply, the vent, or power. What to check and when to leave.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Anode Rod: What It Does and When to Check It

What a water heater anode rod does, magnesium vs aluminum vs powered, how often manufacturers say to inspect it, signs it's used up, and who replaces it.

Continue reading →Error codes and flashing lights

Water Heater Beeping After a Power Outage

Why a hybrid, tankless, or power-vent water heater beeps when power comes back, how to restart it safely, and when the outage may have damaged the control.

Continue reading →No hot water

Water Heater Beeping and No Hot Water

A heater that beeps and stops heating has locked out. Read the code, learn what each heater type is protecting against, and know when to call.

Continue reading →Error codes and flashing lights

Water Heater Blinking Red Light: Read the Fault

What a blinking red light means on gas, electric, heat-pump, and tankless water heaters, how to count it, and when one reset is reasonable.

Continue reading →Gas, burning, and sulfur smells

Water Heater Burning Smell: Causes and What to Do

What a burning, hot-plastic, or electrical smell from a water heater means, which smells are a brief new-heater burn-off, and when to shut it off.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Burst: What to Do Right Now

First steps when a water heater bursts or floods: stop the water, shut off power or gas safely, protect the house, and what happens next.

Continue reading →Pilot and ignition problems

Water Heater Buzzing Noise: Find the Source

Where a buzz or hum from a water heater usually comes from (elements, gas valve, fan, heat pump, or the breaker) and which buzzing sounds need attention.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Check Valve Leaking or Failing

How to tell whether a check valve near your water heater is leaking from its body or letting water flow backward, and what each problem means for repair.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Clunking Sound: Causes by Timing

A clunk near the water heater is usually water hammer, a slamming check valve, or a recirculation pump. How the timing of the sound points to the cause.

Continue reading →No hot water

Water Heater Cold Water Inlet Leaking

Water at the cold inlet can be the shutoff valve stem, a connector, the inlet nipple, or a sweating cold pipe. How to tell, and which are simple repairs.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Connector Leaking: Repair or Replace

Why flexible water heater connectors and their fittings leak, how to confirm the connector is the source, and what a proper replacement looks like.

Continue reading →No hot water

Water Heater Dip Tube Failure: Signs and Fix

A broken dip tube sends cold water to the top of the tank, so hot water turns lukewarm quickly. Signs to look for, how it is confirmed, and repair options.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Fan Keeps Running: Normal or a Fault?

Which water heaters run a fan for long periods by design, which should go quiet after heating, and the signs a fan that won't stop needs service.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Hissing Noise, Including After a Shower

A hiss may be sediment, a fitting, the relief valve or, rarely, a gas leak. Where it comes from, and why it often starts after a shower, tells you which.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Leaking After a Power Outage

Why water can appear at a heater once power returns: relief-valve discharge, a condensate pump that stopped, or freeze damage, and how to find which.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Leaking From a Plastic Plug on Top

What the plastic caps and fittings on top of a tank water heater are, why they can leak, and how to tell a fitting leak from a failing tank.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Leaking From an Outside Pipe

Water on a pipe attached to the outside of a water heater: how to tell a connector, relief valve, drain line, or condensate leak from a failing tank.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Leaks When the Washing Machine Runs

If water appears only during laundry, the cause is often a pressure spike at the relief valve, a connector that leaks under flow, or the washer itself.

Continue reading →Unusual noises

Water Heater Making a Gurgling Noise: Causes

Gurgling from a water heater usually comes from air after draining, sediment, a relief valve releasing water, or a condensate line. How to tell which.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Plastic Drain Valve Dripping

A drip from the plastic drain valve at the bottom of a tank is usually the valve, not the tank. How to confirm it and what the replacement involves.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Problems in a Crawl Space

What to do about a leaking, cold, or poorly venting water heater in a crawl space, how to judge whether it is safe to go under, and when to replace it.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Relief Valve Not Working: Warning Signs

Signs a water heater's temperature and pressure relief valve may not protect the tank: seized lever, blocked discharge, or overheating with no relief.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Relief Valve Stuck Open: What to Do

What to do when a relief valve keeps pouring water: shut off heat and water in the right order, why it happens, and why it must never be capped.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Shuts Off After a Few Minutes: Causes

A heater that runs a few minutes then shuts off is usually tripping a safety or losing flow. What the timing means on gas, electric, and tankless units.

Continue reading →Pilot and ignition problems

Water Heater Smells Like a Dead Animal?

A rotten or dead-animal smell near a water heater can be gas, sulfur in the hot water, or an actual animal in the vent or burner area. How to tell.

Continue reading →Unusual noises

Water Heater Sounds Like Rocks Inside

Rumbling, popping or rattling like rocks in a tank heater is usually sediment on the bottom. When flushing helps and when the noise means a failing tank.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Sounds Like Running Water

If a water heater sounds like water running with every tap closed, water is moving: a relief valve, a leak, a recirculation pump or a dripping fixture.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Suddenly Too Hot

Water that suddenly comes out scalding can mean a stuck thermostat, a failed gas control, or a mixing valve that stopped working. What to do first.

Continue reading →RV water heater troubleshooting

Water Heater Switch Not Working

When a water heater switch does nothing, the cause is usually a tripped breaker, a disconnect or fused pullout, or on an RV a 12- or 120-volt supply fault.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Temperature Control Not Working

Turning the dial and seeing no change? It may be a mixing valve, a tripped high-limit, a failed thermostat or gas control, or the wrong expectations.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Thermal Fuse: What It Means

A thermal fuse is a one-time overheat safety. Which water heaters use one, how it differs from a resettable switch, and why it must never be bypassed.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Heater Ticking Like a Clock

A steady ticking near a water heater is usually pipes expanding, heat-trap fittings, or a check valve. When ticking is harmless and when it's a leak.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Heater Won't Stop Draining

If a water heater keeps running water out of the drain or relief valve, close the cold inlet, shut off the energy, and identify which valve is open.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water in the Pan Under a New Water Heater

Water in the pan under a newly installed heater is usually condensation, relief valve discharge, or a loose fitting or drain valve. How to tell which.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Water Leaking From the Bottom of the Tank

A puddle under a tank water heater can come from a drain valve, relief discharge, a fitting, condensation, or the tank. How to tell and what it means.

Continue reading →Troubleshooting

Water Won't Drain From the Water Heater

A water heater that won't drain usually has a sediment-clogged drain valve or no air getting into the tank. Common causes and when to call a plumber.

Continue reading →Gas, burning, and sulfur smells

White Smoke Coming From a Water Heater

White vapor from a water heater is often steam, but it can also be spilling exhaust or overheating wiring. How to tell them apart and what to do.

Continue reading →Leaks and flooding

Why Does My Water Heater Overflow Keep Discharging?

A relief valve that keeps discharging usually means high water pressure, thermal expansion, overheating, or a worn valve. What to check and never cap it.

Continue reading →Gas, burning, and sulfur smells

Why Does My Water Heater Smell Fishy?

A fishy smell in the air near a water heater can mean overheating wiring; a fishy smell in the water is usually water quality. How to tell which.

Continue reading →Pilot and ignition problems

Why Does My Water Heater Turn Off by Itself?

A water heater that shuts off on its own has usually tripped a safety: a high-limit, flame sensor, vent switch, or breaker. How to tell which one.

Continue reading →A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Water Heater Humming Noise

Why an A. O. Smith water heater hums or buzzes: which sounds are normal on electric, gas, power-vent and hybrid models, and which need a technician.

Continue reading →A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshoot an A. O. Smith water heater by type: gas, electric, hybrid heat pump or tankless. What to check first and what the lights and codes mean.

Continue reading →Whirlpool

American and Whirlpool Water Heater Troubleshooting

American Water Heaters, an A. O. Smith company, also built Whirlpool-brand tanks for Lowe's. How to sort a cold, flashing or leaking unit.

Continue reading →Amtrol

Amtrol BoilerMate Indirect Water Heater Problems

Why an Amtrol BoilerMate gives no hot water, too little, or too much: boiler call, circulator, scale, controls, error codes and a dripping relief valve.

Continue reading →Apollo

Apollo Water Heater Troubleshooting

Apollo on a water heater or air handler can mean different products. How to identify yours and narrow down no heat, lukewarm water or a cold air handler.

Continue reading →Ariston

Ariston Pressure Relief Valve Leaking: Causes

Why the relief valve on an Ariston water heater drips or discharges: house pressure, thermal expansion, overheating or a worn valve. Never cap it.

Continue reading →Ariston

Ariston Water Heater Troubleshooting

How to troubleshoot an Ariston water heater: identify the model, then check power, water supply, settings, display codes and leaks in the right order.

Continue reading →Bosch

Bosch Water Heater Troubleshooting by Model Type

Bosch makes gas tankless, electric tankless and mini-tank heaters. How to tell yours apart and what Bosch says to check when there's no hot water.

Continue reading →Bradford White

Bradford White Hydrojet Leaking at the Cold Inlet

Water at a Bradford White cold inlet is usually a nipple, union or connector, not the Hydrojet dip tube. How to find it and what's repairable.

Continue reading →Bradford White

Bradford White Water Heater Beeping: Find the Source

Standard Bradford White gas tanks flash an LED; they don't beep. Which Bradford White models have audible alerts, and what else nearby might be beeping.

Continue reading →Bradford White

Bradford White Water Heater Leaking From the Top

Water on top of a Bradford White tank usually comes from a pipe connection, the relief valve or the anode fitting. Find which, and when it's the tank.

Continue reading →Bradford White

Bradford White Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshoot a Bradford White by type: gas status-light codes, electric no-heat, leaks and display models. Verified LED meanings and owner checks.

Continue reading →Bradford White

Bradford White Water Not Hot Enough: Common Causes

Lukewarm water from a Bradford White tank: setting, mixing valves, demand, cold inlet water, a failed element or dip tube, or a gas control problem.

Continue reading →Buderus

Buderus Indirect Water Heater Problems

Why a Buderus indirect tank stops making hot water when the boiler still heats the house: the tank sensor, pump or zone valve, settings, or a coil problem.

Continue reading →Envirotemp

Envirotemp Water Heater Troubleshooting

Envirotemp heaters are ordinary gas or electric tanks. Learn to tell which you have and which checks are safe when it is cold or leaking.

Continue reading →GE / GeoSpring

GeoSpring Water Heater F-F Code

On GE GeoSpring hybrids, F-F means the electronic expansion valve is out of range, a probable refrigerant leak. What it means and what you can check.

Continue reading →HTP / Phoenix

HTP Water Heater Troubleshooting: Phoenix and SuperStor

Identify your HTP, then troubleshoot it: Phoenix condensing tank lockouts and leaks, SuperStor indirect tanks that stay cold, and tankless units.

Continue reading →Kenmore

Kenmore Water Heater Troubleshooting

Kenmore tank water heaters were built for Sears by other manufacturers. How to find yours, then check the common gas, electric and leak problems.

Continue reading →Phase III

Phase III Indirect Water Heater Troubleshooting

Triangle Tube Phase III (TR, HL, SMART) indirect tanks: causes of too little hot water, overheating, relief-valve drips and leaks, and what to check.

Continue reading →Reliance

Reliance 6-Year Water Heater Troubleshooting

Troubleshoot a Reliance 6-year gas or electric water heater: how to read the model number, then sort no heat, status light codes, and leaks.

Continue reading →Rheem

Rheem Plastic Drain Valve Leaking

How to tell whether a drip at a Rheem water heater's plastic drain valve is the valve or the tank, what you can do now, and what a plumber will replace.

Continue reading →Richmond

Richmond Water Heater Temperature Settings

What the HOT, A, B and C marks mean on a Richmond gas control, how electric and tankless models are set, and why 120°F is the starting point.

Continue reading →Ruud

Ruud and Richmond Water Heater Troubleshooting

Ruud and Richmond are Rheem brands. How to sort a cold, flashing or leaking Ruud or Richmond tank by fuel, status light and leak location.

Continue reading →State

State Select Water Heater No Hot Water

No hot water from a State Select? Electric and gas models fail differently. Sort the symptom, do the safe checks, and know what a technician will test.

Continue reading →SuperStor

SuperStor Indirect Water Heater Problems

A SuperStor indirect tank with no hot water usually has a boiler-side control problem or air in the coil. Leaks, odor, and when the tank needs replacing.

Continue reading →Triangle Tube

Triangle Tube Water Heater Problems: Smart and Prestige

Why a Triangle Tube Smart indirect tank or Prestige combi runs short of hot water, leaks, or locks out, and which faults are repairs versus replacement.

Continue reading →U.S. Craftmaster

U.S. Craftmaster Water Heater Troubleshooting

Why a U.S. Craftmaster gas or electric tank heater goes cold, shows a status light, or leaks, what you can check yourself, and when it needs a new tank.

Continue reading →Vaughn

Vaughn Water Heater Problems: Indirect and Electric

Common Vaughn Hydrastone tank problems: no hot water from an indirect or electric model, coil flange leaks, and when a stone-lined tank is beyond repair.

Continue reading →Weil-McLain

Weil-McLain Indirect Water Heater Problems

No hot water from a Weil-McLain Aqua Plus indirect usually traces to the boiler's call for heat, the pump or zone valve, air in the coil, or a mixer.

Continue reading →Weil-McLain

Weil-McLain Water Heater Leaking

A leaking Weil-McLain Aqua Plus is often the thermostat drywell on the inspection plate, which can be replaced without a new tank. How to find the leak.

Continue reading →Whirlpool

Whirlpool Water Heater Temperature Sensor Failure

What a temperature sensor fault on a Whirlpool-branded gas or electric water heater means, why the heater shuts down, and how to confirm the code.

Continue reading →Rheem

Why Does My Rheem Water Heater Keep Turning Off?

A Rheem water heater that keeps shutting off has usually tripped a safety: pilot and thermopile, overheat limit, chamber or vapor sensor, or power vent.

Continue reading →Rheem

Why Is My Rheem Water Heater Not Heating?

A Rheem water heater that won't heat needs different checks for electric, gas, heat pump and tankless models. Start with the type, then the symptom.

Continue reading →