Gas Water Heater Repair

Why isn't in that location whatever hot h2o? This Fix-Information technology Guide on gas water heater repair tells how a gas water heater works, what often goes wrong, how to identify a gas water heater problem, and what parts and tools you will need to set it. It then gives uncomplicated step-past-stride instructions for how to calorie-free a gas h2o heater pilot lite, how to  make clean the airplane pilot orifice, how to service a gas water heater thermocouple, how to replace a thermocouple, how to test and supplant a gas water heater relief valve, how to supervene upon a drain valve, how to test and maintain the flue and vent, and how to bleed a gas h2o heater tank.

How Does a Gas Water Heater Work?

Gas Water Heater Repair

A natural or propane gas water heater uses a burner to heat water in the tank for distribution throughout the home.

A water heater is an appliance for heating and storing hot water. A h2o heater typically warms water to a temperature between 120° and 140°F. When a hot-h2o faucet is opened, hot water flows from the summit of the tank toward the faucet, and cold h2o enters via the dip tube to supplant it. The fuel for heating the water heater can exist natural gas or propane, or it can exist electricity (meet Electric Water Heater Ready-It Guide).

As the water temperature inside the tank drops below the setpoint, the thermostat opens a valve that sends gas to the burner, where it is ignited by a pilot flame or electric spark. Combustion gases are vented from the burner sleeping room through the flue and its heat-retaining baffle, then out the draft hood and vent. If the temperature or water pressure rises too high inside the h2o heater, a relief valve opens to foreclose the tank from exploding.

What Tin can Go Wrong with a Gas H2o Heater?

The airplane pilot light may be out or may not stay lit. There may not be enough hot water, or the h2o may be too hot. The water heater may leak or be noisy, or the hot water may be muddy.

Gear up-It Tip

A trouble with your water heater may be due to overwork, non mechanics. If your water heater holds less than xv gallons per family member (tank volume is stamped on a metal plate affixed to most h2o heaters), consider a larger unit or staggering your employ of hot water.

How Tin I Identify a Gas Water Heater Problem?

  • If there is no hot water, check to see if the pilot light is out and re-light it if information technology is (meet below).
  • If the pilot lite won't stay lit, make clean the pilot orifice (see below); tighten the thermocouple connections (see beneath), and supersede a faulty thermocouple (encounter beneath).
  • If at that place is not enough hot water, check and reset the temperature control if necessary.
  • If the water is also hot, cheque and reset the gas water heater temperature command. If it is set too high, have a faulty thermostat serviced professionally.
  • If the heater leaks, operate the force per unit area relief valve and if the leak persists and the temperature is okay, have the valve replaced.
  • If the gas water heater tank is rusted, supercede the water heater.
  • If the heater is noisy, bleed and flush the tank (see below) and refill.
  • If the hot water is dirty, drain and flush the tank and refill (meet below).
  • If the gas water heater relief valve or the drain valve leaks, test and replace as needed (see beneath) Regular maintenance of the flue and vent (see beneath), and regular draining of the tank (meet beneath) will prolong the life of your gas water heater.
  • If you have hard water, check the anode rod yearly (see below) and supervene upon if necessary.

Set up-Information technology Tip

Do you live in an area with difficult h2o? If so, you lot know that minerals in the water supply can build up, creating a layer of sediment on the bottom of a water tank, hindering operation and shortening the system's life. Besides softening the water (meet Water Softener) fed to the heater, you can minimize damage by lowering the temperature setpoint to 130°F or less.

What Do I Need for Gas Water Heater Repair?

You lot can get replacement parts–and even a replacement gas water heater–from plumbing suppliers, large hardware stores, and home centers. The tools you'll need to set up your water heater include these:

  • Pipe wrench
  • Open up-finish wrenches
  • Thin copper wire
  • Plumber'southward piping tape
  • Soft brush
  • Vacuum cleaner

What Are the Steps to Gas Water Heater Repair?

Caution!

If you aroma a gas odor for more than than a couple of minutes, close the gas-shutoff valve supplying the water heater, open a door or window to ventilate the room, and call the gas company for service.

Lite a gas h2o heater pilot light:

  1. Remove the burner access panel. Read and follow lighting directions on or most the cover.
  2. To light a pilot that has blown out, turn the temperature-control dial to its lowest setting and the gas-control knob to off. Wait at least v minutes for the gas to clear.
  3. Tightly twist a slice of paper and lite information technology. Turn the gas-command knob to airplane pilot. Depress the reset button (or the gas-control knob if there is no reset button) while property the burning paper near the pilot burner. The pilot may be difficult to reach.
  4. If the airplane pilot fails to low-cal after a few seconds, close the gas-shutoff valve and call the gas company. If information technology lights, continue pressing the reset button or knob for one minute, and then release it.
  5. If the pilot stays lit, turn the gas-control knob to on; the chief burner should light when the temperature-control punch is set higher up 120°.
  6. If the pilot does not stay lit, turn the gas-control knob to off. Cheque that the thermocouple's tip is positioned so the pilot's flame touches it, and tighten the nut holding information technology in place. Attempt lighting it again. If the flame goes out over again, supervene upon the thermocouple.

Clean a gas h2o heater pilot orifice:

  1. Shut the gas valve (refer to the heater's owner'south manual for specific instructions).
  2. Disconnect the burner assembly lines at the gas command valve and remove the burner assembly.
  3. Carefully probe the pilot lite orifice with a thin wire; practise not use a needle or paper clip that can damage the orifice. Vacuum out any dislodged debris.

Service a gas water heater thermocouple:

  1. Cheque the thermocouple for loose connections at the command valve. The thermocouple is located near the pilot flame.
  2. Make certain that the thermocouple's bulb tip is held in the pilot flame. If necessary, carefully tighten the nut, but don't over-tighten it.

Gear up-It Tip

When you buy replacements, take the old h2o-heater parts, as well as the make and model number, with you.

Replace a gas water heater thermocouple:

  1. Turn the gas-control knot to off and shut the gas-shutoff valve.
  2. Loosen the nut that secures the thermocouple pb to the control unit of measurement, then unscrew it by hand.
  3. Remove the old thermocouple from the control unit.
  4. Push the tip of the new thermocouple into the airplane pilot bracket clip as far as it will go and tighten the fitting.
  5. Screw the nut at the end of the lead to the control unit.
  6. Open the gas-shutoff valve and relight the pilot. If the pilot light goes out, close the gas-shutoff valve and phone call a professional.

Exam and replace a gas water heater relief valve:

Caution!

The relief valve spews hot water. Make sure you apply caution when working on this component. Earlier replacing information technology, turn off the hot h2o system and let it absurd down.

  1. Lift the spring lever on the valve for a few seconds to clear the valve of mineral scale.
  2. If no water spurts out, or if water continues to drip subsequently the valve is released, replace the valve.
  3. Turn the gas-control knob to off and shut the gas-shutoff valve. Close the common cold-water supply valve.
  4. Drain a gallon or more of water from the tank.
  5. Unscrew and remove the discharge pipe if there is one.
  6. Unscrew the relief valve from the tank with a pipe wrench.
  7. Employ pipe record to the threads of the new valve.
  8. Screw the relief valve into the tank by hand, then tighten with a pipe wrench.
  9. Screw the discharge pipe (if any) into the valve outlet.
  10. Refill the water heater and light the pilot. If the valve leaks, have a plumber check for high water pressure in the firm.

Replace a gas h2o heater drain valve:

  1. Plow the gas-control knob to off and close the gas-shutoff valve.
  2. Close the common cold-water supply valve and drain the water heater completely (see in a higher place).
  3. Utilize a pipe wrench to unscrew the base of operations of the drain valve.
  4. Purchase an exact or better replacement bleed valve.
  5. Wrap pipe tape around the threaded end of the valve and screw it into the coupling.
  6. Use pipe record to the pipe threads that emerge from the water heater.
  7. Spiral the coupling and valve onto the nipple and tighten.
  8. Tighten the valve so that it faces down toward the flooring.
  9. Refill the tank and relight the pilot.

Test and maintain a gas water heater flue and vent:

  1. Set the h2o heater at a high temperature to low-cal the burner and wait 10 minutes.
  2. Hold a lighted match at the edge of the draft hood. A properly working vent will draw the flame under the edge of the hood. When yous blow out the friction match, the hood should suck upwardly the smoke. If the flame or fume is blown abroad from the hood, the vent may be blocked.
  3. To detach a blocked vent, first turn off the h2o heater, close the gas-shutoff valve; let the burner, typhoon hood, and vent cool.
  4. Remove the burner access panels and cover the burner and floor with paper to catch soot and droppings.
  5. Mark the vent sections for reassembly.
  6. Remove the draft hood from the tiptop of the tank and advisedly make clean information technology with a wire brush.
  7. Replace any rusted or damaged ductwork.
  8. With the vent removed, lift the bamboozle from the flue and clean it of soot with a wire castor.
  9. Reinstall the baffle, draft hood, and vent, and so vacuum the inside of the combustion chamber.
  10. Make clean the burner and its ports with a modest brush (such as an onetime toothbrush).
  11. Relight the pilot. Exam the vent with a friction match as in Steps ane and two. If the flame or smoke is not fatigued up, there may be a blockage in the main chimney; telephone call for service.

Drain a gas water heater tank:

  1. Plough the gas-command knob to off and close the gas-shutoff valve.
  2. Shut the cold-water supply valve and open up a hot-h2o faucet in the house to speed draining.
  3. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and run it outside to a drain. If the heater is in the basement you may need to run the hose to or through a sump pump.
  4. Open the drain valve and allow the tank to drain.
  5. In one case washed, shut the drain valve, open the cold-water supply valve, and open any nearby hot-water faucet. When a steady stream of h2o flows from that faucet, the tank is full; close the hot-water faucet.
  6. Once the tank is full, turn on the gas and relight the pilot.