One of the worst feelings in the world is walking into your shower expecting nice, hot water only to be greeted by the icy embrace of cold water.
We all dread this problem, and the first place to look for answers is your water heater. The only thing that could possibly be worse is if your gas water heater keeps shutting off.
If your gas water heater continues to shut off after you have tried to restart it, it is likely that the gas water heater has not been maintained properly and requires cleaning. To clean your water heater, make sure that it is off at the breaker and that the gas is off before you inspect the individual components.
It is fortunate that the majority of issues are easy to fix, even by someone without experience in doing so. We will go over the more common problems with gas water heaters, what to look for, and how to go about resolving the issues that you find on your own.
Why is Your Gas Water Heater Shutting Off?
Gas water heater shut offs are normally due to poor maintenance and cleaning of your water heater unit. Regular maintenance will prevent most of these problems from occurring. So if you have neglected your water heaters upkeep (or simply want to be thorough in your checks), here are some common reasons why a gas water heater will shut off.
Gas Is Not Flowing
One of the most simple explanations for why your gas water heater is shutting off is simply that you’ve run out of gas. This is actually a fairly common culprit to your gas water heater shutting off. The good news is that if this is the only issue, nothing has broken and you will not have to pay for expensive repairs.
You will still have to identify exactly why you are out of gas. Check the heater’s shutoff valve and the control knob to see if there is any gas flowing. Another problem is that gas could be shut off to your house.
You Have Gas Supply Problems
If your gas is on in your house and everything is on, then the problem may lie in a leak or a problem with your gas valve. If there are leaks, the gas needs to be shut off immediately, as it presents a health hazard. Call a professional to help you fix the problem.
The reason you may have a leak is that the valve and the seals around it wear down over time. moisture in the air can also cause the metals to corrode. If not inspected regularly, the corrosion can cause tiny leaks to form, and eventually turn it into a bigger leak.
The Thermopile is Dirty
The thermopile is the part of your water heater that turns on the gas controls. The pilot light heats up the thermopile and this creates electrical energy, which powers your gas control’s electrical components. This means that if the thermopile is dirty, no electricity is flowing.
If you are curious as to what the thermopile looks like, it is a metal rod that is next to the pilot flame. The fact that the pilot light is burning creates soot, and dirt in the air can also make its way to your thermopile. If this part is dirty or broken, you’ll want to call someone to take care of the issue.
The Pilot Light is Dirty
The pilot light is what burns the gas that comes out of the gas valve. The pilot light is always on while your gas water heater is running. You’ll normally find it at the base of your water heater near your gas control valve.
Soot, dust, and other particulates make their way onto the pilot light. Over time, this can make your pilot light dirty, which restricts the amount of oxygen that is reaching the flame. Since oxygen is necessary for combustion, the accumulation of dust and dirt will make the pilot light flicker and perform less optimally than it should.
Advanced Solutions
Checking For A Short Circuit
You may be surprised to learn that even if you have a gas water heater it will still have a circuit for it on the circuit breaker.
This is because your hot water heater can still pull a lot of power in order to run. The good news is that no other appliances will be on this circuit, since your water heater draws so much power.
If there is a short in the circuit, the pilot light will not ignite and the system will not turn on. Where your circuit is actually located depends upon your circuit box, but it is usually labeled.
Your Air Inlet is Clogged
At the bottom of your water heater system is an air inlet. This air inlet lets in air to keep gas burning. Most modern systems today have screens in front of the air inlet to prevent gunk and dust from getting inside, and these screens can get clogged if not cleaned regularly.
If your air inlet gets clogged, oxygen will not be able to reach lamps. And since air is required for combustion, your gas water heater will not be able to run correctly.
If your air Inlet is clogged, call a professional. They will either replace or clean the screen.
How Expensive is it to Fix Your Gas Water Heater?
Depending on the type of repairs that your gas water heater needs, the range of repair costs by a professional is anywhere between $218 to $960, with the average cost being just shy of $600. Most of this is the cost of labor, which will run between $45 to $150 per hour.
This may encourage you to try your hand at a DIY replacement. After all, replacing a heater element can cost between $10 to $80 for the part while you may wind up spending between $200 to $300 for a professional to do it.
Most heater parts cost less than $50, so if you want to save yourself some money, just make sure that you are taking proper safety precautions.
If your gas water heater keeps shutting off despite your efforts to troubleshoot, it’s time to get professional help. Contact Queen B Plumbing at (908) 633-1333 for expert assistance in Somerset County, NJ. Our experienced team is ready to diagnose and fix the issue, ensuring you have a reliable supply of hot water.
