I have no hot water
On an electric water heater, check the breaker and the reset button on the upper thermostat. On a gas heater, check whether the pilot or igniter is lit. Both are free to check and both solve a meaningful share of no-hot-water calls without a visit.
Do this first
- Work out whether your heater is gas or electric. The gas one has a flue pipe and a burner access panel.
- Electric: check the breaker, then the red reset button behind the upper access panel.
- Gas: check whether the pilot or igniter is lit, following the label on the unit.
- If neither applies, or you are unsure, stop there and call. Do not relight repeatedly if it will not hold.
What it usually is
- A tripped breaker or resetElectric heaters trip a high-limit reset for a reason, but sometimes the reason has passed.
- A failed heating element or thermostatThe most common electric failure, and a straightforward repair.
- A pilot or igniter faultOn gas units, often a dirty thermocouple rather than a failed part.
- A tank at the end of its lifeIf it is leaking from the tank body, no repair fixes that.
When to call, and when it can wait
If you do need us
Identify the unit
Gas or electric, tank or tankless. This changes the diagnosis entirely.
Test the components
Elements, thermostats, thermocouple, igniter — we find the failure rather than guessing.
Repair or replace, honestly
A component failure on a sound tank is a repair. A leaking tank body is not.
Verify before leaving
Run the system and confirm temperature and recovery.
Houston note
Houston water is hard, and sediment in the bottom of a tank heater is one of the most consistent findings we have. It shows up as rumbling, slower recovery, and a heater that seems to have shrunk. Periodic flushing genuinely helps and costs far less than early replacement.
Related problems
What moves the price
- TYPEGas, electric, or tankless.
- FAULTA thermostat is a small part. A tank is a replacement.
- CODEWhat a replacement is required to add that your current setup lacks.
Questions about this
Is it worth repairing an old water heater?
Depends on what failed. An element or thermostat is worth repairing on almost any sound tank. A tank leaking from the body is not repairable at any price. We give you both numbers rather than deciding for you.
My hot water runs out fast. Is the heater failing?
Not necessarily. Sediment build-up reduces effective capacity, and Houston water is hard enough that it accumulates. Sometimes flushing helps. Sometimes the household simply outgrew the tank size.
Water is pooling under the heater. Is that urgent?
Yes, treat it as urgent. It may be a fitting or the relief valve, which is repairable, or the tank body, which is not. Either way water near a gas burner or electrical connection is worth shutting down promptly.
Not sure how urgent it is?
Describe what is happening and we will tell you straight: call an emergency out now, book it for today, or leave it until the week.