Home water heat problem ? please come on in

[MetalSlug]

Hi my home water heat some how not working, half of my house is dont have hot water, and other half is having hot water. I think 8 month ago we have same problem, and this guy coming over and he use some kind of lighter and light something on the water heat thing, it take him like 1 min to make the water heat work again. and he charger us $85 dollar, now it happent again, any one have any ideal what going on ? thanks !

 

[simple_gifts]

Do you only have 1 water heater for the whole house?

 

[Quest]

Is your hot water heater natural gas heating? Also: does it come with the traditional pilot light? (meaning that if you peak through a sight glass on the little door at the bottom of the tank, you shall see a small, match-light size flame staying "lit" all the time)?

If so, check to see if your pilot light is out. all yo have to do is get a long match, turn off your gas (there's a dial-type regulator switch close by on the tank). With a lighted match (lighter with long nose is great for this kind of job also), light the pilot light portion while your other hand turn the knob of the regulator to "pilot" mode (usually press and turn) for about 20secs and then gently let go of the regulator knob. Your pilot light should stay on from now on.

If it goes off shortly for unknown reason, you have issues with your tank. Get a licensed gas fitter to investigate and resolve.

Remember: natural gas appliances are extremely dangerous. If you don't know anything I'm talking about then STOP. Get someone who does and don't tackle it yourself.

Q.

 

[Milkman]

Pilot light out ?

Should have relighting instructions on the tank.

 

[MetalSlug]

You think if I take some picture and post here, you guy can pint point out if I have pilot light ?

My house have 2 water heat thing. one for half of the house and other is for other half.

the one that go out in the one closer to the garage, and I alway leave garage door open. we own this house for 6 year and its 10-15 year old house, and it only go out 1 time that like 8-9 month ago.

 

[Quest]

Please be aware that if one of your 2 heater(s) suffering from periodic pilot light going out (assuming no one in your house was silly enough to tamper with it, i.e. blowing the light out or turn off the pilot light knob on regulator), then there may be possibly either gas pressure variation or (b) your regulator/pilot light set up may be faulty or incorrectly adjusted.

Granted that the one in-question is only a few (
My take (granted that you are confident on this part) is to light the pilot light one more time and see how it goes.

Q.

 

[Milkman]

2 Water Heaters ?

How big is the house ?

How many people ?

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: CamaroT56
Hi my home water heat some how not working, half of my house is dont have hot water, and other half is having hot water. I think 8 month ago we have same problem, and this guy coming over and he use some kind of lighter and light something on the water heat thing, it take him like 1 min to make the water heat work again. and he charger us $85 dollar, now it happent again, any one have any ideal what going on ? thanks !


Have a friend or neighbor come and help you out. Have them show you how to light the pilot light.

 

[757guy]

You mentioned that one of the water heaters is by the garage door and my guess is that a wind gust from that open door might be blowing out the pilot light. Could possibly have a regulator problem as well. Good luck.

 

[John K]

Haven't newer gas water heaters eliminated the pilot light and use an ignitor?

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: John K
Haven't newer gas water heaters eliminated the pilot light and use an ignitor?
Not on residential units.

 

[MetalSlug]

my house is 2,500 square ft, 4 bed room for 5 peoples.

 

[mopar_monkey]

Originally Posted By: 757guy
You mentioned that one of the water heaters is by the garage door and my guess is that a wind gust from that open door might be blowing out the pilot light. Could possibly have a regulator problem as well. Good luck.

agreed, sounds like when your garage door is open the wind is blowing out the pilot light, relight and see if you can do something to block the wind.

 

[JustinH]

I had a pilot light go out on an older gas water heater the other day, first time ever.

It turned out to be a 7 dollar thermocouple replacement, in stock at home depot and took 20 minutes to fix.

Get a friend to look at it.

 

[tom slick]

Call your gas supplier and have them come out and show you how to light the pilot.