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Water heater · Repair Copilot

Water heater — no hot water

Losing all hot water is usually a tripped breaker on an electric heater or a pilot light that went out on a gas one — not a dead tank. But a water heater involves either high-voltage or a live gas burner, so some of this is strictly call-a-pro. Show SightLine the unit and a veteran plumber persona tells you exactly where the safe line is.

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Steps to fix water heater — no hot water

  1. Identify the type: ELECTRIC (just wires up top, a breaker) or GAS (a gas line and a burner access panel at the bottom).
  2. Electric: check the breaker panel for a tripped water-heater breaker and reset it; if it trips again, stop — that's an electrician's job.
  3. SCALD SAFETY: don't crank the thermostat above 120°F — hotter water can cause serious burns, fast, especially for kids and older adults.
  4. Gas: if you smell gas, leave immediately and call the gas company from outside — do NOT relight anything.
  5. Gas, no gas smell: you may relight a pilot ONLY by the exact instructions on the unit's label; if it won't stay lit, the thermocouple or gas valve needs a pro.
  6. Call a licensed plumber or gas tech for a leaking tank, a failed heating element or thermostat, or any repair to the gas valve, burner, or supply line.

Safety first: if a step calls for gas, a main water or sewer line, a service panel or main breaker, or a sealed refrigerant system, stop and call a licensed pro — Repair Copilot will tell you when you're there.