No hot water from a gas water heater
Cold showers are miserable, but the fix is often free and takes ten minutes — most of the time the pilot has simply gone out.
tuneQue remarquez-vous?
Sélectionnez ce qui correspond et la liste ci-dessous se réordonne. Pas certain? Passez.
flag
Commencez ici
In Canadian homes, check the pilot light first. Open the access panel and look for the small blue flame; if it's out, relight it following the instructions printed on the tank. Free, and the most common fix by far. If it won't catch or you smell gas, stop and call your gas utility.
Classé selon des données de pannes réelles. L’ordre s’ajuste selon vos observations ci-dessus.
Causes probables, dans l’ordre à vérifier
Ordre typique affiché Pour débutant Faisable, avec soin Sécurité critique Appelez un pro
visibilityHow to check
report Gas safety before you testYou'll have the pilot lit and gas flowing to test the thermocouple. Work in a ventilated space, keep the burner area clear, and if you smell more than the faint whiff of relighting, stop and leave. If any of this is outside your comfort zone, a thermocouple swap is a fast, inexpensive job for a licensed plumber or gas-fitter.
- Relight the pilot per the tank's printed instructions and watch it: if it dies within a minute of releasing the knob, the thermocouple is the prime suspect.
- Look at the thermocouple tip — it should sit right in the pilot flame. White chalky buildup, corrosion, or a bent tip out of the flame all point to failure.
- To be sure, a multimeter on millivolts across the thermocouple should read above ~25 mV with the pilot lit; below ~15 mV confirms a replacement is needed.
buildmultimeter schedule20 min
handymanHow to fix it
Shut off the gas, remove the burner assembly, swap in a matching thermocouple (match length and connector), reseat it in the pilot flame, and leak-test every joint with soapy water before leaving it running.
- Turn the gas control to OFF and close the gas shutoff valve (handle a quarter-turn, crosswise to the pipe).
- Disconnect the three lines at the control valve (pilot, thermocouple, burner) and slide out the burner assembly.
- Fit a new thermocouple of the same length; hand-thread the nut, then snug a quarter-turn — the metal is soft, do not overtighten.
- Reinstall, relight, and brush a 50/50 dish-soap/water mix on every joint. Growing bubbles mean a leak: shut off and re-seat. No bubbles, you're done.
schedule45 min savings$12–25
Universal thermocouple kitMatch the length (usually 18–36") and the connector to your old one
gavel Vérifiez d’abord votre province AB: permis au propriétaire · BC: permis au propriétaire · ON: permis au propriétaire · PE: permis au propriétaire · QC: réservé aux licenciés
Owner replacement of a thermocouple is generally permitted; gas-fitting for valve/supply work is licensed-only.
Owner replacement of a thermocouple is generally permitted; gas-fitting for valve/supply work is licensed-only.
verifiedPourquoi confier ceci à un pro
Diagnosing and replacing a gas control valve means live gas work and a leak-tight reassembly. In every province this is work for a licensed plumber or gas-fitter — the cost of the part is small next to the cost of getting gas wrong.
Vos notes accompagnent la demande — ce que vous avez vu, ce que vous avez éliminé, quand ça a commencé — pour que le pro arrive avec une longueur d’avance.
Pourquoi la liste est dans cet ordre
Nous ne classons pas seulement selon la probabilité. Nous classons comme le ferait un bon artisan honnête : éliminer d’abord les causes gratuites, sûres et courantes. C’est pourquoi les vérifications peu coûteuses passent avant les réparations chères — et pourquoi tout ce qui est dangereux reçoit un arrêt net plutôt qu’un encouragement. Cet ordre existe pour vous faire économiser, pas pour vous vendre quelque chose.