Water heater broken or not?

Question

Now my water is cold since this morning. It will not heat up. The breaker did not switch off and the water heater did not leak. I pushed the reset button and the water is still cold this evening.

I hope I don't need to buy a new water heater!

The temperature was set all the way on high. I have turned the temp down half-way now. I had been using a lot of hot water in my clothes washer and dishwasher, possibly at the same time.

What might I do to fix this thing?

Do you have any ideas about what might be done to fix my water heater?

Answer 1

Probably just a burned out element.  They are available at the hardware store but not likely something you want to tackle.  If your tank is a rental, just call the utility.

Answer 2

Don't mess with it, call a plumber . the last time this happened to me unfortunately i had to get a new one, my house it total electric.

Hopefully it is just a minor problem, is it gas?  the pilot light may have been blown out.

Answer 3

The heater element may have burned out and may need a replacement element.

Replacing an element requires depressuring the heater, removing the old and installng the new.  You must know which element is bad (usually there are 2 and it is not uncommon that one is burned out and the other is ok).

If you do not know how to proceed, get help from the pros.

Answer 4

You should call a plumber. Sentiment may have clogged it but you could also have a leak. The element could be out you need a meter to check the resistence

Answer 5

try flipping your breaker all the way to off then to on again. I had a dryer breaker that partially tripped off. sounds weird I know but after buying a new dryer because my old one would tumble but not heat up. Before I removed the old one I realized the breaker was not quite on "ON" and low and be hold the stupid thing started working right. Of course I did not tell my spouse I had a brand new one waiting to go in that spot. I talked him into putting it down stairs for his hunting clothes, lol Wow Honey it's working now, lucky you. lol  I got a new dryer out of that mistake, lol.

Sure hope this is your problem. If it is electric you might just need the element changed. That's well worth the money of a service call.

Cheri'

Answer 6

If it's electric, you might have an element out. You might also have an electrical problem.  Either way, it's a call to an electrician.

First, make sure you check your breaker (in the breaker/fuse box) as well as the breaker/reset switch on the heater itself.