What would cause a gas hot water heater to stop working?

Can water heaters last 20 years?

The typical warranty for a gas powered hot water heater is usually five or six years. A higher quality, more expensive brand will have a ten-year warranty. Gas water heater made of fiberglass will typically come with a lifetime warranty and a stainless steel gas water heater will last even longer than a conventional unit.

So, if we were to even all things to equal, a new gas water heater should last the length of the warranty. If you keep the basic maintenance done, like flushing it as recommended by the manufacturer, you could get up to thirteen years or longer.

How do you know when your water heater needs replacing?

Here in Chattanooga, Tennessee, like anywhere else, the water heater is an essential appliance for the household. We’re taking bathes or showers, we’re washing dishes or cooking, or we’re doing laundry. Not a day goes by that you won’t use you gas water heater. If you aren’t sure how old your gas water heater is, or you do know and wonder if it is time to replace it, here are some signs that will tell you it is time to get a new water heater:

The Age

If you aren’t sure how your gas water heater is, look for the manufacturer’s serial number tag. The first two numbers of the serial number are the year they manufactured your gas water heater. If you can’t find that tag, use the manufacturer’s website and they may have a source to determine the age.  A gas water heater that is ten years old needs to be replaced unless you have a history of the unit. 

Water is Rusty

If the hot water coming out of your faucets is rusty, your gas water heater is probably rusted inside the tank. Drain your water heater into several five-gallon buckets and if any rust comes out, you need a new gas water heater. Metallic tasting water or muddy looking water is a sign that a new gas water heater is needed.

Insufficient Hot Water Supply

If one load of wash keeps you from getting a hot shower, your gas water heater has probably reached its end of life. Overtime, sediment from the water will build up inside the water heater tanks and eventually, it can’t keep a supply of hot water. This is one reason manufacturers recommend draining your gas water heater ever two to three years to keep that sediment level minimized. 

Clanking and Rumbling

A gas water heater should be relatively quiet, but as they age and that sediment builds up in the tank, it is heated and reheated, eventually hardening. A lot of energy is wasted and you’re not getting full use of your water heater.  When you hear clanking, rumbling, or other noises, you’re probably running out of hot water faster too, it is time to replace the unit with a more energy efficient unit.

Leaking Gas Water Heater       

Metal contracts and expands with cooling and heating. If there is the smallest fracture in the gas water heater tank, you’ll probably notice sooner than later that your gas water heater is leaking. What if you don’t see any fractures or water leaking from the tank, but there is water in the floor around the water heater? Check all the connections and fittings to make sure none of it has come loose. Check the drain pan and if there is water there, your gas water heater is leaking from the bottom. 

How do I know if my gas water heater is bad?

Reviewing the signs of a gas water heater reaching its end of life are the same signs that a water heater is bad. If you’re not getting any hot water from it, it is already beyond those signs, and if you don’t know the exact age and can’t find the serial number tag, it is probably an old model that should have been replaced long ago.

How do you troubleshoot a gas hot water heater?

No hot water? First thing you want to check is the pilot light. Towards the bottom of the tank you’ll find an inspection window. Check there for either a small flame or an LED light, depending on how old your gas water heater is. If no flame or light, then the pilot light has gone out and needs to be relit. Your water heater should have instructions on the side of it how to relight it. 

If the pilot light on the gas water heater will not light, then check the electric spark needed isn’t getting to the pilot. This could be because the gas line has air in itand needs to be purged.  Or the gas supply valve is turned off. It should be in a parallel position with the gas pipe.

Sometimes, the thermocouple could be defective, which is easy to replace yourself if you have any mechanical ability. If not, call a professional plumber to replace it for you. The gas pressure may be too low, which will need to be checked by a professional plumber or your gas company.