Water heater repair
Rarely an emergency
No hot water is usually the heat source — a tripped breaker or high-limit switch, or a pilot that went out. Water around the tank is urgent: shut the cold supply and the power or gas, then find where it is coming from.
Show us the water heater.
Snap a photo — see what it is, how urgent, who to call. One photo of the problem. fixRAgent reads it and gives you a Triage Profile.
Or start with a sentence
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Start with the problem
- No hot waterIf no tap in the house runs hot, the water heater has lost its heat source: on an electric heater, a tripped breaker or a tripped high-limit (ECO) switch; on a gas heater, a pilot or burner that has gone out or a closed gas valve.
- Water heater leakingWhere the water comes from decides everything.
- Is my water heater working?Step-by-step guide.
Every water heater problem, by brand
Water heater leaking waterUsually urgent, not an emergency
Is it an emergency? Usually urgent, not an emergency. Turn off the water to it and switch off its breaker, then soak up standing water. If water is reaching outlets or cords, switch off the breaker before touching anything; water coming through a ceiling is an emergency.
Water heater not workingRarely an emergency
Is it an emergency? Rarely an emergency. Check power first: the plug, the breaker and any GFCI outlet. Stop and call a pro if it smells like burning, trips the breaker again, or runs on gas and you smell gas.
Water heater won’t startRarely an emergency
Is it an emergency? Rarely an emergency. Check its breaker and, on a gas unit, the display or the label by the gas control. Stop and call a pro if it keeps tripping the breaker, smells like burning, or you smell gas.
Water heater making a loud noiseUsually not an emergency
Is it an emergency? Usually not an emergency. A new grinding, rattling or humming most often comes from a fan, motor, belt or loose panel. Stop using it and cut the power if the noise comes with a burning smell, smoke or sparks; if it runs on gas and you smell gas, leave and call the gas company or 911 from outside.
Water heater smells like burningTreat it as urgent
Is it an emergency? Treat it as urgent. Turn it off and switch off its breaker, and do not use it again until the cause is found. If you see smoke or flames, or smell gas, get everyone out and call 911.
Water heater flashing an error codeUsually not an emergency
Is it an emergency? Usually not an emergency — the code is the appliance reporting a fault it detected. Note the code, then turn it off at the breaker for a minute and back on. If the code returns with a burning smell, smoke or a leak, leave it off and call a pro.
Related problems
Other appliances
Dishwasher repair
Refrigerator repair
Microwave repair
Furnace repair
Washer repair
Dryer repair
Range repair
Oven repair
HVAC repair
All appliancesBy brand
Error codes
Start from a photo

A resident sent you this?
What a property manager should do when a resident reports a leaking water heater: the first message, how urgent, who to send.

Not sure which problem it is?
Snap a photo of it. The Triage Profile says what it is, how urgent it is, and who to call.