
No Hot Water
If you smell gas anywhere near the heater, leave the house first and call from outside rather than trying anything at the appliance.
When this becomes an emergency
- Cold water at every tap while the tank feels cool through the jacket.
- Hot that runs lukewarm for two minutes and then quits.
- A pilot that lights and drops out again within a minute.
- Rust-coloured water from the hot side only.
What a pro does
The plumber starts by working out whether the heater is making hot water badly or not making it at all, because those go down different roads. On a gas tank it's the thermocouple, the gas valve, or a flue that isn't drawing, and a basement in a tightly sealed newer Midland home can starve a naturally vented heater of combustion air in a way an old drafty house never did. On electric it's usually an element or a thermostat, and the upper and lower ones fail with different symptoms. Michigan groundwater is hard through most of the state, so sediment matters more here than the brochure suggests: a layer of scale on a tank floor insulates the burner from the water and turns a lukewarm complaint into a dead heater over a couple of winters. Incoming water in January can arrive near forty degrees, which means the same tank that coped in July can't keep up in February. A plumber checks the anode and the tank's age before selling anyone on a repair that a rusted-through shell won't hold.
Frequently asked questions
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disclaimer: Plumbers of Michigan is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service providers. All contractors/providers are independent and Plumbers of Michigan does not warrant or guarantee any work performed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to verify that the hired contractor furnishes the necessary license and insurance required for the work being performed. All persons depicted in a photo or video are actors or models and not contractors listed on Plumbers of Michigan.
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