Is your hot water coming out lukewarm or cold? Don’t suffer from cold showers anymore! Gas hot water systems can seem daunting to deal with. However, there are many ways you can fix these problems by yourself, with a bit of help.
In this blog, we will discover why your gas hot water is not working. You will also get troubleshooting guides for the different issues your water heater system might have.
Gas Hot Water System Comes with a Warranty
Before you discover why your gas hot water system is not working in Australia, you must know it comes with a warranty. If it is damaged before the right time, you can make a claim to the related company to replace or repair it.
Check if the warranty of your faulty component is still valid. If it’s still valid, contact the company. If the warranty has expired, you should consider replacing the parts.
Troubleshooting the General Problems of Gas Hot Water Systems
Before getting into the troubleshooting methods, let’s first identify the signs that your gas water system is malfunctioning:
- The water temperature keeps changing.
- Lukewarm water
- Off-color or smelly water
- Water is cold
- Low water pressure
1. Water Temperature Keeps Changing
Faulty Component
The reason why your gas hot water is not working could be the gas meter diaphragm, thermostat, or shower head. To resolve the issue, first turn off the gas and electricity in the system. Then, replace the components wearing gloves. Finally, check if the temperature is steady.
Low Pressure
If the water pressure is weak, it can mess with the temperature. Getting a recirculating pump can help with increasing the pressure.
Low Gas
If you are using an undersized bottle of gas, it will affect how it heats the water. For the best performance, switch to the correct size as the manufacturer advises.
2. Lukewarm Water
If gas hot water is not getting hot enough, your water might be cooling down on the way to the tap. This is likely to happen if the tap is far away from the heating element. To test for this, try the hot water temperature from a closer tap. If the water is hot, then the problem might be distance. To fix this, install a recirculating pump and add insulation around your pipes.
3. Off-Colour or Smelly Water
If your water is coming out discolored or smelly, it might be a faulty anode. Here’s how you can check if it’s the anode:
- Find a replacement anode that fits your model according to the manufacturer.
- Turn off the gas and electricity to the system.
- Keep a rag nearby to catch any spill.
- Find the anode near the type of the tank. You can search your model online to find exactly where it is.
- Connect a hose and drain 7-8 litres of water.
- Use one or a 1/6-inch socket to turn the anode rod counterclockwise to loosen it.
- With gloves on, remove the anode rod and replace it with a new one.
- Turn the power and gas back on and wait over an hour
- If your water is still discolored or smells odd, get your water tested for bacteria.
4. Cold Water
Circuit Breaker
If there was a power surge, the circuit breaker may have been triggered and turned off electricity access to your system. In this situation, all you need to do is just flip the breaker back on. The water may take some time to heat up.
Pilot Light
Strong winds, storms, empty gas, and poor installation can all cause issues with pilot lights. The pilot light is the initial spark that turns on the burner. So, when this light is off, even if every part is in good condition, your water won’t heat up. Reigniting the pilot light is easy, but first, you must check for a gas leak. If there is no smell of gas, you can continue. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to get things streamlined. If the pilot light won’t come on, you need a professional.
Main Gas Supply
Check if the top handle is connected to your main gas supply, and check if it is turned on. If it lights, the problem is with the heater. If it doesn’t light, check the gas meter valve tap. If it’s on, but there’s still no gas, call your utility company.
5. Water Pressure
Instantaneous hot water systems need a certain amount of water for the pilot to turn on. Turn your taps to maximum flow and wait 5 minutes to see if the water heats. If you have low pressure, use a recirculating pump or call a technician to fix that issue.
Precautions to Take for DIY Troubleshooting
Before you try any troubleshooting, you need to make sure you are as safe as possible. Here are some precautions:
- Remove flammable objects in the nearby area.
- Only work on electrical parts with insulating gloves on.
- Turn off the power to the hot water system before touching any electrical component.
- Stay away from the combustion opening.
- Keep in mind the water may be very hot.
- Check for a gas leak. Go near the ground and smell for gas. If you smell gas, switch it off at the main supply and call your gas utility technician.
- If you need clarification at any point, turn off the gas supply and call professionals.
Recap
There could be many more reasons why your gas hot water is not working. However, there are ways to pinpoint the issue and fix it. Whatever the problem your gas water system has, you can always rely on experts like Jeremy’s Plumbing to help you.
