Plumbing · Today

No hot water? Here’s what to do.

If you smell gas, leave first and call from outside. Otherwise, no hot water is a job for today, not an emergency.

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First, this

Smell gas? Leave, then call. If you smell gas (rotten eggs), leave immediately on foot. Do not use switches, phones, or anything that could spark. From a safe distance call 911 and your gas utility. Source
Electric? Breaker off first. For an electric water heater, turn off power at the circuit breaker before touching wiring or panels. Source
Flooded heater? Don’t light it. If a gas water heater has been underwater, do not try to operate it. Contact the gas utility or a qualified service professional for a safety inspection. Source
Leave the gas to a professional. If the gas was turned off, do not turn it back on yourself; only a qualified professional should restore it. Source

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Usually a job for today.

Call now(911 and the gas utility): any gas smell. CenterPoint says to treat every gas smell as an emergency.

Call nowCarbon monoxide alarm sounding or CO symptoms, or a tank leaking water toward electrical connections.

TodayNo hot water, a tank leaking at the base, or a relief valve that keeps discharging.

Can waitIf your water heater is more than 10 years old, start shopping for a replacement now.

Before you call

Safety first

CPSC urges setting water heaters to 120 degrees F to prevent scalds; even at 120 degrees, a five-minute exposure could cause third-degree burns. Source
Keep gasoline and other flammable liquids away from a gas water heater. Their vapors can reach the burner or pilot light and ignite in a flashback fire. Source
Install a hardwired carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup near a fuel-fired water heater. Source
The temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve is a safety device that releases hot water or steam when pressure or temperature builds up too high; test it yearly per the manufacturer. Source

What to tell the plumber

Gas or electric, and tank or tankless.
Brand, capacity (gallons), and age from the label on the unit; a photo of the label helps.
Where it is installed (garage, attic, closet, utility room).
The symptom: no hot water, not enough hot water, leaking (where), dripping relief valve, pilot will not stay lit, odd noises.
Whether you have shut off the power or gas and the cold-water supply.

What it costs

Your plumber quotes before starting; we don’t publish plumbers’ prices. City fees we can source: Longview residential building permit - mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas, irrigation: $80.

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