Water heater mysteriously turned off and gas won't even come on to attempt to re-light?
So I came home today and a family member told me that they noticed the water in the kitchen never got hot as it usually did. I tried all other hot water sources, and all were cold. I went down to the basement and the hot water heater itself is cold, so all water inside is cold, too. It’s not on at all. It mysteriously seems to have turned itself off. It’s in about a 4 ft. x 15 ft. dugout crawlspace that the FHA made the former owners dig out and put cinderblocks around it. At one end, there is the sump pump and sump hole…at the other end is the heat/air machine (working just fine) and hot water end on the far end. The sump pump is working fine. I do not see any waterline on the water heater, so I have absolutely no reason to believe that water flooded it. I followed all re-light directions on the labels. I have no idea of the model or any of that. I do know it has an electric ignitor switch. I pressed down and held the "reset" switch and had the knob turned to "pilot"…while clicking the ignitor. It’s like no gas turns on at all, and when it was working properly, I remember a gas sound when the knob was turned and before pilot ignition.
What could be the issue? I know that absolutely no one has been down there turning off any gas knobs. It doesn’t appear to be related to water or flooding. I’m thinking it may be the ignition control box itself…but I don’t know a thing about any of that other than how to typically light it. The water heater is probably 6-7 years old. Is it a best bet to just get it replaced completely? It’s a muddy crawlspace, so they charge a fee for that crawlspace and it’s one of those 0 jobs for the water heater and install, if I remember correctly from last time.
I’m also wondering if there would be any way to get that converted to an electric, tankless water heater. It’s an old house…most of the piping is galvanized, though a lot of the gas piping seems to be copper. I’m not sure how much power would be needed in addition (or if our old circuit breaker could even handle that) for an electric tankless, or how much it would cost to get it installed by modifying the current setup. I just know that tank is a nightmare…and we hate the sump setup. It’s scary to think of the power going out and the hole filling with water since the pump can’t pump with no power.
Suggestions?
Also, I know there are battery powered pumps available as backups…but they always clog since it’s a dirt bottom. I’ve cemented most of it off, but dirt still finds a way to clog the smaller, less powerful battery powered backup pumps to the point of them not working.
We’re also planning on selling the place for what we can get for it within a few months or so (and hopefully get enough to pay off what’s left on the loan)…so it’s kind of one of those, "Why does this have to happen now?" things.
How do you figure out which thermocouple you need, even if you do remove it and bring it with you? Is there a part number to go by?
Tagged with: best bet • copper • crawlspace • dugout • electric tankless water heater • family member • fha • gas piping • heat air • home today • hot water heater • jobs • knobs • labels • last time • pilot ignition • sump pump • tankless water heater • water sources • waterline
Filed under: Tankless Gas Water Heater
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Sounds like the thermocouple. It’s a fairly easy and cheap fix if you have any "mr. fix it" in you. If not, an honest plumber would be your best bet. Good Luck and God Bless.
it’s usually a burned out flame failure device or thermocouple easily replaced costs about $10
Call the gas company that services you, most States, Cities and Towns the Gas Company will come out and light your pilot light. This can be free? Or a small service fee, a phone call will disclose any fee’s involved. Should that be a bust call a local plumber and see what a re-light of your water heater would cost then make your decision as to having them come or not. Yes they’ll probably try and sell you a new tank with yours being 7 plus years old. “No” is still in the English language but at least you’ll know where you stand. If a new water heater is needed check with Lowe’s or Home Depot for pricing installed. I know this is a DIY site but not everybody that asks a question is an avid Do-It-Yourselfer and you are playing with gas. None of the Tankless water heaters would be my choice. While some of the units on the shelf are close to the same price, the modifications to properly install one puts them way out of range. Tankless water heaters don’t offer any longer service life than regular water heaters and your return on investment is not likely. One more thought, if your existing water heater is a ten or twelve year water heater? Warranty may very well replace your heater plus install. If it’s the six year revert back to the top portion of this answer.
whirlpool came out with a reverse thread therom standard will not work