Gas Water Heater Repair in Raleigh
Pilot out, burner won't fire, or the water never gets hot? Here is what usually fails on a gas water heater, what is safe to check yourself, and when to stop and call a plumber.
Calls connect you with an independent local plumber. How it works
- Pilot and thermocouple
- Igniter and gas valve
- Venting and safety checks
Most gas water heater repairs come down to a few parts: the thermocouple or flame sensor that proves the pilot is lit, the igniter on newer models, the gas control valve, or a venting problem that trips a safety switch. If the pilot won't stay lit after relighting it by the label instructions, the thermocouple or flame sensor is the usual suspect. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Older gas tanks have a standing pilot you can see through a small window near the bottom. Newer ones use an electronic igniter and show a status light that blinks a code. Both have safety devices that shut the gas off if the flame isn't proven or the exhaust isn't venting properly. That's why so many gas problems look the same from the outside: no flame, no hot water.
Gas, combustion and venting work carries real risk, so the safe homeowner steps are short. Check the gas, relight only by the label, note any blink code, and leave the rest to a plumber.
If it's happening right now
- Smell gas? Leave now. Don't flip switches or relight anything. Call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
- No flame? Check that the gas valve to the heater is open and other gas appliances work.
- Relit and it went out again? Stop. Turn the control to OFF and get it checked.
- Burner on but vent pipe loose? Turn the heater off and keep the area ventilated.
Call a plumber today if
- You smell gas (call the gas utility or 911 first)
- The pilot won't stay lit and there is no hot water
- You see scorch marks, soot or flames outside the burner area
- The vent pipe is loose or disconnected
It can usually wait a few days if
- Water is a little cooler than usual but the burner works
- You hear popping from sediment
- You want a maintenance check before winter
Common gas water heater problems
Pilot won't stay lit
Often a worn thermocouple or flame sensor, a dirty pilot assembly or a gas control valve problem.
Igniter clicks, no flame
On electronic-ignition models, a failed igniter, a gas supply issue or a control fault.
Burner shuts off after a few minutes
Can point to a venting or draft problem tripping a safety switch, or a weak flame sensor.
Water not hot enough
A dial set too low, sediment on the bottom, a broken dip tube or a burner that needs cleaning.
What is safe to check yourself
- Check the gas supply. Do other gas appliances work? Is the valve on the heater's gas line open (handle in line with the pipe)?
- Look for the flame. Through the sight window on a standing-pilot model, or check the status light on an electronic one.
- Relight only by the label. Follow the lighting instructions printed on the heater. If it won't stay lit after one try, stop.
- Note the blink code. Count the flashes on the control. The manual or the plumber can read it.
- Leave the vent alone. Don't tape, move or disconnect the vent pipe on top of the heater.
What a plumber checks on a gas heater
- Gas pressure and supply to the control valve.
- Pilot, thermocouple or flame sensor and cleans or replaces the pilot assembly.
- Igniter and control board on electronic-ignition models.
- Venting and draft so exhaust leaves the house, plus any flame-rollout or draft safety switch.
- Gas leak test on the connections after any repair.
Questions to ask the plumber
- Is the problem the thermocouple, the gas valve or the venting?
- Will you check the draft and do a gas leak test after the repair?
- Is the part covered by the manufacturer's warranty?
- Does the price include the part and labor?
- Are you licensed for gas work by the NC plumbing board?
Is it safe to keep relighting the pilot?
Relighting once by the instructions on the label is fine. If it goes out again, stop. A pilot that won't stay lit usually means a part has failed, and repeated relighting doesn't fix that. Never relight if you smell gas.
Gas utility or plumber: who do I call?
A gas smell is a job for the gas utility or 911 first. They make the area safe. Once it's safe, the repair on the heater itself is a plumber's job. If you rent, the landlord arranges and pays for the plumber in most cases. More on who pays for water heater work.
What to tell the plumber about a gas heater
Whether it has a standing pilot or an electronic igniter, what happens when you try to light it (clicks, lights then goes out, nothing), the blink pattern on the control, and whether the vent pipe on top looks intact. Full list: what to tell the plumber.
Why gas water heaters need venting checked
A gas burner makes exhaust that has to leave the house through the vent. If the vent is blocked, disconnected or too small, a safety switch on many newer heaters will shut the burner down, and older heaters can spill exhaust into the room. That's why plumbers check the draft after working on a gas heater, and why a carbon monoxide alarm near gas appliances is a good idea.
Repair or replace a gas heater?
Thermocouples, flame sensors, igniters and gas valves are replaceable parts. A leaking tank isn't. The U.S. Department of Energy gives tank water heaters about 10 to 15 years. If an older tank needs an expensive gas valve, compare that price with a replacement. See repair or replace.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my gas water heater pilot keep going out?
The most common causes are a worn thermocouple or flame sensor, a dirty pilot tube, a draft blowing the flame out, or a gas control valve fault. If it won't stay lit after relighting by the label, have a plumber check it.
Can I replace a thermocouple myself?
Some homeowners do, but it involves the gas control and a leak test afterward. If you aren't comfortable working on gas parts, have a licensed plumber do it.
My gas water heater has a blinking light. What does it mean?
Many gas controls blink a code to show the fault, such as a pilot or flame problem or a tripped safety switch. Count the blinks and check the manual, or tell the plumber.
Is it dangerous if my gas water heater smells?
If you smell gas (a rotten-egg smell near the heater or anywhere in the house), leave and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. A rotten-egg smell in the hot water itself is different and is usually linked to the anode rod.
How long do gas water heaters last?
The U.S. Department of Energy puts tank water heaters at about 10 to 15 years.
Related help
No hot water or a leaking tank?
Turn off the power or gas to the heater and close the cold-water valve above it if water is leaking. Then get help from an independent local plumber.