Relighting a Hot Water Heater Pilot Light

May 30, 2018 Evam Canada DIY Hot Water Heater, Hot Water Heater FAQ No comments

how to light a hot water heater pilot light

A hot water heater pilot light is an essential component of any gas hot water heater. In fact, it’s necessary to ignite the gas burner every time your water needs to be heated! When your pilot light is out, you simply won’t have any hot water being delivered throughout your home.

If you are experiencing no hot water at all, the culprit is often a pilot light that has gone out. Relighting your hot water heater pilot light is simple and requires no tools, so you’ll soon have everything back up and running so you can enjoy warm water again. Before beginning this water heater DIY fix, we always recommend that you consult your water heater’s owner’s manual first.

The first step in relighting a hot water heater pilot light is to turn the gas regulator valve to the “off” position and wait for 5 minutes or so for any residual gas to dissipate.
Open the door or cover to access the pilot light, usually found below the gas valve. Some hot water heaters feature a glass window that allows you to see the pilot light without having to remove a cover.
Next, turn the gas regulator to the “pilot” setting and press the pilot button down and hold it. This will start the gas flow so that the flame can be lit.
While holding the pilot button down, use the ignite button to light the pilot. Older gas water heater models may require you to use a long barbecue lighter or match to manually light the pilot.
Continue to hold the pilot button down for about 30 seconds after it is lit so the thermocouple has time to get hot. This is necessary as the thermocouple will automatically shut off the gas if it senses that the pilot light is out.
Once the pilot light is staying lit, turn the gas regulator valve to the “on” position and replace any covers you removed.

If you find that your pilot light won’t stay lit, you should seek the help of a water heater repair expert. Working around natural gas can be incredibly dangerous, so any repairs should be trusted to a professional for the safety of you and your family.

Still need help with your hot water heater pilot light? Our technicians would be happy to help! Contact Evam Canada today for your water heater maintenance, repair and installation needs in the GTA and beyond. Call at 1-905-624-5544 or contact us online to schedule your appointment!

How to Drain a Hot Water Heater

May 27, 2018 Evam Canada DIY Hot Water Heater, Hot Water Heater FAQ No comments

how to drain a hot water heater

Draining your hot water heater regularly is a good idea to ensure it continues to run efficiently and heat your water as effectively as possible. You should think about draining your water heater’s tank about once every 1-3 years to prolong its life by flushing out the sediment and mineral buildup that accumulates over time.

Luckily, this is an easy task that most home owners can perform on their own to prolong the life of their water heater and save money on their utility bills.

Ready to drain a hot water heater? Here’s how to get started:

Turn off your water heater. Ensure that the thermostat is set to the “off” position and the gas valve is set to “off” if you have a gas hot water heater. If you have an electric water heater, shut off the breaker that feeds it power.
Turn off the cold water supply. You’ll want to make sure no additional water is entering the tank.
Open the hot water faucet in a sink or tub. This should be left open during the entire draining process to stop a vacuum from forming in the water line.
Let the water cool. You won’t want to be draining hot water, so give the hot water inside your tank a few hours to cool.
Attach a garden hose to the hot water tank’s drain valve. Place the opposite end of the hose into a bucket or outdoors if possible. If your hot water heater is in the basement, you might need a portable pump to get the water to ground level and outdoors.
Open the drain valve. Drain the hot water heater completely or until the water running out of the valve appears to be clear and free of sediment.
Flush the tank. Turn the cold water supply back on for a few minutes to flush out the tank. Before shutting it off again
Put things back. Remove the garden hose, close the drain valve, shut off the hot water faucet you opened, turn the cold water supply back to the open position, and finally restore power to your hot water heater.

Not sure how to drain a hot water heater? At Evam Canada, we offer water heater maintenance services that will keep your water heater working its best! Our expert water heater service technicians are familiar with all makes and models and can handle everything from minor repairs to the installation of a brand-new water heater.

To book a service appointment for your hot water heater, contact us today!

Hot Water Heater Not Working? 5 DIY Fixes

May 27, 2018 Evam Canada DIY Hot Water Heater, Hot Water Heater Troubleshooting No comments

hot water heater not working

One of the worst feelings as a home owner is discovering that our hot water heater is not working. A broken hot water heater means no hot showers, and leaves you unable to wash dishes, do laundry and keep things clean around the house.

This inconvenience leads us to seek out DIY solutions to the most common water heater issues. So, if you’ve got a hot water heater not working, try the following fixes to see if you can get it heating your water again:

Turn it On
This may seem obvious, but turning your water heater on may just do the trick. If you have an electric water heater, check to see that the breaker has not been tripped and reset it if it has. If you have a gas hot water heater, be sure that the gas is indeed turned on.
Relight the Pilot Light
If the pilot light has gone out in your gas water heater, attempt to relight it following the instructions found in your owner’s manual.
Check the Thermostat
Your hot water heater may be fully operational, but its temperature setting is too low to provide enough hot water for your liking. Turn the thermostat to a hotter setting (around 120 degrees Fahrenheit) and wait for an hour before you check the water temperature again.
Check the Gas Line
Your gas may have inadvertently been shut off further down the line. Follow the gas line from your hot water heater until you find the shutoff valve, and ensure it is set to the “on” position in addition to the one located on your unit.
Examine the Thermocouple
If your water heater’s thermocouple is damaged or defective, it can shut off the gas flow to your water heater and cause it to stop working entirely. This part may require replacement. See our article, How to Replace a Hot Water Heater Thermocouple to learn more.

When to Call a Professional

If the above DIY water heater fixes do not provide a solution to your problem, it’s a good idea to call in an expert for the repair or replacement of your hot water heater. Attempting to repair or replace a gas water heater without specialized knowledge can be incredibly dangerous and cause further damage to water heater.

If you’re looking for reliable water heater repair services in Mississauga and the GTA, give the professionals at Evam Canada a call at 1-905-624-5544. Our technicians are here to diagnose why your hot water heater is not working and get it running like new so you can enjoy all the hot water you want!

Evam Canada’s Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide

May 6, 2018 Evam Canada DIY Hot Water Heater No comments

Figuring out what exactly is wrong with your water heater requires you to go through a process of elimination, starting with the most likely culprits and working your way through potential problems until you find the root cause.

When you find that your hot water heater isn’t working as it should, don’t panic – simply follow our water heater troubleshooting guide to start diagnosing the issue.

Ready to start troubleshooting? Here’s what you should look for:

Water heater troubleshooting should always begin with a check of the area around the tank. A water heater leak can indicate a serious issue. If you notice leakage or pooling water at the bottom of the tank, shut the unit off immediately before examining further.
The location of a leak is important. If it’s coming from the cold-water inlet or hot water outlet connections, try tightening these connections to solve the problem. However, if the leak is at the bottom of the tank, it is likely an internal issue that means the entire hot water heater will need to be replaced.
If your gas water heater simply isn’t heating, check the pilot light to see if it is out. If it is, attempt to relight it according to your instruction manual. If your pilot light does turn on but does not stay lit, you may have a faulty thermocouple that needs replacement.
Your water heater may not be heating properly if there is a problem with the gas control valve. If the gas valve malfunctions, it will cut off the gas supply to the burner for safety reasons and will no longer heat your water. A professional repair is highly recommended in this case.
If you are getting some hot water, but it’s not hot enough for your liking, check the thermostat. The thermostat may have been lowered, turned off or it might have malfunctioned. Check to see that the thermostat is set to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If this does not improve the water temperature, it may need replacement.
Is your hot water heater making loud rumbling sounds? There may be a build up of sediment and/or mineral deposits at the bottom of the tank. You can try draining the tank to remove the sediment and reduce the noise. A professional can assist in draining the tank completely to flush out debris.

If you have tried the above water heater troubleshooting steps and still can’t determine the problem, we recommend that you seek the assistance of a professional. A water heater specialist can evaluate your equipment and determine if it can be repaired or if it will need replacement.

To get in touch with an emergency water heater repair service immediately, call Evam Canada at 1-905-624-5544.

Why is My Hot Water Heater Making a Loud Noise?

May 3, 2018 Evam Canada DIY Hot Water Heater No comments

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why is my hot water heater making a loud noise”? If so, you’re among the large number of home owners in the GTA who have experienced strange sounds coming from their hot water heater.

There are many reasons why your hot water heater is making a loud noise, and each problem results in its own unique sound. While not all sounds are dangerous, it is a good idea to keep an ear out for any sudden or unusual sounds coming from your water heater.

In this article, we’ve rounded up Tags the most common water heater noises you’ll hear, what they might mean and how to start troubleshooting the issue.

Popping Noise
Popping noises while your water heater is operational are usually caused by a build up of mineral deposits at the bottom of the tank. Draining the tank or de-scaling the tank may resolve the problem. A professional’s help is suggested for this task.

Boiling Noise
Hearing a boiling sound coming from your water heater could actually mean that the water inside is boiling! Check the hot water heater’s thermostat and turn it down If you find it above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is overheating and can be incredibly dangerous, causing scalding.

Screeching Noise
A screeching sound from your water heater typically indicates that the control valve at the water heater inlet is partially closed. Check this and any other control valves to make sure they are fully open to reduce the noise.

Banging Noise
A banging noise when your hot water heater first starts up could indicate a dangerous gas explosion caused by excess gas at startup. In this case, your water heater is malfunctioning and should be examined by a professional immediately.

Rumbling Sound
As water is heated and expands within the tank, it makes its way through any sediment buildup within your tank and creates a rumbling sound. Flushing the sediment from the tank is a good idea to help your water heater work more efficiently.

Humming Sound
If you have an electric water heater, the humming sound you hear is likely normal and will not cause further damage to the tank or heating element. However, if you wish to reduce the humming sound, you can try tightening the heating element.

Finding yourself stumped by one of these sounds? The experts at Evam Canada can help diagnose why your hot water heater is making a loud noise. Contact us to book a repair appointment as soon as possible so we can restore your water heater to normal!

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