What to Do If There’s No Hot Water

Few things in modern life are as frustrating as finding that the hot shower you’ve been craving is a stream of ice water.

Most likely the pilot on your gas water heater has blown out.

Sometimes a gust of wind sends a stream of air down the exhaust vent with enough force to snuff the flame out. And sometimes it’s just a slight glitch in the gas pressure to the house.

Either way, if it has not happened to you yet, it’s only a matter of time before it does. And with El Nin~o heading our way, your turn may be coming up soon.

When a blown pilot occurs, you don’t need to take a cold shower or wait for the gas company to show up. Most anyone can safely relight a water heater pilot.

Here’s how:

1--Determine for sure that you have a gas water heater, and not an electric one by checking for an exhaust duct at the top (electric water heaters have no exhaust duct).

2--Locate the gas control valve at the bottom front portion of the heater. You will notice a knob indicating “on,” “off” and “pilot.”

3--Turn the knob to the “pilot” position.

4--Remove the access panels below the control valve.

5--Locate pilot burner. Follow the thin quarter-inch tube from the control valve. It ends at the pilot burner, roughly dead center under the water heater tank.

6--Strike a long fireplace match or use a long lighter and hold the flame next to the pilot burner. Now push down hard on the control knob or the red button, if there is one. You may hear a slight hiss as the gas moves toward the pilot burner.

7--The blue pilot flame should appear within 20 seconds. When it does, continue holding the knob or red button down for a full minute.

8--Release the button and turn the control knob to “on.” You should hear a “whoosh” as the main burner ignites.

9--Replace the access panels carefully as they are fire safety shields.

Your hot shower will be ready in about 20 minutes. Incidentally, the life of your water heater can be extended markedly by flushing sediment from the bottom of the tank four times a year.

Simply attach a hose to the drain valve at the tank bottom and run the hose outside. Open the valve, and let the water run about half a minute full force or until it is completely clear.

Use caution as the water will be very hot. Make a note to do it again every three months, and sediment will never have a chance to build up in the tank shortening its life.

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Relighting Water Heater Pilot

Turn the gas control knob off and the temperature control knob down. Wait five minutes to allow gas to dissipate.

Next, turn the knob to pilot and depress it completely.

With the knob depressed, hold a lighter to the tip of the pilot tube. Usually the gas lights within 20 seconds. Continue depressing knob for one minute. Release the button and turn the knob to on.

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Gary Abrams is a general contractor who has written about home improvement for The Times for eight years. Comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 711, Thousand Oaks, CA 91319. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.