IQHab › United States › Plumbing › Water Heater Not Working — What To Check
Water heater not working
No hot water or strange sounds from your water heater usually point to a specific fix.
Before anything — check these
If any of these are true, stop and get professional help now:
- Leaking tank
- Burning smell
- Water in the drain pan
Safe checks you can do
Tick what you've checked. Only do homeowner-safe actions.
Likely causes
| Cause | Likelihood | Severity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tripped breaker or pilot light | high | Low | $0–$150 |
| Thermostat or heating element | medium | Medium | $100–$400 |
| Sediment buildup | medium | Low | $150–$300 |
| Failed tank or leak | low | High | $900–$3,000 |
Recommended next action
If it's just a breaker or pilot, you may fix it yourself. For a thermostat, element or leaking tank, call a plumber.
Plan the fix
Once you know roughly what's wrong, size the job and get a cost range:
Plumbing Repair Estimator