Water heaters · checked 5 Oct 2026
No hot water from gas water heater
Safety first
- Smell gas? Get everyone outside immediately.
- Never touch switches, use flames, or use phones inside.
- From outside, call 911 and your gas utility.
Fix it nowEight steps
- Proceed only without gas odor, CO alarms, illness, or visible heater damage.Gas leaks and carbon monoxide require evacuation, not troubleshooting.
- Test hot water at two faucets; keep hands away initially.One cold fixture points toward its mixing valve.
- After heavy use, stop hot-water use and allow the tank to recover.Demand may have exceeded the tank's capacity.
The other five steps
- Read the heater's instructions; record any status-light code without removing covers.Codes and ignition procedures differ between models.
- Check the temperature setting; use the manual's recommended setting, never above 120°F.Higher settings increase scald risk.
- Relight only an accessible standing pilot using its label and built-in igniter.Follow every labeled waiting period; never improvise with matches.
- Skip relighting if instructions are missing, unclear, or require opening sealed covers.Automatic-ignition heaters must not be lit by hand.
- If one attempt fails or water stays cold, stop and call a plumber.Further ignition or control troubleshooting requires qualified service.
When to stop
Stop and get a plumber if:
- Gas odor or hissing: leave immediately; never touch switches. Call 911 and the gas utility from outside.
- CO alarm: evacuate and call 911 outside. Headache, dizziness, or nausea suggesting poisoning: get outside and call poison-control at 1-800-222-1222. Unconscious, not breathing, or struggling to breathe: call 911 immediately. Do not reenter.
- Soot, damaged venting, or a damaged viewing window: stop using the heater; call a plumber now.
- Pilot fails once, goes out again, or a fault code appears: stop; call a plumber.
- You would need to operate gas-supply valves, disconnect wiring, or remove sealed covers: stop; call a plumber.
What it probably is
Tank depleted by heavy useWater turned cold after several showers or laundry loads.You can check
Standing pilot went outNo pilot visible through the intact viewing window; check the heater's label.You can check
Ignition, flame sensor, or gas control failurePilot will not stay lit, or status light shows a fault.For a pro
Faulty faucet or shower mixing valveOther faucets get hot; only one fixture stays cold.For a pro
Time and parts
- Parts
- $0; checks only, no replacement parts
Fair price, if a pro does itUnited States
$400–3,000per job
Get it done
More than a quick fix? Vora gets quotes privately and recommends one plumber.
The plumbers we’d call in Tyler & Longview · No hot water: what to do
Checked against
- Atmos Energy — Natural Gas Safety Guide
- Manufacturer — Residential Gas Water Heater Troubleshooting
- HRSA Poison Help — Carbon Monoxide
- Poison Control — Carbon Monoxide
Written for Vora from these public sources and checked on 5 Oct 2026. General guidance, not a substitute for a pro on site. In danger, leave and call 911.