No Hot Water? What to Check First

If you have no hot water, check the breaker first, then look for a leak at the tank. A tripped breaker is the easiest fix. If the breaker is fine and the tank is not leaking, a failed element or thermostat is likely, and that needs a plumber. Our hot water tank replacement and water heater repair in Moncton covers repairs from $150 and replacement from $1,000.

Check the breaker or the pilot

For an electric tank, look at the breaker panel for a tripped breaker and reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call. For a tank with a pilot light, check whether the pilot is lit. Do not keep relighting a pilot that will not stay on.

Look for a leak

Look at the base of the tank and the pipes above it. If you see water, shut off the water to the tank and, if it is electric, switch off the breaker. A tank that leaks from the body cannot be repaired and has to be replaced.

Is it the whole house or one tap?

If only one faucet or shower runs cold, the problem is in that fixture and not the tank. If every hot tap is cold or lukewarm, look at the tank. If the water runs hot for a minute and then turns cold, the tank may be too small for the demand, or an element may be failing.

Check the thermostat setting

Someone may have turned the temperature down. Check that the setting has not moved. Do not open electrical panels on the tank. They are live.

When to call

Call if the breaker trips again, if the tank is leaking, if you hear popping or rumbling, if the water is rust-coloured, or if the tank is old and has now stopped working. We find the cause first and tell you whether a repair or a replacement makes sense, with the price before any work starts. We are open 24/7.