Your gas water heater will turn off if it isn't getting the fuel it needs. There are a few different problems that can prevent your heater from getting enough gas. Although these problems are most often caused by a faulty gas valve or a leak.
Many volume water heaters have a 5:1 or 3:1 turndown ratio. This means that, for example, an 850,000 BTUH water heater with a 5:1 turndown can operate down to 170,000 BTUH—below that, it cycles on and off. This low capacity cycling can occur under low loads and even no-load periods due to the recirculating system.
According to our energy service advisors, your water heater accounts for 14-20% of your electric bill. Try out these tips from PEC to save more throughout the year. A basic water heater will run three to five hours a day to keep its tank heated 24/7.
The most common problem with water heaters, particularly gas ones, is that they keep turning off, even though they seem to be working properly. This can be due to various issues, such as problems with the gas supply, a dirty or damaged thermocouple, a clogged pilot tube, or issues with the main control valve.
If your water heater is constantly running the first thing you should do is check the unit and the pipes immediately around it for leaks. Your water heater might have insufficient insulation – If the water heater is not properly insulated, it will be unable to maintain the water temperature.
If your hot water heater temperature switches between hot and cold, there may be a problem with the control thermostat. Your water heater has two thermostats, an upper and lower. Fluctuations between hot and cold temperatures indicate that only the upper water heater circuit is working.
Normally It will cycle every time you use a few gallons of hot water, if it is cycling dramatically more than that it is possible that you have a hot water leak somewhere.
A faulty thermocouple is the most common reason a gas water heater will continually shut down. The thermocouple allows gas to flow to the burner when it detects that the pilot light is lit.
Murky or rusty water is another of the common signs your hot water heater is failing. Water heater tanks have a coating that slows corrosion, but it doesn't last forever. Once the coating begins to thin, rust forms fast. Rusty water is one way to know if your hot water tank is going bad.
Thermostat Malfunction
In order for a water heater to produce heated water while being energy efficient, the thermostat should be set between 122 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the upper thermostat if there is no hot water or the supply is insufficient or too hot. If the thermostat is damaged, it should be replaced.
If the thermostat goes out in a single-element heater, there will be no hot water at all. Two-element water heaters sometimes have a thermostat for each element. The upper thermostat can serve two purposes. First, it can control the upper element in the top of the tank.
Why Is My Water Heater Constantly Running? In the average home, the water heater will run for about three hours each day. Total run time can range from one to two hours for new tankless water heaters to five or more hours for older tank style water heaters.
A pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas emanating from the gas valve and the main burner. The pilot light is commonly seen in water heaters, fireplaces, and older or low-cost furnaces. Your unit's pilot light is always burning when the unit is on.
If the pilot isn't lit anymore, then the heater won't be able to keep the water warm, and you may experience cold water when you take a shower or try to get hot water from the tap.
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.
The pilot light on most water heaters can be found at the base of the unit just under the gas control valve. Open the access door or panel to the burner chamber and take a look inside. You should be able to see the pilot light tube. If there's a steady blue flame, your pilot light is operational.
The average gas heater takes between 30 and 40 minutes to fully heat up the water in its tank. The average electric heater takes about twice as long as the average gas heater to fully heat up the water in its tank, so you can expect it to take between an hour and an hour and 20 minutes to heat up.
What does it mean if the water heater is not producing hot water? It is possible that the circuit breaker tripped or a fuse blew, so check those first if you are not getting hot water from your water heater. If that's not the issue, then it could be that the heating element has burned out and needs to be replaced.
Bad Heating Element
If your heating element goes bad, this lowers the temperature of your water and greatly affects how much hot water you get. So, if you start out with hot water, but then it goes cold fast, it could be that the water isn't getting heated anymore.
Faulty or burned out heating elements is one of the main reasons why your hot water goes cold quickly. Old or burned out elements account for the reduction of hot water and will cause your hot water to go cold quickly or not have any hot water at all.
When the water in your water heater gets too hot, it trips the emergency cut off, or ECO. In other words, water that is too hot will cause your water heater's reset button to trip. If your water heater is tripping the ECO repeatedly, there is likely a problem with the system that needs to be repaired immediately.