No Hot Water? The Most Common Water Heater Problems and What to Do First

No hot water is one of those problems that makes a normal morning go sideways

If you’re reading this, you already know the feeling. You turn the shower handle, you’re waiting for that warm up… and it just never comes. Then you start doing math in your head.

Is it the water heater? Is it the gas? Did something break overnight? And the worst part is you usually do not find out until you are already soaked and freezing.

We get this call constantly in Placentia and all over North Orange County. And I’ll tell you something that’s actually comforting. Most no hot water situations come down to the same handful of issues. If you check a few things in the right order, you can usually narrow it down fast.

First quick question: is it the whole house or just one faucet?

Before you even look at the water heater, check one more thing.

Turn on hot water at:

• A sink on the other side of the house

• A shower or tub

• Another bathroom if you have one

If only one fixture is giving you cold water, your water heater is probably fine. That’s usually a faucet cartridge, a mixing valve, or a fixture issue. If every fixture is cold, now we’re talking water heater.

Second quick question: what kind of water heater do you have?

This changes everything.

Gas tank water heater

Usually a big tank on the ground with a gas line running to it and a vent going up. The

“action” happens down low near the burner.

Electric tank water heater

Also a big tank, but no gas line. Usually has a dedicated breaker and one or two access panels on the side.

Tankless water heater

Wall mounted, often with a little display. When it fails, it likes to complain with an error code.

If you’re not sure, do not stress it. A quick photo of the label or the front of the unit tells us what we need.

What we see most often on “no hot water” calls

1) The breaker tripped (electric heaters)

This one is way more common than people expect. You lose hot water instantly because the heater is basically asleep.

What you can do: Go to your electrical panel and look for a tripped breaker. Reset it once.

What I tell people all the time: If it trips again, stop flipping it. I know it’s tempting. But a breaker that keeps tripping is usually warning you about a failing heating element or an electrical issue. At that point, you’re not “resetting” a problem, you’re gambling with it.

2) The pilot light went out (gas heaters)

If you have a traditional gas water heater, the pilot is like the little match that keeps the whole system working. When it goes out, the heater cannot heat.

What you might notice: You had normal hot water yesterday, and then today it’s just gone.

What you can do: If your heater has clear relighting instructions on the front panel and you feel comfortable, you can try relighting it once.

When to call: If it will not stay lit, that’s often a thermocouple issue or a gas control issue. That’s not a “keep trying until it works” problem.

Safety note: If you smell gas, do not troubleshoot. Leave the area and contact your gas provider and a licensed plumber.

3) A heating element burned out (electric heaters)

Electric tanks usually have two elements. When one fails, you usually still get some warm water, but it disappears fast.

The way homeowners describe it: “It starts hot, and then it goes cold before I can even rinse the shampoo out.”

That’s one of the most classic symptoms of a failed element.

4) Thermostat problems or settings got changed

This can be as simple as the temperature being bumped down. It can also be a thermostat that’s worn out and not doing its job.

What you notice: The water is not totally cold, it’s just never truly hot.

5) Sediment buildup stealing your hot water

This is the slow, boring villain. Over time minerals settle in the bottom of the tank. That sediment makes the heater work harder and it reduces how much usable hot water you have.

What you might hear: Popping, crackling, rumbling.

What you experience: Hot water runs out faster than it used to, or it takes forever to heat back up.

This is one of those issues where homeowners usually say, “It’s been kind of struggling for a while,” and then one day it finally quits.

What you should check first (the safe homeowner checklist)

Here’s the order I would do it if I walked into your garage.

Step 1: Check the breaker (electric only)

Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.

Step 2: Look at the water heater area

Look for:

• Water on the ground

• Rust streaks

• Corrosion around connections

• A damp spot that wasn’t there before

If you see water, pay attention. A small leak can turn into a big leak fast.

Step 3: For gas heaters, check if the unit looks “off”

Some units have a little sight window where you can see the pilot. Some have a status light.

If you’re comfortable relighting the pilot and your unit has instructions, you can try it once. If you’re not comfortable, skip that step and call.

Step 4: For tankless, look for an error code

Write the code down. That code is basically the heater telling us where to start.

Step 5: Think about how old the unit is and how it has been acting

If the heater is older and it has been doing weird stuff for months, your “no hot water” problem might be the last chapter, not the first one. That changes what makes sense financially.

What not to do (the stuff that creates bigger problems)

Do not keep resetting a breaker that keeps tripping. Do not ignore water around the unit. Do not start messing with gas controls if you are unsure. Do not assume you can “get by for a week” if the heater is leaking.

If you are stuck, it is completely fine to call and say, “Hey, I have no hot water and I’m not sure what kind of unit I have.” We walk homeowners through this every day.

When it’s time to call Kramer’s Plumbing

Call us if:

• You reset the breaker once and it trips again

• The pilot will not stay lit

• You have water around the heater

• The hot water comes and goes

• Your tankless keeps throwing an error code

• The unit is older and this keeps happening

When we show up, we’ll tell you what failed and what your options are. If it’s a clean repair, we’ll repair it. If the tank is on its way out, we’ll be straight with you so you’re not spending money twice.

What affects the cost of water heater repair

Here’s what really moves the price:

• Gas vs electric vs tankless

• Which part failed and whether it’s common or specialty

• Access to the heater and how it’s installed

• Condition of valves and connections

• Whether sediment or corrosion caused extra damage

How long it usually takes to get hot water back

A lot of no hot water situations are same day fixes once we identify the issue. If you have a leaking tank or major corrosion, replacement can be the fastest and safest way to get you back to normal without repeat breakdowns.

FAQ: No Hot Water in Placentia and North Orange County

Why did my hot water stop all of a sudden?

Most of the time it’s a tripped breaker, pilot issue, thermostat problem, or a failed heating element.

Why do I only get a few minutes of hot water?

That’s often a failed heating element on electric tanks or heavy sediment reducing capacity.

Is no hot water an emergency?

It can be if you smell gas, see electrical burning, or see leaking water. If it’s just cold water, it’s usually urgent but not dangerous.

Can flushing the tank bring hot water back?

Sometimes, if sediment is the issue. But flushing won’t fix a broken element, thermostat, or gas control.

Why is my water heater making popping noises?

That’s commonly sediment at the bottom of the tank heating up and releasing trapped steam bubbles.

My tankless has an error code. What should I do?

Try a simple power reset once. If it returns, write down the code and call.

Could it just be one faucet causing this?

Yes. If only one fixture is affected, you’re probably looking at a cartridge or mixing valve issue.

How do I know if I should replace the heater instead of repairing it?

If it’s leaking, heavily corroded, or needing repeated repairs, replacement often saves money and headaches.

Call Kramer’s Plumbing for no hot water help in Placentia, CA

If you have no hot water, we’ll help you get it sorted quickly without guessing.

is based in Placentia and serves North Orange County including Fullerton, Anaheim, Brea, Yorba Linda, Orange, and Villa Park.

Call (714) 260 3986 to schedule troubleshooting or repair.