No hot water? Call 702-556-4812 any time, day or night. A licensed technician finds the cause and gives you a written price before any work starts.
No hot water is one of the most common calls we get, and it is rarely a mystery. Some causes you can check yourself in a few minutes. Others need a plumber, and a couple are worth treating as urgent. Here is how to tell which one you have.
First: is it the whole house or one tap?
Turn on the hot side at a sink in a different room. This one check narrows it down fast.
- No hot water anywhere: the problem is the water heater itself, or its gas or power supply. Keep reading.
- Hot water everywhere except one shower or faucet: the water heater is fine. The problem is almost always the cartridge or mixing valve in that one fixture. That is a quick repair, and not a water heater call.
- Hot water that runs out fast: see “Hot water runs out too quickly” below.
Gas water heater: check these
- Is the gas on? If other gas appliances like the stove or furnace are not working either, the supply may be off at the meter. Call Southwest Gas first.
- The pilot or the status light. Newer gas water heaters have a small status light on the gas control. A blinking light is a code; the pattern is usually printed on the label on the tank. Older models have a standing pilot you can see through the small window near the bottom. If it is out, the label on the tank has the relighting steps. If it will not stay lit after you follow them, stop there and call us. A pilot that keeps going out usually means a failing thermocouple, flame sensor or gas valve.
- Do you smell gas? Do not try to light anything. Leave the house and call Southwest Gas or 911 from outside.
Electric water heater: check these
- The breaker. Water heaters have their own breaker, usually a double breaker. If it has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call us.
- The reset button. Behind the upper access panel there is a red high-limit reset button. It trips when the water gets too hot. Pressing it can bring the heat back, but if it trips again it is telling you a thermostat or heating element has failed.
Tankless water heater: check these
- An error code on the display. Write it down before you do anything else. It tells the technician most of what they need to know.
- Too many taps at once. A tankless unit has a maximum flow. Running two showers and the washer together can outrun it, and some units shut down rather than send lukewarm water.
- Scale. Las Vegas water is officially classed as “very hard,” at around 16 to 17 grains per gallon. On a tankless unit, that scale builds up inside the heat exchanger. Without a regular descaling flush, the unit starts throwing errors and shutting down. Ask us about tankless maintenance.
Hot water runs out too quickly
On a tank heater, this is very often sediment. Hard water leaves minerals that settle at the bottom of the tank over the years. That layer takes up space and insulates the water from the burner, so a 50-gallon tank acts like a much smaller one. You may also hear popping or rumbling while it heats. A flush can help a heater that has been maintained. On an older tank with years of buildup, flushing often stirs up more trouble than it fixes, and it is time to talk about replacement.
On an electric tank, running out fast is often a failed lower heating element. That is a straightforward repair.
Repair or replace?
Parts like thermocouples, gas valves, elements and thermostats are routine repairs. Replacement makes more sense when:
- the tank itself is leaking (a leaking tank cannot be repaired; see water heater leaking);
- the heater is past its expected life and the repair is a big one;
- you are running out of hot water every day because the heater is too small for the household.
We give you both prices in writing and tell you which one we would choose if it were our house. In the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, replacing a water heater needs a permit and an inspection. We handle that as part of the job.
Common questions
How much does it cost to come out?
No service-call fee for a limited time (normally $125, credited to your repair). Our $89 offer is the whole-home check-up. Either way, you see the full price in writing before we start.
Can you come out today?
We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across the Las Vegas Valley.
Is it safe to relight the pilot myself?
Usually, yes, if you follow the steps on the label exactly and there is no gas smell. If it will not stay lit, or you smell gas at any point, stop and call. Never keep trying.
Why is my water lukewarm instead of cold?
On an electric tank, one of the two heating elements has often failed. On a gas tank, heavy sediment or a thermostat set too low are common causes. In a single shower, it is usually the mixing valve.
Do you work with home warranty companies?
Yes. We handle a large number of home warranty calls. If your water heater is covered, start the claim with your warranty company and ask for Excellence Air & Plumbing.
Related: water heater repair and installation · tankless water heaters · water heater leaking · 24/7 emergency plumbing
Call 702-556-4812 24/7, or book online. Nevada HVAC license #0081345 · Plumbing license #0090251.