How to restart a gas water heater

Question

The flame has gone out on a water heater and it has been shut off - - what are the steps to restart it?

William · Answer

Did the pilot light go out on is own? Why and how long has it been shut off? Usually there is a label on the heater with instructions. I am a little hesitant to provide how to relight it since it seems you have never dealt with this. My suggestion is to call your gas company, they will come out, check the condition of everything, and light the heater if everything is good.

Jean Myles · Answer

William is right Gas is not something to play around with. Call the pro's. Better safe than sorry!

Bryan's Workshop · Answer

It's good to learn about all of the appliances you own. The instructions and cautions for your question are too long to write here, but I'll give you a good link to start. Check YouTube too. There are tons of good videos. If you do call a professional, watch closely and ask questions. Good Luck! http://m.wikihow.com/Light-a-Water-Heater

Bill Mousseau · Answer

do not mess with gas heaters call a plumber you could be saving your life

Robin Lueddeke · Answer

I agree with Bill M. Even call the gas company...they will come right out! Don't mess with it.

Linda Hunt · Answer

IF the gas was shut down on purpose such as for the winter it is very, very safe to go to your manual for your furnace and water heater and turn on the switch, relight the pilot and turn on your thermostat. You do the outside of the house first where you will find the on/off for your gas to go into the furnace on your gas line that is connected to the tank. I am discussing propane here. If it is natural gas ignore me completely as I do not know anything about it!! If you do not have manual you can find it online by the make model and year of your furnace. Quite often the techs at the company who made your furnace explain the steps to you for free when the budget is a constraint on calling in a gas-man. I do mine twice every year (we lucked into our retirement home early) for both shutting down for season and restarting. I actually wrote for the furnace but the water heater is even easier.

DONNA · Answer

If you are asking this question,  my recommendation is to get a professional to check out the water heater.  Depending on how old it is, there could be several reasons for the pilot light to go out, and you would need to have the knowledge to know what to look for.

Rosemarie · Answer

I agree, don't mess with gas water heaters. Call a plumber. Safest way.

Julie M · Answer

The steps for relighting a gas water heater are generally printed on the water heater itself where the pilot light is located. If you need more detailed info, here's a link to a website: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/light-pilot-gas-hot-water-heater-26723.html

Johnchip · Answer

Are you out of your mind? Call the gas company. Likely they will come out for no charge. They want you using their product>

Betsy Boeve · Answer

Your gas provider will more than likely come and light it for you free.

Jeanne Martin · Answer

My gas company did it for me for free.  They want you to use their gas!

Lee Govan · Answer

The pilot light has gone out, you need a gas fitter to recallibrate it to restart it if it is a newer model. Not a good idea to play with it yourself unless it is printed on the heater itself.

Pamela Robertson Pullmann · Answer

It might be worth calling a local HVAC company to come out and check it. If it went out on its own there may be a need to fix or replace a part. If it went out due to the gas being shut off, then I agree that the gas company should be the ones to come out and relight it.

Sheila D · Answer

Don't mess with it call gas or HVAC company as mentioned above.

Bob · Answer

go onto the website of the manufacturers and look for the instructions for your model ,follow them to the letter, only then if you are having trouble get an engineer out  to your unit.

Cynthia Potts · Answer

Call the Gas company, this can be dangerous if there is a reason for the snuff, such as carbon monoxide or it may still be extruding gascious fumes.

How to restart a gas water heater

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