If your hot water has stopped working, the likely cause is that the pilot light has gone out. You can fix this yourself, but before you go any further, read the side of your hot water heater to see if it has any special instructions. If so, you should follow those instructions. Some hot water heaters even instruct their owners not to work directly with the pilot light. If this is the case with your model, call a plumber who is qualified to work with your system. Otherwise, follow these steps:


Step 1: Make sure the gas valve is in the OFF position, and then wait a few minutes. If you can’t figure out how to turn the gas valve into the off position, don’t proceed any further. Instead, call a professional to do this for you.

Read the rest of this entry »