//Quick answer
- Check the floor under the tank first: wet means replace.
- Gas unit: is the pilot lit, is the gas on? Electric: is the breaker on?
- Tankless: read the error code; scale is the usual cause.
- Tune-up $150; tank replacement $2,300 to $3,200 installed.
01Definition
What causes no hot water on a tank?
On gas: a pilot that went out, a failed thermocouple or igniter, a gas valve or a gas supply that has been shut. On electric: a tripped breaker, a failed heating element or a thermostat. On either: a tank so full of sediment that it cannot heat, or a tank that has failed and is leaking.
What causes no hot water on a tankless?
An error code, most often from scale in the heat exchanger, a flow sensor that does not see enough flow, a gas supply problem, or a blocked vent or condensate drain. The display usually says which.
02When it applies
What is safe to check yourself?
Look under the tank for water. Check that the gas control is on and the pilot is lit on a gas unit, or that the breaker is on for an electric one. Read the display on a tankless. Do not relight a pilot if you smell gas; leave, and call the utility from outside.
When is it repair and when is it replace?
A young unit with a failed part gets the part. An aged unit that has started failing gets a replacement quote with the number on it: $2,300 to $3,200 installed for a tank. It depends on the age of the unit; most of the time, once a water heater is old enough to be failing, replacing it beats repeated repairs. A wet floor ends the conversation: that tank is done.
03What goes wrong
What does a leaking tank do next?
It keeps leaking until it lets go, and the full tank ends up on the floor. Shut the cold supply valve on top of the tank, turn the gas control off or switch off the breaker, and call. Emergency water heater repair is available 24/7.
04Proof
- No trip charge, a 1-hour response time, and 24/7 emergency service.
- 1 year minimum warranty on labor. Manufacturer warranty handling varies by manufacturer.
- 4.9 stars across 1,720+ Google reviews on the Orange profile, checked September 17, 2026.
- Six plumbers averaging more than 9 years in the trade each, plus a General Manager with 25+ years.
05Action
Get hot water back
Repair and tune-up ($150) or replacement ($2,300 to $3,200 installed with a Bradford White tank). No trip charge, 1-hour response, 24/7 for emergencies.
//Keep going
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//Terms used in this guide
Where this applies
Done-Rite runs these calls across Orange County from its shop in Anaheim, CA, with no trip charge in any city it serves.
Common questions
It depends on the age of the unit. Most of the time, once a water heater is old enough to be failing, it is more advantageous to replace it than to keep repairing it.
Yes. Emergency service is available 24/7 with a 1-hour response time.
