Why the gas water heater does not heat the water: possible malfunctions and repair tips

A gas water heater is one of the most popular water heater options in homes with a centralized blue fuel supply. It is easy to operate and provides an unlimited amount of hot water. Agree, its malfunction can not only cause discomfort, but also disrupt the usual way of life.

An unexpected breakdown caught you at the most inopportune moment, you lost your hot water supply and do not know what to do? We will help you find answers to your questions - within the framework of this article, we will figure out why the gas water heater does not heat the water and whether it is possible to fix the problems yourself. We will also talk about preventive measures, providing the material with thematic photos and videos.

Problems with heating water with a column

Household appliances fail regardless of the popularity of the brand, the reliability of the components used. The only difference is in the duration of operation. To understand the reasons for the lack of hot water or its incorrect supply, it is worth examining typical malfunctions, ways to eliminate them.

Problem # 1 - the water heater does not turn on

When a column does not want to work at all, this does not mean its complete failure. Sometimes the problems are not as serious as they seem.

Next, we will analyze the main reasons for this type of malfunction and talk about how to eliminate them.

Lack of traction in the channel

In the absence of traction, the gas will not ignite. The cause of breakage is often a blockage of the exhaust duct, in which an object is stuck. It can also collect combustion products such as soot. As a result, the lumen becomes clogged, the thrust disappears. Then the circuit breaker is triggered, the column does not turn on.

To fix the problem, you first need to check the traction. Light a match, bring it to the channel. If there is a draft, the flame will be directed towards the hood. If there is no draft, you can try using a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the accumulated combustion products - some of the soot accumulates in the upper part of the column.

If self-cleaning does not bring results, you should invite a chimney sweep.

Old or damaged batteries

Many modern speaker models use batteries to perform specific functions. If the contacts are oxidized or their service life has expired, the gas water heater will not turn on.

To solve the problem, it is enough to open the compartment with the batteries, inspect them for damage, if necessary, clean the contacts, and replace batteries.

Weak water pressure

Each speaker is equipped with a protection system that ensures its safe use. If the water pressure is insufficient, the heating equipment will not turn on.

To check the quality of the water supply, just open the tap. If insufficient pressure, it is worth contacting the management company to find out the reason. When the pressure is good, but water is not supplied to the column, it is important to assess the condition of the incoming filters, which may be clogged.

When the pressure of the water coming out of the column is excellent, but it does not reach the bathroom, it is not possible to take a shower, it is worth checking if the watering can is not clogged.

The water heater ignites and dies out quickly

A similar malfunction may be associated with a weak contact of the thermocouple elements, the solenoid valve that controls the gas supply to the main burner. To fix the problem, it is important to get to the above elements, to ensure strong contact.

A similar situation can be observed in the event of malfunctions in the automation of the geyser. In this case, you will have to contact a specialist.

Another reason for the chaotic shutdown of the column may be a breakdown of the temperature sensor. The device can ignite, but after a few minutes it turns off. And when you try to connect, there will be no result. The heater only comes to life after a few minutes and turns off again.

Sometimes such problems arise in the summer, as the heat exchanger heats up very quickly. The situation can be corrected by providing high-quality ventilation of the room.

If the reason for the incorrect operation of the heater is a breakdown of the temperature sensor, then only professionals can cope with such a problem.

Problem # 2 - the water does not heat up or heats up poorly

When the gas column does not heat the water enough, you can find the causes of the breakdown inside the water unit by examining the membrane for damage.

If the rubber membrane stops responding to the pressure of water, the gas supply is automatically shut off. The cause of the malfunction can be cracks in the membrane, salt deposits, limescale formed due to the high hardness of the water.

To solve the problem, you will need to disassemble the unit, thoroughly clean all the elements. If possible, the membrane should be replaced on silicone.

Difficulties with heating water can also be associated with clogging of the coarse filter located in the water unit.

Low water temperature can be associated with the following malfunctions:

1. Column blockage. The device may slightly warm up the water due to a blockage, which is indicated by the presence of soot, a change in the color of the flame.
2. Low power. When the water in a household gas water heater does not heat up well, without providing a comfortable temperature, it is worth studying the instructions. There is a possibility that its capacity is not enough for the supplied water pressure. Some models provide the ability to adjust the power. With the exclusion of other problems, it is worth taking advantage of this opportunity.
3. Weak gas pressure. If the burner barely burns, then the water does not have time to warm up. And in this situation, it is worth contacting the gas service.

Too hot water does not mean that the column is defective. It is easy to reduce the heating intensity by turning the gas supply knob located on the pipe near the device.

If during the operation of the gas water heater you heard a characteristic smell, indicating a leak, you should not solve the problem yourself. Contact the gas service urgently.

Features of maintenance and repair of speakers

Malfunctions in the operation of water heating equipment are quite often associated with blockages, difficulties in supplying water and gas. To easily diagnose problems, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the device of the water heater, the principle of its operation.

Externally, the speakers may look different, but the principle of their operation remains the same.

All equipment providing instantaneous heating of water has similar assemblies, details:

1. Frameprotecting the device can be made of steel, cast iron, various alloys. There is a control panel on it, and in advanced models there is also a display for displaying information. If the column does not heat water well, an error code will appear on the screen.
2. Main burner, igniter.
3. Heat exchangermade in the form of tubes. Water moves along it, here it is heated. Often this unit is the cause of a malfunction of the gas heater.
4. The combustion chamber. It can be open, closed. Here the energy of the fuel is converted into heat.
5. Water node. After opening the tap, the flow of water passing through this unit activates the membrane. It acts on the stem, which, in turn, opens the valve and allows gas to flow into the burner.
6. Gas valve. He is responsible for supplying gas to the system. If it malfunctions, the column may not work correctly.
7. Chimney - a hole for the outlet of fuel combustion products.

The principle of operation of the gas water heater is quite simple. When the user opens the hot water tap, cold water, gas is supplied to the device, at the same time the burner is ignited.

Cold water flows through the tubes of the heat exchanger, gradually heating up. Combustion products are redirected to the street through a chimney or a special opening.

We talked in more detail about the principle of operation of the column in the article: The principle of operation of a gas water heater: features of the device and operation of a gas water heater

For operational heating of water, it is important to maintain the operability of all units of the column, to carry out periodic maintenance of gas equipment.

The nuances of descaling the radiator

During the operation of the gas water heater, scale can form inside the radiator tubes - when hard water is heated, salts and metals are deposited on the inner walls of the heat exchanger. As a result, the lumen narrows, and deposits attached to the walls do not allow the heat exchanger to warm up well.

As a result, cold water is supplied perfectly, the gas burner works fine. However, at the outlet, the user receives slightly warmed water. You can fix this defect yourself.

To clean the water heater, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the pipes. Professionals use a special radiator cleaner. A vinegar (citric acid) solution is suitable for the work of a home craftsman.

To disassemble and clean the gas water heater, you must have the following tools and materials:

• a set of keys;
• silicone gaskets;
• a tube with a funnel for filling in the cleaning mixture.

Before starting work, it is necessary to close the taps for the supply of cold water and gas. Open the hot water tap to drain the fluid from the system. Then you need to remove the fittings, unscrew the case.

After that, you need to remove the tube adjacent to the heat exchanger, drain the remaining water, which may still remain about half a liter.

For cleaning, it is necessary to pour a heated solution of citric acid (vinegar) into the heat exchanger, leave it for a couple of hours. At the end of the term, connect the coil to the water supply, rinse thoroughly. Repeat the procedure if desired.

Features of eliminating leaks in the column

When water leaks are noticed while using the gas heater, the cause of the malfunction may be as follows:

• incorrect connection of the device to the water supply;
• failure of the seals located at the joints;
• the appearance of a fistula in the heat exchanger tube.

In the first two options, the repair will not be difficult, since it is enough to correctly connect the device or replace the gaskets.

Professionals recommend choosing silicone seals that ensure the tightness of the connection and serve for a long time. When planning work, it is worth stocking up on gaskets for all connections in order to replace them simultaneously in the entire column and not face a similar problem elsewhere in a short time.

You can try to solder the leaking section of the heat exchanger tube. This will provide a temporary effect, prolong the operation of the gas heater. However, after a fairly short period of time, the fistula may appear in another place, therefore, it is advisable, instead of soldering, professionals recommend a complete replacement of the heat exchanger.

Preventive measures

To reduce the likelihood of malfunctions of the gas column and enjoy hot water peacefully, it is necessary to carry out its periodic maintenance. You can carry out the work yourself or use professional services.

Prevention involves disassembling and thoroughly cleaning the gas column. We have provided a detailed description of the process of handwritten service in this material.

When carrying out maintenance work, do not forget about the chimney. When the channel for the discharge of combustion products is clogged with soot and foreign objects, the protection is triggered, the water heater is turned off.

What else can interfere with water heating?

If the diagnostics showed that there are no malfunctions in the operation of the gas heater, and the column still does not heat up or heats up the water poorly, you should heed the recommendations of professionals.

Among them are the following:

1. If the water was always hot, and then its temperature became insufficient, it is worth checking gas pressurecoming from a pipeline or cylinder. It is not recommended to do this on your own; it is better to call representatives of the gas service.
2. The water can stay cool when incorrect operation of the mixermixing cold water with hot water. It is easy to check this by touching the pipe through which water flows from the column to the tap. If the pipeline is hot, and the water from the tap comes out slightly warm, it is worth repair mixer or correct its work.
3. When the temperature of the water supplied from the tap changes sharply, the gas heater periodically turns off, it is worth checking filters in the water heating system, in the mixer.

To increase the temperature of the water at the outlet of the column, it is worth opening the gas supply valve as much as possible, and the valve responsible for the flow of cold water should be opened only halfway. At maximum burner power, the cold water flow will decrease. This will provide better heating.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The following video will help you get acquainted with the preventive work in more detail:

A more detailed description of flushing the heat exchanger can be viewed in the video.

Compliance with the rules of operation of the device, periodic maintenance, will reduce the likelihood of breakdown, enjoy hot water without hassle. If there are malfunctions in the operation of the gas water heater, you can independently eliminate minor defects, clean the filters, and change the gaskets. The replacement of the temperature sensor, the adjustment of the gas supply will have to be entrusted to representatives of the gas service who have permission to carry out such work.

Do you want to tell how you managed to diagnose the problem of poor water heating by a column with your own hands and fix it? Write your comments in the feedback block, add unique photos.

If you still have questions on the topic of the article, ask our experts and other site visitors.