01-18-2012, 06:22 PM
re-light it. You'll want hot water later today or tonight. Maybe tomorrow!
Try to determine if the leak is snuffing the pilot (shouldn't be, but who knows.) If you can't determine it and the pilot goes out again (barring anything obvious such as the wind blocker, which is presumably still in-place) then call a tech.
What happens next depends largely on the tech and who he works for --- just like with calling out someone for A/C repair. Some techs won't want to fix a fixable WH, even if all it needs is a new gas valve or sacrificial anode. "It's 'old,' they don't long, get a new one."
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Mine's as old as the house, 18 years. Looks fine but I'm afraid to do anything "preventative" such as swap out the drain valve or replace the sacrificial anode. My pessimistic side says that one or both of those wouldn't come out cleanly and I'd ruin the tank attempting to do so. Shortly following that would be, "Why the fsck did you go messing with the WH, when it was working fine??" It's not my abilities I fear, but the tank's to stand up to some simple wrench turning.
Try to determine if the leak is snuffing the pilot (shouldn't be, but who knows.) If you can't determine it and the pilot goes out again (barring anything obvious such as the wind blocker, which is presumably still in-place) then call a tech.
What happens next depends largely on the tech and who he works for --- just like with calling out someone for A/C repair. Some techs won't want to fix a fixable WH, even if all it needs is a new gas valve or sacrificial anode. "It's 'old,' they don't long, get a new one."
*********************
Mine's as old as the house, 18 years. Looks fine but I'm afraid to do anything "preventative" such as swap out the drain valve or replace the sacrificial anode. My pessimistic side says that one or both of those wouldn't come out cleanly and I'd ruin the tank attempting to do so. Shortly following that would be, "Why the fsck did you go messing with the WH, when it was working fine??" It's not my abilities I fear, but the tank's to stand up to some simple wrench turning.