Quick hot water heater died!

[Octoberbride03]

Who do we call to get it replaced asap?!!


Stupid thing died yesterday at some point, and its not kicking in. Up until then i had lovely hot water whenever i wanted it. And to boot the stupid thing sits outside the house completely encased so we can't even look at it to measure or anything.

TIA

 

[AKL_Megs]

Did you check the pilot light first? Since it is outside, I would be willing to believe the wind blew out the pilot light.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Did you check the pilot light first? Since it is outside, I would be willing to believe the wind blew out the pilot light.

It is COMPLETELY ENCASED. Sealed tight as a drum. Its not the pilot light.

 

[AKL_Megs]

This makes no sense! No time like the present time! You will have to open it to get in there anyways if you need to get a new one, won't you?

And... perhaps you lost gas for a while stranger things have happened.

Either way, I would check it out by OPENING IT.

 

[Octoberbride03]

This makes no sense! No time like the present time! You will have to open it to get in there anyways if you need to get a new one, won't you?

And... perhaps you lost gas for a while stranger things have happened.

Either way, I would check it out by OPENING IT.

Haven't lost gas. House is heated fine. Far as we know the water heater is electric. But we could be wrong. At any rate opening the housing requires a power saw which we don't own. I'm not gonna go buy 1 since it likely will never get used again.

 

[Polyluvr]

Call a plumber. If you're looking to save some $ though, go get 1 from Lowes/Home depot and have it there for plumber to install. Good luck!

 

[AKL_Megs]

Haven't lost gas. House is heated fine. Far as we know the water heater is electric. But we could be wrong. At any rate opening the housing requires a power saw which we don't own. I'm not gonna go buy 1 since it likely will never get used again.

Then I guess you'll go without hot water! No way of knowing what is wrong unless you open it up... same thing if you call someone to fix it. They need to be able to get at the actual heater.

Why would they have made it so hard to get in there in the first place?

 

[MnMomtoboys]

How old is the water heater? And you can rent a saw.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Call a plumber. If you're looking to save some $ though, go get 1 from Lowes/Home depot and have it there for plumber to install. Good luck!

Just came from there. No help whatsoever. Don't care about the money, care about the hot water.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Just came from there. No help whatsoever. Don't care about the money, care about the hot water.

Call a 24-hour Emergency plumber... they WILL help you, because they charge a fortune, LOL... but seriously, that is what they are there for. Do you have a Mr. Rooter?

 

[AKL_Megs]

http://www.mrrooter.com/ They have "immdiate response" and "24-hour service". They are reputable.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

Just came from there. No help whatsoever. Don't care about the money, care about the hot water.

Don't just go buy a water heater. Ours went out 2 years ago and the guy told us that you need to get the same size as you had before(unless its too small for you needs) so all they have to do is replace what you have. Otherwise there is more work involved.

How is the WH protected from freezing since its outside?

 

[DMickey28]

Is it just me or does having a hot water heater outside seem counter-intuative? Wouldn't it have to work A LOT harder to warm the water being outside in the elements????

I wish I had advice for you ... Good Luck.

 

[manning]

Assuming it is a gas heater it could be the thermal couple.

It would be located above the pilot light. The following explains how it works

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4927061_gas-furnace-thermocouple-work.html

When the pilot light goes out it will cause the thermo couple to shut off the pilot light and gas. When a thermo couple malfunctions it will shut off the gas.

 

[freckles and boo]

Call a plumber. Then be prepared to pay out the fanny if it isn't a simple fix and needs to be replaced during evening or weekend hours. It seems very odd to me that a major appliance wouldn't be accessible. If it is electric did you check the circuit breaker?

 

[monkeyboy]

If its encased as you say I doubt it's gas unless there is a vent to allow combustables.
It may be electric.

Either way, with a few simple tools it can be replaced at for very little money.

If you are not handy call a plumber

 

[Magic Mom]

There's no access door? Who puts a water heater outside without a way to get to it? Is it made of gold?

 

[smschex]

Is it a traditional water heater or a tankless one? I can't think of any way a traditional water heater would be completely enclosed.

Either way, a plumber is who you need to call.

 

[Topper]

Good luck! I hope tonight isn't bath night!

 

[Shutterbug]

If the plumber is going to have to cut through wood to get at the tank he is going to charge you alot of money!

I have never heard of enclosing a water tank that you cant access easily, let alone it being outside.