A hot-water problem can mean no hot water at all, water that is only lukewarm, unusually hot water, or water leaking from the heater. Start by identifying the symptom before interacting with the equipment.
Water heaters may involve electricity, gas, very hot water, and pressurized plumbing. Keep troubleshooting limited to simple observations and safe user-level checks.
Stop If You Smell Gas
If you smell gas near the water heater or elsewhere in the home, do not operate the water heater, relight a pilot, use electrical switches, or continue troubleshooting. Leave the home and follow our gas-smell safety guidance.
Check Whether the Problem Affects More Than One Fixture
Test hot water at two or three fixtures when it is safe to do so. If only one faucet or shower is affected, the problem may be at that fixture rather than the water heater.
If several fixtures have no hot water or only lukewarm water, continue with the appropriate safe checks below.
If You Have an Electric Water Heater
If the area around the water heater and electrical panel is dry and safe, you may check the electrical panel for a clearly labeled water-heater breaker.
If the breaker is tripped, you may reset it once. If it trips again, stop. Do not repeatedly reset the breaker, remove water-heater access panels, touch wiring, or attempt electrical repairs.
If You Have a Gas Water Heater
If there is no gas odor, you may look at the outside of the water heater for a visible status light or display and report what it shows.
Do not relight a pilot, operate the gas valve, remove burner covers, or perform other gas-control troubleshooting.
If You Have a Tankless Water Heater
If the unit has an external display, note any error code shown and include it in your maintenance request.
Do not open the unit, remove covers, attempt internal resets, or perform gas or electrical service.
If the Water Is Unusually Hot
Stop using water that is hot enough to create a scalding risk. Do not remove covers or adjust internal thermostats or gas controls.
Report whether the unusually hot water is occurring at one fixture or throughout the home.
If the Water Heater Is Leaking
Keep away from any water that is near electrical equipment or wiring.
If the water heater's cold-water supply valve is obvious, readily accessible, and safe to reach, you may close that water valve to help stop additional water entering the tank. Do not force the valve.
Do not operate a gas valve, relight a pilot, open the water heater, or remove panels.
If water is actively causing major property damage and cannot be safely stopped or contained, use the emergency-maintenance routing on Resident Maintenance.
What to Include in Your Maintenance Request
Tell us whether you have no hot water, lukewarm water, unusually hot water, or a leak; whether the problem affects several fixtures; whether the unit is electric, gas, or tankless if you can tell without opening anything; and any visible status light or error code.
If an electric water-heater breaker was reset once, tell us whether it stayed on or tripped again. If the heater is leaking, include photos from a safe distance and tell us whether the cold-water supply valve was closed.
Submit the unresolved hot-water problem through your resident portal. For other plumbing symptoms, return to Plumbing & Water Problems.
Published: September 2, 2026
