quote:
wter heaters that old always have a standing pilot that sometimes just gets blown out bu a gust of wind...have you checked to see if the pilot is out?...may be as simple as holding the button down and relighting...

This is a good point. I just assumed that the pilot was on, but not heating the water.

When you say it's "not heating", do you mean that it suddenly quit heating? Or do you mean that it barely heats and that the decrease in heating has gradually occurred over time?

It it was something sudden, then look up a YouTube video on lighting the pilot light in a water heater. It's super easy.

This post was edited on 5/19/14 at 7:56 pm

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Posted by Lightnin Hopkins

Member since Dec 2013

559 posts

Posted on 5/20/14 at 3:32 am to Spankum

quote:
water heaters that old always have a standing pilot that sometimes just gets blown out by a gust of wind...have you checked to see if the pilot is out?...may be as simple as holding the button down and relighting...

otherwise, I'd bet the thermocouple is bad...another fix that shouldn't cost much at all...

This

Thermocouple, $7 from Lowe's. Fixed 95% of water heater service calls I went on. If its 20 years old or more in the BR area I'd bet it was a Rheem, and those things can last for 40+ years. While you're in there it wouldn't hurt to replace the sacrificial anode rod (can be ordered from any plumbing supply warehouse.) You can find instructions online, its simple stuff for any DIY'er

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Posted by Langston

Member since Nov 2010

7685 posts

Posted on 5/20/14 at 7:07 am to tigerinthebueche

I owe you an apology for my post. I missed the gas part. Not sure who your service is with but in cenla we have CLECO and they will give you a new electric hot water heater for your old gas hot water heater. I doubt you have CLECO but may be worth a call to see if your company has an exchange program too.