If you smell gas, don't relight anything or flip switches. Leave the house and call the gas company's emergency line or 911 from outside.
Gas water heater
- Check that the gas control isn't set to Off or Vacation.
- Look through the sight window for the pilot flame. If it's out, relight it following the instructions on the heater's label.
- If the pilot won't stay lit, the thermocouple or gas control is a common cause. That's a plumber's repair.
Electric water heater
- Check the heater's breaker in your electrical panel. Reset it once if it's tripped.
- If the breaker trips again, stop and call. Don't keep resetting it.
- A heater that runs but never gets hot usually has a failed heating element or thermostat.
Hot water from the boiler
Many Long Island homes get hot water from the boiler instead of a separate tank. If the heat also isn't working, the problem is likely the boiler itself. See our boiler repair page.