Hey everyone, I've been stuck in a home renovation project that was supposed to last less than a month but has turned into three! During this time, my gas supply was turned off, and while the water supply is back on, the electric has been kind of spotty. My gas water heater wasn't drained or turned off by anyone, and I'm concerned about what to do now that I'm back in the house. Can I just turn the gas back on and set the temperature high, or do I need to consider replacing the whole unit?
4 Answers
Before turning the gas back on, make sure the heater's connections are all good. Start by draining some of the water out—turn off the cold intake first and then drain it. You won't get it all out, but aim for about 75%. After that, open the cold intake to refill it. Let hot water run from a tap to check the flow is alright. Once you're sure it's full, you can light the pilot according to your specific model's instructions. And definitely check on it a few hours later to make sure the water's heating up right.
There's no need to replace the water heater just because it hasn’t been used. Just ensure it’s filled with water before turning the gas back on. Open a hot water tap and let it run until you get a steady flow, which confirms the tank is full. Once it’s full, go ahead and relight the pilot according to your manual. If at any point you smell gas, definitely call a plumber or the gas company to get it checked out first!
You can just turn it on, but I'd suggest not messing with the temperature just yet. You might also need to relight the pilot light if it went out during the shut-off.
I'd definitely drain the water heater first. It's been sitting for months, and there could be all sorts of stuff growing in there. After draining it, fill it back up and then turn it on to see if it still works.
Yeah, draining and flushing it will really help clean everything out.