Why do I suddenly have no hot water?

A sudden loss of hot water usually comes down to a few causes: on a gas unit, a pilot light or gas supply issue; on an electric unit, a tripped breaker or a failed heating element; or on either, a failed thermostat. If the tank is also leaking, the unit itself may have failed.

A couple of safe things to check first: on a gas heater, see whether the pilot is lit; on an electric one, check whether the breaker has tripped and reset it once. If it trips again or the pilot won't stay lit, stop there — those point to a component that needs a plumber.

If you smell gas at any point, leave the home and call your gas utility first. For no-hot-water diagnosis and repair, Wiz Plumbing is available 24/7 at (630) 448-8940.