BACKDEC 22, 2025
There are few things more jarring than stepping into the shower expecting a warm, relaxing spray, only to be hit with a blast of icy cold water. If you’ve suddenly lost hot water throughout your house, the culprit is often a simple one: your water heater’s pilot light has gone out.
Looking for more guidance? Take a look at our Repairs overview.
While it might sound intimidating, especially when dealing with a gas appliance, relighting a pilot light is a common DIY task that many homeowners can handle safely on their own. It usually takes less than 30 minutes and can save you the cost of a service call.
At Casa, we believe in empowering you to manage your home with confidence. So, let’s walk through this together, just like we’re on the phone. We’ll cover the essential safety checks, help you figure out what kind of water heater you have, and give you clear, step-by-step instructions to bring the heat back.
Before you touch anything on your water heater, we need to perform a critical safety check. We are dealing with natural gas, and safety is non-negotiable.
The Sniff Test: Check for Gas Leaks
Your number one priority is to check for the smell of gas. Natural gas is odorless, so utility companies add a chemical called mercaptan to give it a distinct, unpleasant smell, often described as rotten eggs or sulfur.
Lean down and sniff the air around the base of your water heater and its connections.
Also, take a moment to ensure the area around your water heater is clear of any flammable materials like paint cans, gasoline, papers, or cleaning supplies. Good airflow is essential for safe operation.
Not all water heaters are created equal. The fix for "no hot water" depends entirely on whether your unit is powered by gas or electricity.
If you've determined you have an electric model, you can stop here—you don’t have a pilot light to relight! The problem lies elsewhere. The most common fix is to reset the circuit breaker.
Wait about 30-60 minutes and then check a faucet. If you have hot water, you've solved the problem! If not, the issue could be a faulty heating element or thermostat, and it’s time to call a professional.
Okay, so you've confirmed you have a gas water heater and there's no gas leak. Now, let's get that pilot lit. Gas heaters come in two main styles: modern units with electronic ignition and traditional units with a standing pilot.
Many newer water heaters use an electronic ignition system instead of a constantly burning pilot light. This is more energy-efficient. You'll know you have one if you see a power cord, a digital display, or an ignition button, but no pilot access window.
Resetting these is often straightforward:
You should hear a clicking sound followed by the "whoosh" of the main burner igniting. If it lights up and starts heating, you’re back in business! If it fails to ignite after a couple of tries, there may be an issue with the igniter itself, and you should call an HVAC professional.
This is the classic method most people think of. You'll need a flashlight and possibly a long lighter if your unit's piezo igniter button is broken.
Did you follow the steps perfectly, but the pilot light went out as soon as you released the knob? This is a very common issue, and it almost always points to a dirty or faulty thermocouple.
The thermocouple is a small copper sensor that sits in the pilot flame. Its job is to detect heat and signal the gas valve that it's safe to stay open. If it's covered in soot or has failed, it won't sense the flame and will shut the gas off as a safety precaution.
You can often fix this by cleaning it:
If the pilot stays lit after cleaning, you've solved it! If it still won't stay lit, the thermocouple itself has likely failed and needs to be replaced. This is an inexpensive part, but if you're not comfortable with the repair, it's a quick job for a professional.
While fixing a pilot light is a great DIY skill, it's important to know your limits. It's time to call a certified HVAC technician if:
According to Forbes, the average cost for a professional water heater repair typically ranges from $150 to $700, depending on the part that needs fixing. A simple service call to diagnose the issue and relight the pilot will be on the lower end of that spectrum and can provide valuable peace of mind.
Navigating home repairs can be daunting, but you did it. By following these steps safely, you’ve tackled one of the most common household issues and restored comfort to your home.
Want to become an even more confident homeowner? Download the Casa app today! Casa provides easy-to-follow guides for hundreds of home maintenance tasks, helps you keep track of your home's needs, and connects you with vetted, local professionals for the jobs you'd rather leave to an expert. Take control of your home with Casa.
