& What You Can Do About It
Storms in the Kansas City area can be intense, sometimes causing problems for your home’s electronics, even if your house wasn’t directly struck by lightning. If your water heater suddenly stopped working after a big weather event, you’re not crazy to think it might be related. Whether it’s a loss of power, a gas issue, or a tripped breaker, there are several ways a storm can affect your system. Fortunately, some of these problems have simple solutions you can try before calling in a professional.
Electric Water Heaters & Power Outages
If you have an electric water heater, the most common reason it stops working during or after a storm is straightforward—it needs power to run. When the power goes out, your water heater can’t heat water. Even after the lights come back on, you might need to reset a few things to get it going again.
Troubleshooting Tips to Fix Your Water Heater
If your power is back but your hot water isn’t, there are a few basic steps you can take to troubleshoot. These won’t fix every problem, but they’re a good place to start before you call for service. Just be sure to take safety precautions, especially if you’re working around gas or electricity.
Reset Your Breaker
A power surge during a storm can trip the breaker that controls your water heater. Head to your home’s electrical panel and find the breaker labeled for the water heater. If it’s in the “off” position or stuck in the middle, flip it all the way off, then back on. This might restore power to the unit.
Reset Your Water Heater Unit
Some water heaters have a built-in reset button—often red and located near the thermostat or under an access panel. Pressing this button can sometimes restore operation after a power disruption. Not every model has one, though, so check your unit’s manual or look up the manufacturer’s guide to be sure.
Relight Your Pilot Light
If you have a gas water heater, the pilot light may have gone out during the storm. You can check by removing the access panel near the bottom of the tank and looking for a small flame. If it’s out, follow the relighting instructions printed on the side of your unit. If you’re unsure or don’t feel confident doing this, it’s best to call a technician.
Check Your Gas Supply
Strong storms can sometimes interrupt your home’s gas supply. If your gas appliances aren’t working or the water heater won’t relight, this could be the issue. Most importantly, if you smell gas (a smell like sulfur or rotten eggs), shut off the gas immediately, leave your home, and call your utility company. Safety always comes first!
When to Call a Professional
If any of these apply to your situation, it’s time to call for professional water heater services:
- You’ve tried these steps and still have no hot water
- You’re not comfortable working with gas or electricity
- You notice damage to the water heater or gas lines
- There’s water leaking from the tank or a burning smell
- You suspect an electrical surge has damaged internal components
Why Choose Us?
At Santa Fe Heating & Air, we’ve been helping Kansas City homeowners with water heater issues since 1985. Whether your water heater needs a quick fix or a full replacement, our licensed and background-checked technicians are here to help. We offer same-day service, upfront pricing, and free replacement estimates to make the process simple and stress-free.
Contact our team today to schedule water heater service in Kansas City!
