When your hot water heater, a device that heats and stores water for showers, dishes, and laundry. Also known as a water heater tank, it's one of the most taken-for-granted appliances in your home—until it stops working. No hot water means no showers, no clean dishes, and no comfort. And it doesn’t take long for that to turn into a full-blown crisis.
The reset button, a safety feature on electric water heaters that trips when the unit overheats is often the first thing to check. Pressing it once is fine—but if it trips again right away, you’ve got a deeper problem. Maybe the thermostat is stuck, the heating element is dead, or sediment has built up at the bottom of the tank, causing it to overheat. That’s not a fix you can keep pushing. A leaking water heater, a clear sign of corrosion, pressure issues, or a failed tank is even more urgent. Rust around the base, puddles under the unit, or discolored water? That’s not a slow leak—it’s a warning. Waiting too long can mean flooding your basement or garage.
Older units—especially those over 8 to 10 years—start showing signs of wear. You might hear popping or rumbling noises, which usually means mineral deposits are baking on the bottom. Or maybe the water just doesn’t stay hot as long as it used to. That’s not normal wear and tear. It’s the system working harder to do less. And when your energy bill spikes without explanation, that’s your heater screaming for help.
Not every problem needs a full replacement. Sometimes it’s just a faulty water heater element, the part that actually heats the water in electric models—and replacing it costs a fraction of a new tank. Other times, it’s the anode rod, a cheap part that protects the tank from rusting inside. If that rod is gone, the tank is next. Checking it yearly could save you thousands.
What you’ll find below are real fixes people in Warwick and across Warwickshire have used. From how to safely test your reset button to spotting early signs your tank is about to give out, these posts cut through the noise. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what actually works when your hot water disappears.
Your hot water heater won’t turn on? It could be a tripped breaker, dead element, or faulty thermostat. Learn how to diagnose and fix common issues yourself before calling a pro.
