Our hot water went from working normally to not at all very suddenly. Pressure disappeared completely from the hot side of all faucets to where nothing comes out. It's a 50 gal direct vent gas heater, original to the house that was built in 1999. It seems to be connected with welded copper pipes. I'm confident there are no leaks: I don't see or hear any water anywhere, and the meter shows no water going to the house.
I tried the airlock remedy of blocking a faucet to push cold water into the hot lines, but it didn't seem to make any difference (the same water just pours out and then stops). I also tried flushing/draining the water heater (which had been neglected for many years), and didn't see much sediment. However, it does not appear that the water heater is filling from the supply line even though the valve is open: After draining completely it's not filling up to where more will drain out. Another possible hint: The water heat would not drain unless I opened the TPR valve.
I turned off the burner completely, since I didn't seem a good idea to be running it without knowing what's going on. Whether the water is heated or not should not affect whether water is flowing through the water heater though, right? Are there any other quick fixes or tricks I can try before calling a plumber? Is my supply line blocked, and what would cause such a thing to happen?
Assuming I need to call in a plumber, does it make more sense to get this water heater going again, or is it so old that I should just be looking at buying a new one instead?
Thanks for any advice or tips!
I tried the airlock remedy of blocking a faucet to push cold water into the hot lines, but it didn't seem to make any difference (the same water just pours out and then stops). I also tried flushing/draining the water heater (which had been neglected for many years), and didn't see much sediment. However, it does not appear that the water heater is filling from the supply line even though the valve is open: After draining completely it's not filling up to where more will drain out. Another possible hint: The water heat would not drain unless I opened the TPR valve.
I turned off the burner completely, since I didn't seem a good idea to be running it without knowing what's going on. Whether the water is heated or not should not affect whether water is flowing through the water heater though, right? Are there any other quick fixes or tricks I can try before calling a plumber? Is my supply line blocked, and what would cause such a thing to happen?
Assuming I need to call in a plumber, does it make more sense to get this water heater going again, or is it so old that I should just be looking at buying a new one instead?
Thanks for any advice or tips!
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