Waking up to cold water in Maple Ridge is almost always one of a handful of causes, most of which take five minutes to check before calling for help.
Tell us what you need—we’ll call you back fast.
Quick answer
Total loss of hot water from a gas storage tank is most often a pilot light that's gone out, a closed or faulty gas valve, or a failed thermocouple or gas control valve. Check the pilot first, since it's visible and safe to inspect yourself; if it's lit and the burner still isn't firing, the problem is likely in the gas control valve or thermocouple, which needs a licensed technician. Tankless units show a different pattern and usually display a fault code instead of just going cold.
Need a licensed gas fitter for your gas water heater? Call CANRO at (604) 359-1081 — residential natural-gas heating and hot water across Metro Vancouver since 1999.
Most standard gas storage tanks have a small viewing window near the bottom where you can see whether the pilot light is lit. If it's out, your owner's manual will have relighting instructions specific to your model, usually involving holding down a reset button while lighting the pilot with a long lighter. If it relights and holds, you're likely fine; if it goes out again within a minute or two, that points to a failing thermocouple, which is a simple, inexpensive part for a technician to replace but not something to keep relighting yourself repeatedly.
A pilot that won't stay lit even after a few honest attempts, or one that lights with a strange colour rather than a steady blue flame, is a sign to stop and call rather than keep trying.
| Component | What's tested | Typical finding |
|---|---|---|
| Thermocouple or flame sensor | Millivolt output when heated by the pilot flame | Weak signal shuts the gas valve as a safety measure |
| Gas control valve | Internal switching and thermostat function | Can fail electrically or mechanically with age |
| Gas pressure at the appliance | Static and dynamic pressure with a manometer | Low pressure can prevent proper ignition or full-rate burning |
| Venting | Draft and any blockage in the flue | A blocked or damaged flue can trigger a safety shutdown |
In Maple Ridge specifically, homes further out toward the rural edges of the district sometimes have longer gas line runs from the meter, and older galvanized or undersized lines can occasionally cause pressure issues that a newer or larger appliance elsewhere in the house exposes. It's not the most common cause of no hot water, but it's one a technician will rule out if the more obvious causes check out fine.
A thermocouple or igniter replacement is a minor repair. A failed gas control valve is a bigger but still typically repairable job on a tank that's otherwise in reasonable shape. Where replacement becomes the better call is when the tank is old enough that internal corrosion, sediment buildup, or repeated component failures are stacking up, since spending on a major valve replacement for a tank near the end of its practical life rarely makes financial sense. A straightforward gas storage tank replacement is best quoted after a short assessment of your specific tank size, venting, and access, since those factors vary house to house.
Safety note
If you smell gas at any point while checking your water heater, stop, leave the home, and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside before doing anything else. Pilot lights, gas valves, and venting must only be serviced by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter; CANRO holds gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450.
A sudden total loss of hot water usually means the pilot went out or a safety component like the thermocouple failed, cutting gas to the burner. It's rarely gradual the way running out of hot water faster than before would be.
Yes, if your owner's manual shows the relighting procedure for your specific model and you follow it exactly, including holding the reset button for the specified time. If it won't stay lit after a couple of tries, stop and call a technician instead of continuing to attempt it.
It's a more involved repair than a thermocouple but still generally well below the cost of a full replacement tank; a technician can give you an accurate number once they've confirmed that's actually the failed part.
Some gas water heaters use electronic ignition or control boards that rely on household power, so a tripped breaker or power interruption can cause a no-heat condition that looks gas-related but isn't. It's worth checking your electrical panel before assuming the worst.
Check whether your furnace, range, or fireplace, if gas-fed, are also not working; if they are fine and only the water heater has no flame, the problem is isolated to that appliance.
That depends on the tank's age and overall condition beyond just the current fault. A technician assessing the valve issue can also tell you honestly whether the rest of the tank justifies the repair.
Family-run, TSBC-licensed (gas LGA0043870 · boiler LBP0046450), serving Metro Vancouver homes since 1999. Residential, natural gas only.
Call (604) 359-1081 Email info@canroheat.ca“Canro does an amazing job! Super professional and skilled with everything—boilers, furnaces, and AC. Always a pleasure working with them!”
“Five stars for Canro. We needed a replacement of a 30-year-old boiler. A new high-efficiency unit was installed—clean, professional work.”
“I can’t speak highly enough about George, who was recommended for a boiler service call for my parents’ home. George is excellent.”
25+ years keeping Metro Vancouver homes comfortable. Honest advice, upfront pricing, work that lasts.