A step-by-step way to think through a sudden loss of hot water in a Richmond home before calling a licensed technician.
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Quick answer
A sudden loss of hot water usually traces back to one of a handful of causes: a pilot or ignition failure, an interrupted gas supply, a thermostat or control issue, or in older tanks, a failed heating element within the gas burner assembly. Some of these are simple to confirm from outside the unit, while others need a licensed technician's diagnostic equipment to pin down safely.
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Before assuming the worst, a few quick, safe checks can narrow things down. Look at the water heater's control panel or pilot window: is there a pilot light visible, and if the unit has a digital display, is it showing any error or fault indicator? Check whether other gas appliances in the home, like a stove or furnace, are working, since that tells you whether the issue is isolated to the water heater or points to a broader gas supply interruption.
If other gas appliances are also down, contact FortisBC directly, since that points to a supply issue rather than something specific to your water heater.
| Cause | What it typically looks like |
|---|---|
| Pilot light out | No visible flame in the pilot window; unit won't ignite |
| Thermocouple or ignition control failure | Pilot lights but won't stay lit, or won't ignite at all |
| Gas supply valve accidentally closed | Other gas appliances may also be affected |
| Sediment buildup interfering with burner operation | Gradual decline in hot water rather than a sudden total loss |
| Tank leak causing automatic shutdown on some models | Visible water near the base of the unit |
A licensed technician works through these in order of likelihood and ease of confirmation, rather than guessing at the most dramatic possibility first.
Don't attempt to relight a pilot if you're not familiar with your specific unit's exact procedure, and never attempt to bypass a safety control that's preventing ignition, since those controls exist specifically to stop the unit from operating unsafely. If you smell gas at any point during this process, stop immediately, leave the home, and call FortisBC from outside.
Richmond's damp coastal climate can contribute to corrosion around older pilot assemblies and thermocouples over time, which is a common, unglamorous cause of pilot lights that won't stay lit in older units. Homes with water heaters installed in crawl spaces or exterior closets, common given Richmond's high water table, are also more exposed to humidity swings than a unit tucked into a dry interior mechanical room, which can accelerate wear on ignition components.
Older Richmond properties, including character homes around Steveston, sometimes still run original water heaters well past a typical service life, and a total loss of hot water in these cases is often the unit finally reaching the end of its usable life rather than a simple component fix.
A pilot, thermocouple, or ignition control issue is usually a straightforward repair. A tank that's showing internal leaks, heavy corrosion, or repeated failures of the same component is more likely signalling it's time to replace rather than keep repairing. A technician can give you an honest read on which situation you're in once they've actually inspected the unit.
Safety note
Gas water heaters involve combustion, venting, and gas pressure, so diagnosis and repair must be handled by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter. If you ever smell gas or suspect a carbon monoxide problem, leave the home immediately and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside before doing anything else.
If you know the exact procedure for your specific unit and there's no gas smell, it's generally safe to try, but if the pilot won't stay lit or you're unsure, it's better to have a licensed technician diagnose the cause.
Some gas water heaters use electronic ignition and displays that need power, so a power interruption can affect them, though standard pilot-light models typically keep working through a power outage.
Check whether other gas appliances in the home, like a stove or furnace, are also affected. If they are, it points to a supply issue rather than something isolated to the water heater.
It's inconvenient, but not usually a safety emergency unless you smell gas or see signs of a leak. It's still worth getting diagnosed promptly since going without hot water for long isn't practical for most households.
Heavy sediment buildup is more commonly associated with reduced hot water or strange noises than a sudden total loss, but severe buildup can interfere with burner operation in some cases, which a technician can confirm.
There's no fixed age, but many storage tank water heaters start showing these kinds of issues somewhere in their second decade of service, especially without regular maintenance.
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