Gas Water Heater Repair & Installation in Mableton, GA

If your gas water heater has a power cord and no little flame burning behind a window, it most likely uses electronic ignition. These heaters light the burner only when hot water is needed, which saves the gas a standing pilot burns around the clock, but they add parts that a pilot-style heater does not have. On these models, gas water heater repair in Mableton often comes down to the igniter, the flame sensor or the power feeding them, and Alpha Plumbing and Sewer works through them in that order.

Pilot, spark button or true electronic ignition

Three kinds of ignition show up on tank heaters. A standing pilot burns all the time and is lit with a match or a push-button spark. Some heaters keep a standing pilot but power their control from the pilot's own heat, so they need no outlet. True electronic ignition needs electricity: the control lights a pilot or the main burner each time the tank calls for heat. Most of these heaters plug into a standard outlet near the tank, and the label or manual tells you which type you have.

The lighting sequence

1. The water cools and the control calls for heat.
2. It runs its safety checks, including the blower and pressure switch on power-vent models.
3. The igniter glows red-hot or sparks.
4. The gas valve opens and the burner lights.
5. A flame sensor confirms the flame within seconds; if it does not, the gas closes.

Most controls retry a set number of times before locking out, and many flash a light or show a code to say why.

Why an electronic-ignition heater will not light

• No power: an unplugged cord, a tripped breaker or a tripped GFCI outlet.
• A worn igniter: hot surface igniters crack and weaken with age, and a cracked one may glow dimly or not at all.
• A dirty flame sensor: a thin film on the sensor rod keeps it from proving the flame, so the burner lights and drops out a few seconds later.
• Grounding or wiring trouble: many controls read the flame through a small electrical current that needs a sound ground and correct polarity.
• Gas supply problems: a partly closed shutoff or low pressure gives a weak flame the sensor cannot confirm.
• A failing control board or gas valve, usually found after the simpler causes are ruled out.

What you can safely check

Make sure the heater is plugged in and that its outlet and breaker are on; press the reset on a GFCI outlet if it has tripped. Many controls clear a lockout when power is cycled, following the manual's steps. If the heater locks out again, leave it off and call. Igniters are brittle and should not be touched or bent, and work on the sensor, wiring or gas valve belongs with a technician. If you smell gas at any point, do not cycle power or touch any switch; walk out and phone the gas utility or 911 once you are away from the house.

Repair or replace

Igniters and flame sensors are replaceable parts, and on a heater with a sound tank they are worth fixing. A failed control board or gas valve on an older heater is where replacement enters the conversation. Moving from a standing-pilot heater to an electronic one means an outlet must be available near the heater, so it pays to plan that before installation day. If you are open to a different type, the Georgia water heater overview compares a gas tank with an electric water heater and a tankless water heater. Other plumbing in the house falls under our general plumbing services.

Permits in Mableton

Permits for Mableton addresses now go to the city rather than Cobb County, as Cobb's codes and standards page notes. Mableton's Building Division issues plumbing permits for water, sewer and gas line work, and its FAQ explains that a homeowner may pull a permit for their own work on a primary residence, while a hired contractor with a state license pulls it otherwise.

Electronic ignition questions from Mableton homes

My water heater plugs into the wall, so is it electric?

Not necessarily. Gas heaters with electronic ignition or a power-vent blower need a standard outlet, but the heat still comes from a gas burner. If there is a gas line and shutoff valve at the heater and a vent pipe on top, it is a gas heater. The rating plate on the side of the tank confirms the fuel type.

Why does the heater try to light a few times and then quit?

That is a lockout. The control tried to light the burner, could not confirm a flame and stopped to avoid releasing unburned gas. Common causes are a weak igniter, a dirty flame sensor or a gas supply problem. Cycling power once may clear it, but repeated lockouts mean a part needs attention.

Will I have hot water during a power outage?

Only what is already in the tank. An electronic-ignition heater cannot light its burner without power, so once the stored water cools or is used up, it stays cold until the electricity returns. A well-insulated tank keeps water usefully warm for a while if you go easy on hot water use.

When the igniter keeps clicking

If your Mableton water heater clicks and quits, count the flashes on the status light, then phone Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448.