No hot water but tank has pilot in Greater Vancouver

Seeing the pilot light burning on a gas water heater while no hot water reaches your taps is a confusing situation. The lit pilot tells you the safety system is satisfied, but it does not guarantee the main burner is firing or that the tank is recovering heat. Here is what a Greater Vancouver homeowner should check and where to draw the line.

Why a lit pilot does not always mean hot water

On a standing-pilot gas tank, the pilot flame keeps the thermocouple warm so the gas valve will allow the main burner to come on when the tank cools below the set temperature. A pilot can stay lit while the main burner fails to ignite, or while the burner fires but cannot keep up because the temperature dial is set too low or the tank is undersized for demand.

In a busy household, or in a basement suite sharing one tank, a long shower or a load of laundry can drain the hot water faster than the burner can recover it. That can feel like no hot water at all even though the system is technically working.

• Temperature dial set too low or knocked to a vacation/pilot setting
• Main burner not firing despite the pilot staying lit
• Heavy back-to-back demand outpacing the tank's recovery rate
• Sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank insulating the burner from the water
• An aging tank near the end of its service life recovering very slowly

Safe checks and when to call a licensed technician

Confirm the temperature dial is set to a normal range rather than a pilot-only or vacation position, and give the tank 30 to 60 minutes to recover after a heavy draw. Check that no one else in the home just used a large volume of hot water. Make sure the cold water supply valve to the tank is fully open.

If the pilot is lit but the main burner never fires, or you get only lukewarm water after a long wait, that points to the gas valve, thermostat control, or burner, which are jobs for a licensed gas technician. Never attempt repairs to the gas valve or burner assembly yourself. If you smell gas at any point, leave the home and call your gas utility's emergency line first.

• Set the temperature dial to a normal setting, not pilot or vacation
• Allow up to an hour of recovery after heavy hot-water use
• Confirm the cold supply valve feeding the tank is fully open
• Leave gas valve, thermostat, and burner repairs to a licensed pro

Frequently Asked Questions

If the pilot is lit, why is there no hot water?

A lit pilot only proves the safety circuit is satisfied. The main burner still has to fire to actually heat the water, and it may be failing to ignite, the dial may be set too low, or the tank may simply be out of capacity after heavy use.

How long should I wait for the tank to make hot water again?

After a large hot-water draw, a typical gas tank takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes to recover a full load. If you still have no hot water after an hour with the dial set normally, the burner or gas valve likely needs a professional look.

Can sediment cause weak or no hot water even with a working pilot?

Yes. Sediment settling at the bottom of older tanks insulates the water from the burner, slowing recovery and reducing usable hot water. A technician can assess whether flushing helps or whether the tank is nearing replacement.

Is it safe to relight or adjust the burner myself?

You can safely set the temperature dial, but relighting beyond the printed instructions or adjusting the burner and gas valve should be left to a licensed technician. HeatLand can inspect the burner and controls if the pilot stays lit but no hot water arrives.

HeatLand Heating & Cooling is a licensed and insured, TSBC-certified HVAC company serving homeowners across Greater Vancouver. Our technicians diagnose the real fault, explain your options in plain language, and complete the work safely and to code.

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