Not having hot water is not fun. If left unchecked and your pipes freeze it could mean even bigger troubles. So is this something you should try and fix yourself or a project best left for the pros?

Getting Your Gas Water Heater Back On:

 •Check to make sure the gas is actually on.

 •Check the pilot light.

 •If out, follow the instructions on your heater to relight it.

 •If the pilot light won’t stay lit, you can replace the thermocouple (the copper wire hanging down to the pilot light) for less than twenty dollars, using only a small adjustable wrench.

 •If this doesn’t fix your problem, call a plumber.

How to Fix Your Own Electric Water Heater:

 1.Check that you have electricity and breakers haven’t been tripped.

 2.If that didn’t solve it, make sure to turn off the breakers to the water heater before going any further!

 3.Remove the access cover on the water heater and locate the reset button. If you are lucky, you will only have to reset it and turn the power back on, and you’ll be all set in an hour.

 4.If not, power off the electricity again, get your hands on a voltage meter, locate the heating elements, and check for continuity in the circuit. If this fails, you’ll want to replace both elements. This requires draining the tank and possibly a special socket that can be found wherever you buy the elements.

 5.If the elements are fine, it is probably your thermostats that are the issue. These can be quickly and easily changed by removing the wires and connecting new thermostats.

 Only attempt these DIY projects if you feel comfortable. Dealing with gas and electricity can be deadly. However, with a little effort you can also save yourself a lot of money.