How do you turn a water heater on?

Answer 1

Electric you probably just need to flip the circuit breaker on. Gas, make sure the pilot light is on, you should be able to see it at the bottom of the heater after you take the cover off below the control. If it is not on, make sure the gas is turn on to the tank. Should be a shut off valve on the gas line coming to the the tank. Should be where the flex line is attached. If the handle is in line with the pipe, it is on. On top of the control, there is a knob with a button in the center. Turn the knob to Pilot. Push down on the button while lighting the pilot light. This may take a few seconds to 15 for gas to get to the pilot light. When it lights, keep holding down on the button for 15 to 30 seconds. It has to heat up the thermocouple for a bit before it will stay on. Release the button and if the light stays on, turn the knob to On. The heater should come on at this point.

If the pilot light is already on, just turn the knob to On.

Newer heaters have a sparker to light the pilot light. The access to the burner will have a clear cover over it and there will be a button on the side of the control to spark the pilot light. Hold the button down on the knob and push the sparker repeatedly until the pilot lights.

The temperature may need to be raised, it may just be turned all the way down. There is a dial on the front of the control for the temp.

Answer 2

In either gas or electric, open the cold water inlet valve. In electric, make sure the breaker is on. With gas, light the pilot light and make sure it stays on, then open the gas valve on regulator.