Gas water heaters are normally dependable but over time they could start to develop problems. Because of their decreased usage cost they are a smarter option than using an electric water heater. There are many different reasons why they do not work. A homeowner may be able to troubleshoot the problems and fix them it is sometimes better if you hire gas water heater services and have a professional to fix it as they are better suited for the job. Many times if there is a problem replacing the bad component will be the solution but not always. Make sure that you are not ignoring any of the signs of unusual functioning of your gas water heater. If the smaller problems are not fixed then the problem could become more serious and result in buying a new one.
If the water heater is not heating the water it could be due to a malfunction with the thermostat. In gas water heater the thermostat is the thermoelectric device called a thermocouple. It is made of a strip of two metals that checks the temperature of the flame from the pilot burner. If the temperature is not sufficient to light the pilot burner then it will shut off the gas supply. If there is a bad thermocouple it could cause the gas supply that remains to shut off even if the water heater is in good condition. If it is not the thermostat then the next thing to check is the pilot burner. The flame that comes from the pilot burner is directed onto the thermocouple. This will allow it to gauge the temperature of the flame and if there is not sufficient heat coming from the pilot burner then it might cause the thermostat to keep the supply of gas turned off.
This is something that the homeowner can fix instead of calling a handyman to fix it. If the thermostat and pilot burner are not positioned so the flame reaches the thermostat at the right intensity you can reposition the assembly to make sure this happens. You also want to make sure that both are free from grime and sediment. You may have to replace one or both of these components if neither are working correctly. If you are not sure what is causing your water to be lukewarm then you may need to call a professional to figure out the problem. If your gas water heater is producing water that is rust-colored it could be corrosion inside the tank due to electrochemical reactions. It could also indicate that the anode heating rod will need to be changed.