Make sure the thermostat dial is set above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's a gas heater, verify the pilot light is on (you should see a small blue flame through the window). If it's electric, check that the breaker hasn't flipped in your electrical panel.
A working water heater makes a faint humming or rumbling sound when it's heating. Silence suggests the element isn't firing. Look under and around the tank for water pooling or staining. If the tank is leaking from the bottom, replacement is the only fix.
If you or someone in your house took a long shower or filled a bath, the tank might just be empty. Wait 30 to 45 minutes and try hot water again from a tap far from the heater.
Water heaters in Salinas homes have a hard life. Our water supply carries minerals that accumulate on heating elements and tank bottoms, reducing efficiency and shortening lifespan. Most tanks fail somewhere between 8 and 12 years of use. When they do, they fail suddenly: you go to take a shower and nothing but cold water comes out.
A gas water heater uses a burner to heat water that circulates through the tank. An electric heater has one or two electric elements submerged inside. Both can fail in multiple ways. The element burns out. The thermostat stops signaling for heat. The tank develops a leak that drains it faster than it can refill. A gas heater's pilot light goes out and won't relight. The gas valve sticks or fails.
A plumber will check the temperature and pressure relief valve first, test whether heat is being applied, look for leaks, and check the thermostat. If the tank is leaking or more than ten years old, replacement usually makes more sense than repair. If the element or thermostat has failed, those can sometimes be replaced. The diagnosis takes a few minutes on site.
Describe what you're seeing to a real Salinas plumber: call (831) 555-0123 or send the form. Free, no obligation.