No Hot Water
Bradford White Water Heater
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
A Bradford White unit producing no hot water has lost combustion (pilot out, gas off, ignition fault) or has a failed dip tube delivering cold water to the hot outlet. Check the pilot first.
Affected Models
- Bradford White Defender
- Bradford White ICON
- Bradford White Atmospheric
- Bradford White RG2
- Bradford White Power Vent
Common Causes
- Pilot light out and not relighting (gas units)
- Gas supply turned off or low pressure
- Failed gas control valve
- Broken dip tube allowing cold water to mix with hot water
- Tripped temperature cutoff or thermal switch
How to Fix It
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Check the pilot light.
Look at the pilot through the inspection window. If out, relight per the unit instructions. If it will not light, see the Pilot Outage guide — usually a thermocouple or FVIR screen issue.
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Verify gas supply.
Check the gas shutoff valve at the heater and the meter. Test other gas appliances. If none have gas, contact your gas utility.
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Listen for the burner cycling.
If the pilot is lit, set the temperature higher and listen for the main burner to ignite. If it never lights, the gas valve, ignition control, or temperature sensor has failed — call a plumber.
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Check for a broken dip tube.
If the burner is running normally but you only get cold water, the dip tube has broken. This is a plastic tube that delivers cold water to the bottom of the tank. A broken tube causes cold water to come out of the hot side. Replacement requires draining the tank.
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Reset thermal cutoff (Bradford White Defender / ICON).
Some Bradford White models have a thermal switch or rollout switch that trips on overheating. Check the unit's diagnostic light for a code. A licensed technician can reset and diagnose the cause of the trip.
When to Call a Professional
Pilot relighting and FVIR cleaning are user tasks. Gas valve and ignition system repairs typically require a licensed plumber due to gas safety considerations.