When you say "no hot water" does that mean the water is cold or does that mean the hot water doesn't flow? If it doesn't flow, there is a valve shut off near the water heater. If water flows, but the unit is not heating, that's different. You might have to get it serviced.

You should have a thermostat on the front of your water heater. Check to be sure that's turned up. You should hear a big woomph as the pilot lights the burner. Do you actually have water in the heater? Turn on a hot water faucet. If nothing comes out, someone may have shut off the flow to the water heater. There should be some valves right above it for that purpose. You'll want to turn those on.

Thank you both for your reply. Learned more today about my water heater that I'm sure I'll find useful in the future. I was getting water when I turned on the hot water at the faucet so I figured out the previous owner did not turn the water off (one possibility checked off).

I did finally solve the problem with some help (including yours). After I lit the pilot, I never heard the "vrrrmpph" sound of the pilot lighting the burner like you mentioned. So I narrowed down that was the problem. But after I had lit the pilot, I had turned the temperature knob between warm and hot. But still no 'vrrmph". As it turns out, the outer knob, the one that graphically shows you what temperature you are choosing was not there - and all I was seeing and using was the metal underpiece - which did not accurately show you what temperature I was choosing (it was deceieving becuase it appeared to have a metal arrow on it).

Anyways, we rotated the temperature gage further to the left and sure enough, the burner lit and the water started to heat. My friends only concern was that the heater would not regulate the tempurature very well and would not turn off or the pressure valve would have to release. But everything appears to work OK.

My guess is that this water heater will have to be replaced soon. The date on the unit says 1982 - so its almost 20 years old. How long do these units generally last?

Thanks again - the hot shower was GREAT.

Could it be the thermal coupling

Hey all - This is so basic it almost hurts to write it Just moved into my first home.....managed to get the pilot lit on the heater but still no hot water. I looked at the circuit breakers and they all appear to be on.....

Why would you bother to look at a circuit breaker for a gas fired appliance?

Your heater is either gas or electric If you don't know the very basics you really should call a licensed professional before you cause some real serious damage

Have the LICENSED plumber show you not only how to relight a pilot light you should also know where the main water supply shut off is located along with all the gas valve shut offs and your main sewer traps /clean outs

A water heater can last as little the day it was installed such as the defective AO Smith heaters that were manufactured properly or a copper lined heater that I removed from a Manhattan building that was over 130 years old

It depends on the PH of the water, the manufacturer and how well the heater was maintained, using the blow down valve to remove sediment and testing the T&P

"You should have a thermostat on the front of your water heater"

In semi civilized areas one would want an Aqua stat on a "water" appliance