Hi everybody,

My mother passed away last year.

The house has been pretty much sitting empty while we figure out the estate.

I did let a buddy stay there a few months ago for a month or two.

Recently, I let another buddy move in for a few nights a week.

He told me tonight that hot water isn't coming through any of the pipes. He said he checked the water heater and it seems to be working. The cold water side works just fine, but when you open the hot water, it barely drips and then stops running completely. This happens in all the sinks.

Thank you for any advice and help; I appreciate it.

There's a shut valve on the incoming cold water pipe to the heater. Check to see if it's open. If it's a gate valve, it could appear to be open, but the internal gate might be broken and blocking the flow. Check for "normal" pressure at the T&P valve or drain valve.

Your friend said "It Seems." What qualifies them to determine if the heater is actually heating and that water is leaving the water heater. It could be something as simple as a shut off valve being closed.
Why not bring in a licensed plumber to perform an onsite inspection and evaluation before you jump to any conclusions......

Best Wishes

I would think "it seems" would mean that they felt the pipes on top of the heater and they were hot, or at least warm.

Have you personally been over to house to check yet? If not Im afraid to many variable's to help you at present. Go on over and turn on hot water. If water flows out pipe but not hot give it 5 minutes of running then go to water heater if still not hot and feel pipes on top for heat . If not hot then water heater not working. If no water coming out at all then start there looking for whats off and then why!