The short answer
It usually comes down to age and what failed. A thermostat, element or valve on a heater under about eight years old is normally worth repairing. A tank leaking from its body, or a heater past ten to twelve years needing a significant part, is usually better replaced. A technician can price both so you can decide.
Whether to repair or replace a water heater usually comes down to two things: how old it is and what failed. A thermostat, heating element or valve on a heater under about eight years old is normally worth repairing. A tank that leaks from its body, or a heater past ten to twelve years that needs a significant part, is usually better replaced. A technician can give you the cost of both and let you decide.
First, find out how old it is
Age shapes almost every decision here. ENERGY STAR suggests finding your heater’s brand name and serial number, and notes that the date of manufacture is sometimes printed on the same tank label. If you can’t work it out, take a clear photo of the label and we can help. Read ENERGY STAR’s advice on when to replace a water heater.
For a general comparison, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver guide says most storage water heaters last 10 to 15 years, while tankless water heaters can last more than 20. Here in Southwest Florida, Tropical commonly sees tank heaters last eight to twelve years. Local conditions and maintenance matter; these ranges are guides, not a promise about your heater.
Then look at what failed
Some problems are routine repairs. Others mean the heater is at the end of its life.
Usually worth repairing, especially on a younger heater:
- An electric heater that has lost hot water because of a failed heating element or thermostat
- A gas heater whose pilot or burner won’t stay lit
- A leak from a fitting or valve, rather than from the tank
- A rotten-egg smell in the hot water, which is often treated by replacing the anode rod and flushing the tank
- Popping or rumbling from sediment, which a flush can help with
Usually a sign it’s time to replace:
- Water leaking from the tank body itself. Once the inner tank fails, replacement is the only fix, and we’ll tell you that rather than sell you a repair.
- Rust in the hot water. ENERGY STAR says this is usually a sign the inside of the heater is corroding and breaking down.
- An older heater that needs a major part, where the repair would be a large share of the cost of a new one
Gas and electric fail differently
Electric tank heaters heat water with elements controlled by thermostats. When hot water runs out fast or disappears, those parts are common suspects, and replacing them is routine work for us.
Gas heaters use a burner, and problems often show up as a pilot or burner that won’t stay lit. Leave gas-side work to a professional.
If you smell gas near a gas water heater, don’t touch any switches or the heater controls. Leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
Check the warranty before you decide
A heater that’s failing young may still be under the manufacturer’s warranty. Equipment warranties vary by manufacturer and model, so check the paperwork or the label.
In one Lehigh Acres home, the water heater wasn’t working properly. Our technician found it was still under warranty, ordered a new control board and two new elements, then came back, replaced the parts and tested everything.
There are two warranties to keep straight. The manufacturer covers the equipment under its own terms. We stand behind our own workmanship with a one-year labor warranty. If you have a question about work we did, call the office.
Don’t wait for a flood to decide
ENERGY STAR suggests that if your heater is more than 10 years old, it’s time to consider replacing it before you’re left with an emergency decision. It also warns that an emergency replacement can be more expensive.
If your heater is getting older, watch for the warning signs ENERGY STAR lists: corrosion, leaks from joints or seams, rust in the water, less hot water than before, and rumbling noises. Planning a replacement on your schedule gives you time to choose the right size and type, including whether a tankless unit makes sense.
If it’s leaking right now
If you can reach the cold-water inlet valve safely and know how to operate it, close it. For an electric heater, switch off its breaker only from a dry, safe location. For a gas heater, follow the unit’s shutdown instructions only if it is safe and you know the controls. If you smell gas, leave immediately and follow the gas-leak advice above instead. Don’t enter standing water, force a valve or attempt a repair. Call us for help, and don’t keep using a leaking heater.
What happens when we come out
Tell us the heater’s age, whether it’s gas or electric, and what it’s doing. That usually narrows it down before anyone arrives. A technician inspects the unit, tests the parts involved, and finds the cause. You get the repair-or-replace picture, with what each costs, before any work starts.
Our service call is $59, and it is waived when you go ahead with the repair. When an estimate is over $1,000, we can send a financing option along with it.
Learn more about water heater repair and installation, or call (239) 542-0787.
Author: Tropical Plumbing Co.. Qualified review: Nathan Lowmaster, owner, Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor CFC1431517.