What to Do Right Now
Water leaking from the heater. Turn off the cold water valve on the pipe that feeds the top of the tank. Then shut off the heat source: for an electric heater, switch off its breaker; for gas, set the control knob to "Off" as shown on the heater's label. Then call or text me.
Relief valve dripping or spraying. That's the temperature and pressure relief valve, the one with a pipe running down toward the floor. It's a safety device. Don't cap it, plug it, or tighten anything to stop it. Call me instead.
You smell gas. Stop. Leave the house, don't flip any lights or switches, and call 911 once you're outside. Deal with the water heater after the gas company says it's safe.
No hot water, but no leak. You've got a little time. If it's electric, check whether the breaker tripped. If it trips again after you reset it, leave it off and call me.
Repair or Replace? I Find Out Which Before We Talk About It
A lot of "dead" water heaters have one failed part. On an electric heater, that's often a heating element or a thermostat. The relief valve itself can fail too. Those are repairs, and they cost a lot less than a tank.
What no part can fix is a leaking tank. Once the tank itself is rusting through, the water heater is done, and a repair would just be money spent on the way to a replacement. If that's what I find, I'll show you where it's leaking and why.
I always photograph the sticker on the side of the heater. The serial number tells me how old it is and whether it's still under the manufacturer's warranty, which can mean the part is covered.
"He was able to get the part I needed under warranty and fixed my water heater quickly. Everything went smoothly, and I really appreciated how easy he made the whole process."
Replacement, Done by One Person
In Massachusetts, plumbing work needs a permit before it's installed, altered, replaced or repaired. On a water heater replacement, I pull the permit and deal with the inspector directly. The whole swap stays with one person.
What Affects the Price
- Fuel type: gas, propane or electric, and whether you're switching
- Size: matching the tank to how much hot water your household uses
- Venting: some gas installations need changes to meet code
- What's around it: old valves or piping worth replacing while everything's apart
Permit fees are included, and you'll know the price before I start.
Thinking about switching to tankless? That's a different decision, with different costs and a different installation. Ask me when you call.
Find Out What Failed Before You Buy a Tank
Tell me what your water heater is doing, and I'll get back to you with a real time.