Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

When is it time to replace a water heater?

Although regular water heater maintenance and water heater repair may extend the life of your hot water heater, it won’t last forever. Most water heaters have a life expectancy of about 10 years. Many water heaters need to be replaced when they’re 8-12 years old — that’s when they start to show signs of fatal wear, such as leaking around the base of the tank. A water heater should be replaced when it fails to sufficiently heat water for the home; if your heater is operating erratically, check first for a blown fuse or a tripped breaker to make sure an electrical issue isn’t causing the problem. Another time to replace a water heater is when you want to upgrade to either a larger model or a more energy-efficient one.

Who can fix a water heater?

When a water heater stops running effectively, it’s best to hire a water heater repair professional to troubleshoot the problem. Whether it’s a plumbing company that offers water heater repair services or a provider specializing in water heater repair and maintenance, most repair companies offer same-day service as well as weekend and after-hours emergency calls. Usually, water heater repair professionals are experts in both electric and gas systems, as well as tank and tankless heaters, and can repair any kind of unit.

Why is my hot water not working?

The most common complaint among homeowners is that their hot water isn’t working — and the water heater is generally the culprit. Typically, it isn’t making the water as hot as you’d like it to be. When the water isn’t hot enough — or isn’t hot at all — run through this troubleshooting checklist for basic water heater repair tasks:

Make sure the power is connected to the heater, then reset the thermostat.
If it’s a gas water heater, make sure the pilot light is lit.
Raise the temperature setting on the thermostat.

If these stops don’t lead to hot water, it’s time to either check the heating element in an electric water heater or the burner unit and gas control valve in a gas-powered heater. A water heater repair and maintenance company can handle these repair jobs. However, if your hot water heater is eight years or older, it may be time to replace the water heater instead of repairing it.

How much do new water heaters cost?

The cost of a new water heater depends largely on the type and size of the heater. The average national cost for a new water heater installation including a 40- to 50-gallon tank is $350-$780. Most homes don’t need larger tanks, but they are available — for a price. The average difference between a 50-gallon tank and a 75-gallon tank (the next most common size) ranges from $400 to $600. Hundred-gallon tanks are also available, and they can cost double or triple the price of a 50-gallon tank from the same manufacturer. New water heaters tend to be far more energy-efficient, so they can cut energy costs; homeowners may also be eligible for a new water heater rebate from their local utility company.

Typically, tankless water heaters, which heat water only when you need it, cost more but can save about 25 percent of annual water heating costs, on average. They also lose only 5 percent of their energy compared with a tank unit’s 30 percent energy loss. Note, too, that a water heater with a tank has a life expectancy of 10 years, while tankless units generally last about twice as long.

The final expense to consider is a possible disposal fee to get rid of the old water heater; some companies include it in the price, while others charge an average of $35-$150.

Greg M.

Verified review

Tim came over on a weekend to fix our a/c. He quickly identified the problem, replaced a bad part, explained everything thoroughly, and charged a reasonable rate! In fact, he also switched something on the control unit to make our a/c work more efficiently and effectively. Since the day we had this a/c installed, it has NEVER run better! Best of all, Tim is truly a friendly, professional, and delightful guy. We've since decided that he will be our ONLY guy not just for repair, but for yearly maintenance on a/c, heating, etc. We're going to have him back in the fall to check the furnace and clean the water heater as well. This problem we had turned out to be a great blessing, as we discovered Tim and Havens HVAC! Lucky day -- STRONGLY recommended with an A+ rating all around!

Amy O.

I had a fantastic experience with Euro Plumbing! They replaced my 22 year old water heater and went out of their way to ensure the correct size water heater was installed along with all the updated parts. They were right on time (called 30 mins in advance), professional, honest, friendly and walked me through the maintenance of my new water heater. As a female, I always fear being taken advantage of with inflated fees, but Euro Plumbing offered me fair and honest pricing. Will definitely use again!

Maggie H.

303 did a great job! He was prompt, helpful, gave me a better deal on servicing the furnace and water heater at once and seemed really professional and kind. I'd definitely go with him again as the price seemed reasonable.

Josh M.

Alex was very knowledgeable and personable. He showed up on time and charged exactly what he quoted. He went the extra mile and showed me how many evaporative cooler worked and how to maintain it. He provided me with a detail description and pictures of what need to be done and a price of what it would cost. He even check out my furnace and water heater and let me there general condition. Very highly recommended.

Hendrik T.

Mike does honest work, period. I hired him based solely on his reviews, the dude does honest work at a fair value. More importantly he knows what he's doing when it comes to gas related projects. He will now be my go to contractor for plumbing and gas related needs. Thank you we now have a working cooktop and water heater.

Elisabeth S.

Johnathon was great! He called ahead to let us know he was on his way and was very prompt. He did a great job with our water heater installation and we even have a follow up visit scheduled for some additional work. We would recommend him to anyone!

Shawna M.

Our water heater went out and we needed it replaced. Was very quick with responses. Was able to replace same day. Very professional. Took his time. Great quality of work. We plan on hiring again next time we need more work done.

Vicky S.

Joey and Chris are amazing! They gave me a really good which encompassed plumbing issues in two bathrooms plus the installation of a furnace and air conditioning. Every other HVAC and plumber that my husband and I tried to work with before where out of our budget. Not only did we get a really good deal from working with these guys; their quality of work is exceptional as well. I would highly recommend the Tipping Hat for your plumbing and HVAC needs.

Zack C.

Daniel and his team helped my wife and I transform a house built in 1906 into a modern masterpiece. They did an UNBELIEVABLE job at a very reasonable price. At first, I was a little hesitant to use them as one reviewer perviously gave them a wretched review, but I couldnt be happier with the end-results. They completely remodeled the basement, added 2 bathrooms, re-did another bathroom, dry walled multiple rooms, built an amazing egress window well, installed a water heater, sewer ejector pump, kitchenette, and laid tile/ flooring throughout the house. Separately, on a personal level Daniel and his crew are some of the nicest individuals you'll ever meet. IF YOU ARE EVER ON THE FENCE ABOUT USING DANIEL AND HIS CREW DONT BE....FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME AND ID BE HAPPY TO SHOW OFF HIS WORK. This certainly wont be the last time we use him. Zack C York Street Denver CO 80205

Laurie M.

Bob did a fantastic job patching up my old hot water heater and then installing the new one when it arrived. He was VERY knowledgeable and reasonably priced, his costs were almost half the price of the other quotes I received. He was very good at explaining every step along the way and was extremely personable and friendly. I highly recommend Bob, if you need a plumbing/heating/cooling guy... Bob is your man!

Candy W.

Both gentlemen (one a "furnace guy" and the other a "plumber guy") responded to my Thumbtack work request almost immediately, arrived right on time, and efficiently fixed both the hot water heater and furnace within a matter of minutes. What I appreciated the most though was that they actually took the time to explain to me the reasons for the problems and advice for how I could keep both appliances in good shape!!

Rita P.

I am happy with the service and installation provided by HVAC Plus. One job turned into two and then into a few more. I will have Rich Philbrick's crew back out in the spring for additional work as well. Rich installed our main home furnace, a hot water heater, a Generac generator, a garage gas heater, and a secondary furnace in the upstairs. Needless to say, I've seen a lot of Rich this year. We felt his prices were fair, the installations were done properly and once on the schedule, the jobs were completed in a timely manner. We are happy with the Amana products recommended which have the stainless steel tubular heat exchanger. It's nice to know we won't have to worry about replacement for a long, long time. There were also service companies Rich subcontracted with; Jay's Electric for wiring the generator, heating, and air, and a crane company that moved the generator to the backyard. Both were very good companies to work with. This makes it easier getting through a project when you know those recommended are qualified and produce quality work. I appreciate that a lot. Thanks Rich and to your HVAC Plus crew.

Tian V.

Our water heater died at 7 o'clock on a Thursday evening, right as we were about to give our toddler a bath. We called Brothers who said they could come out at 10am the following morning. They were right on time and extremely professional and courteous. They replaced our water heater for just under $3K (a 50 gallon) and the tech was incredibly informative about everything he was doing. Before he left, he made sure to go over the job -in detail- with us to ensure we understood what he'd done and that the job had been completed to our satisfaction. We were definitely happy with this service. Thanks!

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Laurie M.

Candy W.

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Tian V.

When is it time to replace a water heater?

Who can fix a water heater?

Why is my hot water not working?

How much do new water heaters cost?

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