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.

Nikhil M.

Verified review

I had MTD and Robert Dunphy purhcase and install a new electric water heater and remove the previous one. Having had a few different quotes, MTD made sure I only got what I needed and didn't try to sell me on things that wouldn't be necessary. He kept me well informed and made communicating easy. Robert was personable, very knowledgable, and incredibly helpful. Definitely would hire him again for plumbing needs.

Rick C.

I needed a water heater replacement and called Benny at Subzero because of his positive reviews. He completed the work yesterday and I would recommend Benny to my family and friends who have plumbing needs. He always responded to my calls in a timely manner and was flexible in scheduling my water heater replacement. Benny and his son did a great job with the removal of my old water heater and installation of the new one. They worked efficiently and carefully in the small closet space that houses the water heater. I couldn't give them a higher recommendation! By the way, Benny's price was the lowest of the three estimates that I solicited so I know I also got a great value using him and his son.

MyAn N.

Mike Nadwodney came out within one hour of my call. He was very nice and easy to talk to. He gave me a good price on my water heater installation, and got the work done within the same day. Excellent service and he is now getting more business from me. I'm going to hire him for other works done on my house. I highly recommend him!!!

Tracy D.

Needed to have someone come out quickly because selling our home and needed a Heater certification. Price was reasonable and made quick arrangements and provided the certificate by email which was perfect to forward to the inspector! Would use again!

Samantha J.

Murray responded to my request quickly and came out the next day to provide a quote. I appreciated that he did some diagnostics (took off the front panel, felt the pipes, etc). The other plumbers immediately told me I needed a new water heater without that assessment. He provided two options and when I decided to get a new water heater, he came out the next day and was able to find a larger one to provide me with more hot water. Also, he gave a 1 year warranty on the work done (which none of the other plumbers offered). He added an expansion tank with the installation to help preserve my pipes as well. Further, when I noticed a small leak in my kitchen sink, he took some time to look at it and gave me a quick fix/told me where to go for the part and how to fix it myself. Overall, I had a very positive experience and would use M Resnick Plumbing again.

Kaitlin V.

They put in a utility sink, new hose bibb to my backyard, and a new water heater on very short notice. Amazing service. Very responsive. Courteous and conscientious. Thanks again!

Elizabeth B.

I was frustrated by another plumber that had just quoted $1800.00 for a $100.00 part that would take an hour to replace. I called Steve and he had a plumber over within 2 hours to fix my hot water heater for a fraction of the first quote. His pricing is fair and service is fantastic!

Robert G.

I've used 7 Sees Remodeling several times now. The owner (Bryan) knows his stuff. He's done my kitchen floor, installed a tankless hot water heater, fixed the leak in my bathtub, and next he's going to add an electric outlet in my daughters room. Does great work and always cleans up before he leaves. Highly recommend!!!

Megan R.

Tom did a yearly inspection on our heater. He noticed a potential problem and we were able to have it fixed for an amazing price. (A major repair or all new heater would have been needed) Had he not seen that there was a problem with the inducer motor we may have been without heat and a much larger bill! He was very accommodating with scheduling times to come to repair and explained to me so I understood what was wrong and altho urgent, did give an honest time frame that it should be addressed. Thank you for your help and an A+ job. We know we can trust Elite and Tom and will see him next year for a check up!

Glendon F.

Ben is a trustworthy man. I've known him for decades. He must be very busy though because It took a long time (over a month) to get him him to show up to replace my water heater. Apparently he was addressing a lot of winter emergencies. Once he fit me into his schedule, he got the job done in about half a day for about $100 cheaper than Lowe's quoted price. Replaced all the old parts as necessary Solid, honest and reliable plumber.

Kelly W.

On a cold winter night, with my husband away I decided to throw in a load of wash. As I made my way into the basement I was greeted with a puddle of water in front of our heater. After further investigation it became apparent that our heater was not running. As a brand new home owner with young children of course we were nervous as to what this would cost. So I began my search for a heater repair person and this is how I met Judd from Blue Skye Services. He first worked with me over the phone and when he realized the heater would need his expert attention he came out right away. From the moment he walked in the door he put my worse fears at ease. He said he was in the fix it business not the replacement business whenever possible. From that moment he became our go to person for all of our HVAC needs. Blue Skye is always fair and takes care of the customer in every way possible. I am lucky to have found such a great company and trust me you will feel the same.

Rosemary P.

I had originally contacted Colton just a day before I desperately needed my hot water heater fixed! We had problems but were expecting company and needed it done quickly. Colton was extremely responsive with my phone calls and emails and arrived exactly when he said to make the repair. He is friendly and got what we needed done quickly, efficiently and with a price that matched the outstanding value! Thanks to Colton our family visit went off without a hitch! We will use My Mechanical Man any time in the future for any other services we may need!

Cheryl G.

Amazing service!! They called me back on a Sunday after I scheduled on line to find out the problem, showed up on time the next day, fixed the water heater in 5 minutes and were friendly and courteous! I highly recommend them!

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