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.

How long is a water heater supposed to last?

Your water heater is an essential part of your home, heating water for showers, dishwashing, laundry and more. On average, a traditional water heater will last 8-12 years. The general consensus is that it’s better to replace your water heater with a new one than to repair one that’s 10 years old or more. Older models are less energy-efficient and thus more costly to run than newer models with better technology. Here are some indicators of when it may be time to replace an old water heater instead of repairing it:

Leaks: If leaking is not caused by loose connections, the water may be seeping out through slight fractures in the metal of the tank that have formed over time.
Strange noises: Clanking, rumbling and other noises can mean that sediment has formed on the base of your tank, contributing to fissures leaks, and inefficiency.
Age: If it’s more than 10 years old, it’s probably time to replace.
Discolored or rusty water: Have a pro check it out; if the problem isn’t resolved by draining and cleaning, you’ll want to replace the heater.
Lack of hot water: Inconsistent heating and hot water supply that runs out too quickly likely means it’s time for a new unit.

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.

Why is the water in my house not getting hot?

If the water in your house is not getting hot, it may be time for water heater repair. Nationally, the average water heater repair cost ranges between $120 and $200, although prices can range up to $400, depending on the problem and materials. Competent homeowners may also be able to try DIY fixes, whether they have a traditional gas or electric water heater or a tankless gas or electric heater. Troubleshooting the different issues that can arise with each of the styles requires some knowledge of how they operate and what red flags to look out for. For a natural gas water heater, the first step is to check whether the pilot light has gone out. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s directions if you want to relight it yourself. If you smell gas, stop everything and call your gas company — the smell could signal a dangerous gas leak. If your household’s water is not getting hot enough, you can try increasing the temperature on the water heater’s front dial above the standard setting of 120 degrees; for safety, always turn off electricity to the unit before adjusting temperatures. If you keep running out of hot water, your household may simply need a higher-capacity water heater, so consider upgrading. Quick professional fixes include replacing the thermostat or heating elements and cleaning and repairing the thermocouple.

Emily M.

Verified review

AJ was easy to work with, though we have an old house with unexpected issues, AJ came in and helped us work through everything as it arose. Like cement behind the walls that we were trying to open. All in all, the project was completed successfully, brand new fixtures and hot water in our shower - happy!

David A.

I had no hot water. I had a good idea the thermocouple needed to be replaced but did not have the time to fix it. I got on Thumbtack and within 90 minutes Terry was at my house and had the problem fixed. He also replaced a gasket on a toilet that was giving me problems at no charge. Great service, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Dan O.

I’d give Zeiser plumbing six stars if it was available. I live out of town. Got a call from my condo tenants on a Friday evening that the hot water tank was dead. I immediately posted the job on Thumbtack. Mr. Zeiser responded late Friday night, was very reasonably priced and gave me numerous options. He picked up the new unit and had it installed in a couple hours. My tenants had hot water within 24 hours. I got a text from Mr. Zeiser at 8:30 pm asking me to confirm with the tenants that the water was up to full temperature. Amazing service and professionalism! Zeiser Plumbing is the only plumber I’ll use in Cincinnati.

Dennis V.

Barry installed my new hot water heater in a professional and timely manner. He came out on a Sunday and saved me from taking off work. I would highly recommend Barry and will use him again in any future plumbing needs.

Ben C.

Robert was quick to respond with a reasonable quote. He did a good job and took the old water heater. All of the new plumbing connections are solid. He was respectful of our residence and informative. We now have hot water again! Good work.

Luis B.

Richard and Tina were absolutely great. Richard is a licensed electrician but as we soon discovered he's a jack of all trades. I posted a need for swapping out 2 prong to 3 prong outlets, new gfci's outdoors, inspecting the outdoor hot tub breaker, inspecting the hot tub motor and to check out some ceiling fans that were malfunctioning. Richard responded and said he would come check everything put before quoting me. All the other respondents wanted money just to come out and check everything. Once he was here, he walked me through all the issues and half of the issues were simple fixes. I casually mentioned how we had a burst pipe in the basement, a cracked storm window and a leaky faucet and he said, "We can take care of that" And so they did. The pricing for all of this was VERY reasonable as well and they were extremely flexible on scheduling. All in all, R&T is our electrician/handyman/woman team from here on out and we will surely keep calling them. We've also recommended them to all of our friends who might need work. PS. We live in an old home in Mt. Lookout.

Chris M.

Joe was very professional. He worked with our schedule and was on time every day. He even finished the work in less time than he originally quoted! Joe's passion shows in his work, and his expertise is obvious. We had Joe install a water softener, new garbage disposal, and resolve the hot and cold water being swapped at our kitchen faucet. I would highly recommend Joe for all of your plumbing needs!

Ben S.

Steve came out to fix the tank. However, once he got there, he actually made a recommendation for a different type of flushing system, which he then installed. So far, we're very pleased with the service and the recommendation was spot on. I appreciate the Steve wasn't just looking to fix a faulty system, but was more interested in simply creating the best environment moving forward. I also appreciated his followup. Five stars.

Rhonda E.

I received a quote on the service he'd provide through my email Wednesday morning at 7:30am, I called him at around 8am and talked to him about what we already did for the last 3 days trying to get our hot water heater to heat water, which was everything! He said he could be here by 9 the same morning and was early, which was awesome! He told my husband that we hooked everything up correctly, but my husband was told to leave the heat pressure valve closed when filling. That was bad bad advice! You're supposed to open it until it's filled. This is our first time dyi on a water heater...we didn't know. Well it blew out the top heating element again. Who would've thought! A service fee and 1 hourly rate later, we had it fixed! Awesome and quick service. He didn't pull our legs and make like there was a lot of work to do to milk the money out of us. Honesty is hard to find in service providers like this. Saving his number for future needs!

Bill R.

Installed a new Rheem gas water heater and thermal expansion tank. Steve was easy to work with. On time and got it done pretty quickly. Replaced 25 year old unit which also included "upgrades" on shut off valves etc. Good recommendations and work. In fact even took my call on Sunday afternoon when purchasing items from Home Depot to ensure we got right ones

Robert R.

Mike and his team not only replaced the hot water heater the same day I called(making my wife extremely happy), but has also helped address some issues with my hose bibs. Excellent service, and will be adding to hot dial for my plumbing needs.

Bill M.

Jerry Marcum did an outstanding job installing a new water heater on short notice. Our house is over 25 years old. Consequently he encounter a few unexpected issues. He took those in stride and resolved every problem while keeping us fully informed. He stayed longer than he expected (well after normal work hours), but did not leave until the job was done. He takes pride in his work which is obvious form the clean installation. He did not take short cuts just to get'er done and offered a very fair price. I would recommend his services to others.

Mark A.

Ron did an excellent job for my father. He installed a new hot water heater for him. I contacted Ron on Sunday afternoon and he responded right away and had it installed Monday morning.

Loretta K.

Ronald Baugh replaced my sill plate and header board after having severe Carpenter ant damage and did a fabulous job! I have also used Mr Baugh for electrical fixtures, ceiling fans, installation of hot water heater, installation of dishwasher, plumbing issues, etc. Mr Baugh is my first call that I make to see if he can help me or not.

Laura D.

My hot water heater blew late at night. I contacted FixItGuy and he was here in the morning. He was very professional and was very good about advising me as to what my options are. I also really appreciate the fact that he left a clean worksite behind. FixItGuy has done a few jobs for me and I have a few friends that have been very pleased with his work as well. I will keep him as my first choice.

Tiffany J.

If you're tired of searching for an all around contractor look no further: Chilton's Prestige Remodeling is your answer. No job is too big or too small and the owner, Bob is very talented and commits 100% to any job he takes on. He's pleasant to do business with and trustworthy in every aspect. Since being referred to his company a few years ago, he has done many jobs around our house and several of our friend's homes and their rental properties. Always exceeds your expectations. Our first job was having our masterbath/shower remodeled. It is beautiful and Bob has the skill & knowledge to be as detailed oriented as you desire. Another job was fixing our ceiling & crown molding in our two-story foyer which had water damage and now matches perfectly. Troubleshooted and solved our Grohe kitchen faucet that had limited hot water pressure since moving in 10+ years ago and was told by many plumbers/repairmen that problem couldn't be resolved other than to replace with new spigot. Replaced our outdoor lamppost and mounted fixtures amongst many other indoor & outdoor jobs.

Diane C.

Morgan Plumbing, Jonathan Morgan, was very prompt in getting me his quote. We talked about the replacement of my hot water heater and he was very professional and courteous to my needs and time frame to complete the job. He explained the best, most efficient as well as cost efficient installation for my home. It was a very professional looking job. He removed the hot water heater and cleaned the whole area. I would definitely recommend him to my friends and call him for other future plumbing issues.

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