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.

John I.

Verified review

Removed & replaced water heater. Posted on sat came & completed on sun. What a great honest man! Will definatly do business in with him & refer all friends & family. This job is better than what a run of the mill plumbing co would do, especially on a sunday. What a great experience

Steve B.

I had a very tough hot water heater repair I couldn't be more happy with. I am very happy there are honest hard working skilled folks working fro this site! Thanks so much Lawrence! Great job!! Highest recommendations!

JoAnn B.

David was absolutely fantastic. He not only repaired our dryer, he also checked out a few other systems on the dryer. He was here for a few hours and only charged what he quoted $85!!!! He was professional, courteous, and extremely efficient. I totally recommend him!! JoAnn

Ron D.

On time, professional, thorough, went through all of the processes and checked everything carefully to find that it was the settings within the water heater. He could have taken advantage of the situation but was very honest, informative, and only changed me one hour of labor. Everything is working great and I could not be any more satisfied with the service. I plan on using them again in the future and would definitely recommend them to anyone.

William J.

Billys Services took on the job of replacing all of the water lines leading from the city meter to and throughout my house. As part of that job, his men also replaced the bathroom floor and all of the bathroom fixtures. Additionally, the drain from the kitchen sink was rerouted to allow the water to flow more directly to the sewer line. Because my hot water heater is powered by natural gas, the tank had to be replaced in order to comply with my citys building code. Once everything was in place, the bathroom floor and walls around the bathtub were tiled and the rest of the walls painted. All of this work was scheduled for completion within a two-week period. Heavy rains, however, caused the job to last a few days longer. Overall I am extremely pleased with the work done by Billy Blankenship. His workers were very friendly, courteous, and helpful. I was given a projected cost before the work ever commenced and the job did not exceed that amount. In my opinion, Billy Blankenship is very honest and is more than willing to work with his potential customers to ensure their complete satisfaction. I would definitely recommend his service to anyone whose home is in need of plumbing and/or remodeling. The only thing I could suggest as an improvement to his company might be better communication with and among those who work for him.

Ehab F.

Ivan and his crew did a great job. Promptly responded to my emergency request to replace damaged water heater same day which is amazing. Him and his wife were Professional,courteous and they left everything clean and spotless after work was done. Would highly recommend him for any plumbing related work .

Diane B.

Damian was very professional and kind to come in short notice to my home to fix my water heater. Turns out it was a simple fix that my friend happened to resolve but Damien still looked and assessed it to make sure no risks at no charge. Tried to tip him for gas since he made the visit to my house but he didn’t accept it. Very gracious and appreciated his knowledge and additional troubleshooting

Morgan T.

I never thought I'd be ranting and raving about a plumbing company but I've told so many people how good it was to work with SWAN. Amazing customer service & communication. And helped us solve our plumbing issue for a very fair price. Worked late to squeeze us in. Just all around a great experience, which is so important when your family is going through the stress of plumbing issues & not having water. We worked with/spoke to several plumbing companies and yall were by far the best. Thank you Jordan & team!

Jonathan T.

Joseph was great! He helped us design the perfect bathroom when he came out to replace a water heater. He was super friendly, his crew was very respectful as well. They even suggested a great person to do the extra tile work. The project was finished 2 days early even. I would highly recommend them.

Ken M.

I have used Hackett Plbg. and Remodel for many years. I recently moved to North Carolina, but still rely on Jeff and Ruth Hackett to assist me with maintaining property in the Dallas area. They recently replaced a water heater at 40% less than a competitor's bid. The project was complete the same day and my tenants were 100% satisfied.

Madison S.

Super nice and professional! He was able to quickly diagnose the problem with our water heater and have a quote written for us. We plan to use him again for any water heater needs we may have!

Sammi L.

Frank is very great. Our water heater didnt work one day and he came and stay late to replace one for us right away. it only took 4 hours from the moment I called him to have the new water heater installed. Also, it is priced very reasonable. I will definitely call him if I have any plumbing needs in the future.

Javed M.

Mike, did a fantastic job installing our new hot water heater, at a very reasonable price. I give him 4 stars - coz he had to reschedule due to his other appointment went longer than expected. He came early next day. Nevertheless, I have his number saved for our future plumbing projects.

Denise Y.

Chad is amazing! Our hot water heater went out on a weekend. Chad came to our house at 8:00 on a Sunday night to replace it. He didn't charge extra for an ofter hours call and his bid was less than anyone else. But, you would never know that by his work. His work excels them all! In addition, he is very professional, punctual, and responds to Thumbtack and text messages promptly. I highly recommend him and plan to use him in the future.

Nikki B.

Princeton plumbing was able to get our hot water heater fixed quickly for a very affordable price. We are very happy with our experience. Joe was wonderful and met our needs in every way.

Darrell D.

Tony came out and fix the issue so from this point on Fixxer will be my plumbing company of choice. I will be requesting Tony to look at my hot water heater in the near future.

Flower Mound, TX78 Water Heater Repair Professionals near you

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Flower Mound Water Heater Repair Professionals

John I.

Steve B.

JoAnn B.

Ron D.

Johnathon K.

William J.

Ehab F.

Diane B.

James L.

Allen N.

Derrell S.