Water Heater Installation & Replacement
Replace a failed tank heater and choose the right size, fuel and location.
Hot water and water quality
Emergency Water Heater Repair in St. Petersburg, FL
No hot water, a puddle under the tank or a rumbling noise from the garage. Most water heater problems come down to a handful of parts, and a leak is the one that cannot wait.
If the tank is leaking, shut off the water to the heater first.
What the symptom usually means
- No hot water at allA tripped breaker, failed element or thermostat, or a pilot or igniter problem.
- Water pooling at the baseA leaking tank or a failed fitting or relief valve.
- Rumbling or poppingSediment hardened on the bottom of a tank.
If the heater is leaking
Find the cold water shutoff valve on the pipe above the heater and turn it clockwise. Then turn off the power at the breaker for an electric unit, or set the gas control to off for a gas unit. Water on the floor and a live heater are a bad mix.
Where the water comes from matters. A leak from the pipe fittings or the relief valve is repairable. A leak from the tank itself, usually from the bottom or through the jacket, means the steel liner has failed, and the tank is on its way out.
No hot water or lukewarm water
An electric heater has two heating elements and two thermostats. If one fails, the water may be warm but not hot, and if both fail there is none. A tripped breaker or a tripped high-limit reset button are common and quick checks.
A gas heater needs a flame. If the pilot light is out, a thermocouple that no longer senses the flame may be the cause, or on newer units an igniter or gas valve. If the flame lights and goes out, the thermocouple is the likely failure. Do not relight a gas heater if you smell gas. Leave the house and call the gas utility.
Cost
What affects the price of a water heater repair
A repair is priced by the part and the time, and some repairs make more sense than others.
Ask for the repair price and the replacement price together so you can compare.
In St. Pete
Garages, hard water and hot summers
Many Florida homes put the water heater in the garage or a closet, which keeps it out of sight until it leaks. A drain pan with a line to the outside, where one was installed, can catch small leaks and give an early warning.
Mineral content in the water varies with the source blend, and sediment buildup is common in tank heaters. Regular flushing helps, and it is easy to skip.
Noises, odors and pressure problems
Rumbling and popping come from sediment on the bottom of the tank. Minerals from the water settle there, and the water trapped under the sediment boils and bubbles through it. Flushing the tank can help, and a tank with heavy sediment may be near the end of its life.
A rotten-egg smell can come from bacteria reacting with the anode rod in the tank. A plumber can often treat it by flushing the tank and replacing the rod. Dripping from the relief valve pipe can mean excess pressure or temperature, and it should be checked right away.
Repair or replace
Age matters. A tank heater commonly lasts about ten years, sometimes more, and a repair that makes sense on a five-year-old unit may not on a fifteen-year-old one. If the tank itself leaks, replacement is the only fix.
Ask for the repair cost next to the replacement cost, and ask about the warranty on parts and the unit. If the heater is old, put the money toward a new one and avoid a repair that may only last months. For help with that choice, see water heater installation and replacement.
Heater signs
Signs your water heater needs attention
A heater usually gives notice before it fails outright.
A leak from the tank versus a leak from a fitting
Not every wet floor means a dead heater. Leaks at the supply connections, the drain valve or the relief valve can often be fixed. A leak from the tank body itself usually means the steel has failed, and replacement is the sound answer.
To tell the two apart, dry the base and watch where the water returns. Dripping from a pipe or valve points to a part. Water seeping from beneath the jacket points to the tank. Describe what you see when you call so the right visit is booked.
While water is on the floor
Close the cold supply valve above the heater. Electric units need their breaker off, and gas units need the control set to off or pilot. Then call. A heater that is leaking should not keep heating.
Clear stored items from around the base and take photos. If water is near outlets or an electrical panel, stay clear and tell the dispatcher so they can treat it as urgent.
At 15 years, repair or replace?
Age matters. A tank near the end of its typical life may be costly to patch, and a repair can buy only a short time. A newer unit with a failed part is a better repair candidate. Ask the contractor to explain both options, and see water heater replacement if you want to compare.
Related services
Tankless Water Heater Service
Descale, flush, repair or replace a tankless unit.
Water Damage Restoration
Dry out and restore a home after a leak, burst pipe or storm water.
Common questions
Water heater repair questions
On an electric heater, check the breaker and the reset button on the thermostat. On a gas heater, check that the pilot is lit. If those do not help, a failed element, thermostat, thermocouple or igniter is likely.
Yes, if water is pooling. Shut off the cold water to the heater and the power or gas, and call. A tank leak cannot be repaired and usually means replacement.
A tank heater commonly lasts around ten years, depending on the water, the unit and maintenance. A tankless unit can last longer with regular service.
Annually is a common recommendation. Flushing removes sediment that reduces efficiency and causes noise.
If the leak comes from the tank body, repair is usually not possible and replacement is the answer. If it comes from a fitting or valve, a repair may work.
It could be. Check the base of the heater and the lines above it. If you cannot find the source, a leak search can tell whether it is the heater or a pipe nearby.
Replacement often makes more sense at that age, especially if the tank is leaking or rusting. A newer unit with a failed part may be worth repairing.
Close the cold water valve above it, switch off the breaker for an electric unit or set a gas unit to off or pilot, then call.
Relighting is a routine task for a gas heater. If it keeps going out, the cause needs diagnosing, so mention that when you call.
No hot water, or water on the floor?
Shut off the water to the heater if it is leaking, then call the 24/7 line.