When is a water heater worth repairing?
- The pilot will not stay lit, or the burner will not fire.
- There is no hot water, or not enough, and the tank is not leaking.
- The relief valve drips. Often this is pressure, not the heater. See expansion tanks.
- A fitting or valve on top of the heater leaks.
- The heater is in the first half of its expected life.
These are parts. Parts can be changed.
When should a water heater be replaced?
- Water is coming from the tank itself. A rusted-through tank cannot be repaired.
- Rusty hot water from every hot tap, with clear cold water.
- Rumbling and popping from heavy sediment in an old tank, along with shorter hot showers.
- An old heater needs an expensive part. Past about ten years for a tank, a large repair rarely pays back.
- Repairs are adding up. The second or third call in a short time.
- The heater no longer fits the household. More people, more bathrooms, never enough hot water.
How do you decide?
We look at four things: the age on the rating plate, whether the tank is leaking, what part has failed, and what the repair costs next to a new heater. Then we tell you plainly which we would do if it were our house. You choose.
What does replacement involve?
The old heater is drained, disconnected and hauled away; haul-away is in the estimate. The new one is set, strapped, and connected to water, gas and vent, then tested. When the job needs a permit, we pull it. A same-size tank swap is usually done in one visit. Details are on our water heater repair and replacement page, and installed prices for common sizes are on the water heater shop page.
Should I switch to tankless while I am at it?
It is the natural moment to ask. See tank or tankless for how the two compare.
What if it fails at night?
We answer 24/7. A leaking tank is an emergency call, and arrival is 60–90 minutes in our Hayward and East Bay service area.
Who is Friendly Services?
A family-owned plumbing company with over 20 years in Hayward. License CSLB #1156315 (C-36 plumbing), $1M general liability cover and workers' comp. Our own work has a five-year workmanship warranty, and we have 100+ five-star reviews online. Friendly Gold Membership gives 10% off every repair; see membership.