Water heaters
Water heater repair
If a gas water heater has no hot water, the pilot, thermocouple or gas valve is the usual cause; on an electric heater it's usually an element or thermostat. Those parts are repairable. A tank that leaks from the bottom can't be repaired and needs to be replaced.
- Licensed Colorado plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
About water heater repair
Most Front Range homes have a 40 or 50 gallon gas tank in the basement or a utility closet. At altitude, gas appliances need correct sizing and venting, and a heater that was installed without the right adjustments can soot up, trip its safety switch or struggle to keep up.
A good repair visit ends with a straight answer on the tank's age and condition, so you can decide whether a repair is worth it or whether replacement is coming soon anyway.
Water heater repair at a glance
- Urgency
- Can be an emergency: shut off the water and call
- Area
- the Denver metro & Northern Colorado
- Who does the work
- An independent, licensed Colorado plumber
- Permit
- Often required for replacements, repipes, sewer, water and gas line work
- Typical steps
- Safety check → Diagnose → Repair → Advise
- Availability
- Call now to check plumber availability
Signs you need water heater repair
- No hot water, or hot water that runs out quickly
- A pilot light that won't stay lit
- Rumbling or popping from the tank (sediment)
- Rusty hot water
- Water around the base, or the relief valve dripping
How the job usually goes
- 1
Safety check
The plumber checks venting, gas connections and the relief valve before anything else.
- 2
Diagnose
Burner, pilot, thermocouple, gas valve, elements and thermostats are tested.
- 3
Repair
Failed parts are replaced and the tank flushed if sediment is heavy.
- 4
Advise
You get the tank's age from the serial number and an honest view of its remaining life.
What affects the cost
Every job is priced by the plumber after they see it. These are the things that move the price most. Ask for the price before work starts.
- Gas or electric
- Which part failed
- Tank age and whether parts are still available
- Venting or code corrections needed
Before the plumber arrives
Safe to do
- • Relight the pilot following the label on the tank
- • Check the breaker on an electric heater
- • Look for water around the base
Stop and call
- • If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility from outside
- • Don't cap or plug a dripping relief valve
- • Don't keep resetting an electric heater that trips repeatedly
Water heater repair questions
How long do water heaters last in Colorado?
Why does my water heater's relief valve drip?
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old water heater?
Why is my water heater making popping noises?
Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?
Can I flush my own water heater?
Water heater repair near you, by town
Related
Related plumbing services
Water heater replacement
A leaking tank or a heater past about 10 years old is usually replaced rather than repaired.
Learn moreTankless water heaters
A tankless water heater heats water as it flows, so it doesn't run out, but it needs a larger gas line, its own venting and a unit rated for your elevation.
Learn more
Leak detection
Turn off every fixture and watch the water meter's leak indicator.
Learn moreGuides
Read before you call
Water heaters
No hot water? What to check first
On a gas water heater, check that the pilot is lit and the gas valve is on. On an electric heater, check the breaker and the high-limit reset button. If the pilot won't stay lit, the breaker trips again, or you smell gas, stop and call a plumber.
Costs & planning
Repair or replace your water heater?
Repair when a replaceable part failed on a heater under about 8 years old. Replace when the tank itself leaks, the heater is past 10 to 12 years, or repairs keep adding up. A leaking tank can't be repaired.
Water where it shouldn't be? Start with a call.
Tell us what's going on and your ZIP code. You'll be connected with a licensed plumber who serves your area.
Call now to check plumber availability