3 services · Honolulu
Water heaters in Honolulu, HI
Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. A plumber can often repair a heater that stops making hot water, but a tank that leaks from the bottom has failed and needs to be replaced. Tankless heaters last longer but cost more to install, especially if the gas line or venting has to change.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Water heaters services in Honolulu
Water heater repair
UrgentIf 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.
Water heater replacement in Honolulu
A leaking tank or a heater past about 10 years old is usually replaced rather than repaired. A proper install includes a permit, correct venting (adjusted for altitude where needed), an expansion tank where required, a drip leg on the gas line and a relief valve discharge pipe.
Tankless 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. Installed correctly and descaled regularly, it can outlast a tank heater.
Local conditions
Water heaters in Honolulu: what's different
Many Honolulu homes use solar water heating, which the state has encouraged for years, with electric backup elements that can fail. Salt air also shortens the life of exposed tanks and fittings.
A plumber can diagnose solar system problems, replace backup elements and recommend whether a tank or solar system needs replacement.
Permits come from the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting.
Homes without solar typically use electric tanks in carports or outdoor closets, where salt air corrodes connections.
- Water and sewer in Honolulu
- The Honolulu Board of Water Supply provides water; the city handles wastewater.
- Permits in Honolulu
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting.
Honolulu housing and plumbing
Older single-wall homes in Kaimuki and Kalihi often have exposed plumbing; many homes are on slabs or post-and-pier foundations.
Other Honolulu conditions that affect plumbing
- Salt-air corrosion: Coastal air corrodes metal pipes, fixtures and water heaters faster.
- Older galvanized pipe: Older homes still have corroding galvanized supply lines.
- Heavy rain: Windward downpours test drains.
- Island water supply: Honolulu's water comes from underground aquifers, and the Board of Water Supply promotes conservation.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Honolulu and City and County of Honolulu, including Kaimuki, Manoa, Kalihi, Kailua, Hawaii Kai, Makiki. ZIP codes: 96801 · 96802 · 96803 · 96804 · 96805 · 96806.
When to call a plumber in Honolulu
- No hot water, or hot water that runs out much faster than it used to
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
- Rumbling or popping from the tank
- Rusty or smelly hot water
- A pilot that won't stay lit or a tankless unit showing an error code
- A heater more than 10 years old before it fails
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the water heaters guide.
Water heaters questions in Honolulu
Why isn't my Honolulu solar water heater getting hot?
How long does a water heater replacement take?
More plumbing in Honolulu
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