Water Heater Installation & Replacement
Remove a dead tank and install a unit sized, fueled and vented to suit how your household uses hot water. Open page
Heaters and treatment equipment
Emergency Water Heater Repair in Thornton, CO
No hot water is more than an inconvenience in a Colorado winter. A plumber can find out whether the problem is a pilot, an element, a thermostat or a tank near the end of its life.
Tell the dispatcher if the tank is leaking, and whether it runs on gas or electricity.
Typical heater complaints
- No hot waterA pilot out, a tripped breaker or a failed element.
- Water at the baseA fitting or the tank itself may be leaking.
- Rumbling or poppingScale on the bottom of the tank.
Check the simple things first
Start with the fuel. On a gas unit, confirm the valve is open and the pilot or igniter is working, relight only as the label directs, and stop at once if gas is in the air. On an electric unit, check the breaker and at the small red reset button behind the upper panel.
If the unit has power and gas but still produces no hot water, a plumber can test the thermostat, the element or the gas control. Do not open electrical covers if you are not comfortable doing so.
Leaks
Weeping at a pipe fitting, at the drain valve or at the relief valve are often repairable. Water coming through the tank wall means the steel has given out. In either case, close the cold supply, cut the power or gas, and phone.
A heater in a basement or closet should sit on a drain pan with a drain line. If water collects in the pan, take it seriously.
Cost
Pricing a heater repair
Water heater repairs range from a part swap to a decision about replacement.
Ask for the repair cost and the replacement cost side by side.
In Thornton
Hard water and basement heaters
Thornton's tap water averages around 13.5 grains of hardness, and the city says its plants do not remove it. That scale shortens tank life and weakens elements.
Many heaters sit in basements. A leak there can go on for a long time before anyone sees it. Check around the base occasionally and keep a drain pan in good shape.
Noise and scale
Rumbling, popping or knocking usually points to scale at the bottom of the tank. Hard water deposits minerals, which trap water under a crust that boils. The scale also insulates the burner or element from the water, which wastes energy.
A tank flush helps if it is done regularly. Once scale is thick, flushing may not clear it, and replacement may be the better answer.
Gas heaters at altitude
Thornton sits near 5,210 feet. Gas appliances are rated for sea level, so installers follow the manufacturer's altitude instructions to set the burner correctly. A unit that sooted up, flames that lift or a pilot that goes out could be a sign that this was missed.
Carbon monoxide is a risk with any fuel-burning appliance. Have a working detector near sleeping areas and call for service if it sounds.
Repair or replace
Many heaters last about a decade, and some last longer with care. If yours is older and leaking from the tank, replacement is the logical answer. If it is newer and the problem is a part, repair is cheaper.
Ask for a clear choice with both costs. The replacement page explains what to plan.
A few checks before you call
Before the visit, look at the breaker for an electric tank and at the pilot light or igniter display for a gas one, and glance at the gas valve handle. Make sure the shutoff valves at the heater are open, and note any error code.
Hot water that runs out quickly may mean a failed lower element or a heavy layer of sediment. Water that is too hot or not hot enough points to a thermostat. A rumble or pop is sediment too, and a flush may help in the near term.
If the unit is more than ten or twelve years old and the repair is major, compare the cost with a new heater. Ask the contractor for a written breakdown of both options.
When the heater is beyond saving
Tankless Water Heater Service
Flush scale from an on-demand heater, repair it or replace it, with the setup this elevation calls for. Open page
Water Softener Installation & Repair
Reduce mineral scale with a correctly sized softener, or get a stalled one running again. Open page
Quick answers
Asked about water heater repair
Usual suspects are an extinguished pilot, a tripped breaker, a worn thermostat or a burned-out element, each of which a technician can test.
It can damage floors and walls, and a gas unit has other risks. Shut off water and fuel and call.
Many last about ten years or more, depending on water quality and care.
Scale on the bottom of the tank is the usual cause. Flushing may help, or the tank may be near the end.
Cold shower, wet floor?
Shut off water and fuel to the heater, then ring the 24/7 line.