Water Heater Repair in Everett, WA
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Snohomish County keeps a water heater working most of the year
Homes here need heat from September through June. The water heater carries that same load the whole time, not just in the coldest stretch. Ten months of steady use wears on the heating element or burner first, then the thermostat.
Winter nights average 30°F from December through February, so the water coming into the tank is colder and the unit runs longer to bring it up to temperature. Close to a quarter of households in Washington lost power for a full day or more in 2024. A water heater that loses power or gas mid-cycle should be checked before you trust it again, especially one that was already due for attention.
- 30°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 10 months
- September through June, the months homes here need heat
- 23%
- of Washington households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new water heater would cut about $280 a year off hot water for a typical Washington home.
Estimates for a typical Washington home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Washington fuel prices. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when an element, thermostat or gas valve has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the tank itself is leaking.
- Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?
- Most often the tank itself has rusted through and is starting to fail. Water heaters corrode over years as the lining inside the tank wears down, and once the steel underneath is exposed, it rusts and eventually leaks. It can also be a loose drain valve or a fitting at the bottom of the tank, which a contractor can tighten or replace. If the tank itself is leaking, it needs to be replaced, not repaired.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The thermocouple is usually the reason. It's the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve the pilot is lit. Once it wears out or gets coated in soot, it stops sensing the flame and the gas valve shuts off the pilot as a safety measure. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft pulling the flame around can cause the same thing. A contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it if that's the cause.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Common issues are a clogged inlet filter, a failing igniter, scale built up on the heat exchanger, or a flow sensor that isn't reading correctly. A contractor can run the error code the unit is showing and tell you what's actually wrong before deciding what needs to be replaced.