Water Heater Repair in Moses Lake, WA
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Winter is hard on a water heater here
Moses Lake homes run their heat from October through May, and groundwater coming into your water heater is coldest right through those months. That means the unit works harder for more of the year, cycling more to keep up with tap water that starts out cold. The thermostat, the heating element or gas valve, and the tank itself all see more run time because of it.
Winter storms bring another problem. The area has logged 93 winter storms and 30 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and outages follow. Statewide, almost a quarter of households went at least a day without power in 2024. A gas water heater with a standing pilot will keep working through that. One with electronic ignition will not relight on its own, and you will notice cold water until the power and the pilot are both back.
- 25°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, 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 of the time the tank itself has failed. Water heaters rust from the inside, and once the tank wall gives way the leak has no fix, only replacement. Before you assume the worst, check the drain valve at the bottom and the fittings above it, since those can leak on their own and get replaced without touching the tank. If the water is coming from underneath the tank itself, the heater is done and needs to be replaced.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve it's safe to keep the gas flowing. When it wears out it stops sensing the flame correctly and shuts the gas off, which puts out the pilot. A weak gas supply or a draft blowing on the pilot can also cause this, but a thermocouple replacement solves it most of the time. A contractor can test the thermocouple in a few minutes and swap it if it's the problem.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless problems are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is the most common issue, and it's cleared with a descaling flush rather than a replacement. Igniters, flow sensors, and control boards can also fail on their own and be swapped out individually. A contractor can run the unit's error code to find out which part is causing the trouble.