Water Heater Repair in Spokane, WA
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Spokane County winters put water heaters to work
Heat is needed here from September through June, ten months of the year, and the water heater is part of that load the whole time. That long stretch of near constant use wears on the heating element or the burner assembly, and it shows up as water that takes longer to get hot or does not get as hot as it used to.
Power loss is the other piece. Nearly a quarter of Washington households went at least a day without power in 2024, and the county has logged 527 winter storms and 120 damaging wind events over the past ten years. Most water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns. If yours does not, or the pilot light is out and will not relight, that is worth having looked at.
- 24°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 $80 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 once that happens the tank can't be patched or sealed. It usually means the glass lining inside has broken down after years of use, letting the steel underneath corrode. Water pooling under the tank can also come from a loose drain valve or a fitting at the bottom, which a contractor can check before assuming the tank is done. If the tank itself is the source, replacement is the only real fix.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a thermocouple that's worn out or out of position. That's the small sensor the pilot flame touches, and its job is to tell the gas valve the pilot is lit. When it fails, the valve shuts off the gas as a safety measure even though you just relit the flame. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft in the area can also blow the flame out, so it's worth checking both before replacing parts. A standing pilot like this doesn't use any electricity, so a power outage isn't the cause.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless unit are repairable rather than a reason to replace it. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is one of the most common issues, especially in homes on hard water, and it's usually cleared by flushing the unit. Ignition failures, sensor faults and venting blockages are also things a contractor can diagnose and fix. Replacement usually only comes up if the heat exchanger itself has failed.