Water Heater Repair in Vancouver, WA
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Vancouver's power blinks and your water heater loses its pilot
Clark County gets cold enough, often enough, that your water heater is working nine months a year, October through June. That is most of the year spent heating water, not a season.
Washington households lost power for 24 hours or more at a rate of 23% last year, and this county has logged six winter storms and two damaging wind events over the past ten years. When the power drops and comes back, most electric water heaters reset on their own. Gas units with a standing pilot never lost their flame in the first place. But if the pilot did go out, or the igniter won't relight the burner after an outage, you will know by the water. It comes out cold, or it takes a lot longer to warm up than it used to.
- 35°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- October 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 failing. Water heaters have a steel tank with a glass lining inside, and once that lining cracks, the steel underneath corrodes until it gives way. A leak can also come from the drain valve or from fittings on top that drip down the side and pool at the base, so it is worth drying the tank off and watching where the water actually starts. 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 most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve it is safe to stay open. When it wears out or sits out of position, the valve shuts the gas off as soon as you let go of the pilot button. A dirty pilot tube or a draft in the area can also blow the flame out. A licensed contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it if that is the problem.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems can be repaired without replacing the unit. Common repairs include cleaning mineral buildup out of the heat exchanger, replacing an igniter or flame sensor, or clearing a blocked vent. A contractor can flush the unit and test its parts to find out what is actually failing before recommending a repair or a replacement.