Residential · Cold shower diagnostics
Water Heater Repair
No hot water usually comes down to one part, and finding that part is quicker when you know where to look. Here is how we go through a tank that has stopped heating.
- Old tank drained and hauled out of the basement
- Rental tank stickers checked before anything is moved
- One call books water heater repair anywhere in Aurora
Phone only · a plumber answers, not a form
- Licensed plumbers (ask us for details)
- Quote settled before tools come out
- We tidy up after every job
- Aurora & York Region
Water Heater Repair at a glance
Signs you need this
- Water collecting in the pan or around the base
- Hot water running out partway through one shower
What's included
- What we open: Burner access cover or element panels, the drain valve, the T&P relief line and the venting joints
- Job: water heater repair aurora
What this page covers
- No hot water checklist
- Pilot, thermocouple and igniters
- Noises and sediment
- Rented tanks: who to call
Aurora note: Many Aurora houses still have a rented tank in the basement; we will tell you whose sticker is on it before anything gets disconnected.
No hot water checklist
Before anything else, check the obvious items:- Gas tank: is the burner lit? Look through the small sight window near the bottom.
- Gas tank: is the gas valve knob set to On, not Pilot or Vacation?
- Power-vent tank: is it plugged in, and is the outlet live?
- Electric tank: has the breaker tripped, or the high-limit reset button popped on the upper panel?
- Any tank: is there water around the base?
Pilot, thermocouple and igniters
On older standing-pilot gas tanks, a pilot that will not stay lit usually means a worn thermocouple, the small copper probe that tells the gas valve the flame is there. Newer tanks use a flame sensor and electronic igniter instead, often with a diagnostic light that blinks a fault code. Power-vented models add a fan and pressure switch, and a blocked exhaust pipe or a stuck switch will stop the burner from starting.Electric tanks have two elements and two thermostats. Lukewarm water that runs out fast is a classic sign of a failed upper or lower element.
Noises and sediment
Popping or rumbling while the burner runs is water trapped under a layer of sediment at the bottom, flashing into steam. It wastes gas and stresses the tank. A flush can help if the tank is not too far gone. Hissing on a gas tank can be condensation on the burner, which is normal on cold incoming water, or a small leak, which is not.Rented tanks: who to call
Plenty of Ontario homes rent the water heater. If yours has a rental company sticker on the side, or a line item on a utility bill, phone the rental company first; repairs are usually part of the agreement. If you own the tank, or are not sure, call us and we will help you figure out which applies.Aurora customers often ask
Why do I have hot water but it runs out quickly?
On an electric tank, a failed lower element is common. On gas, heavy sediment or a broken dip tube that mixes cold water into the hot are the usual suspects.
Should a 12-year-old tank be repaired?
Often not. Tanks of that age are near the end of their usual service life, and a repair can be followed by a leak from the tank itself.