When water heater repair can't wait
A heater that is leaking from the tank body is past repair and needs replacing soon. A heater with no hot water in midwinter leaves a family without showers or laundry. A relief valve that is spraying water, or a strong rotten-egg or gas smell near the burner, needs a call right away. Turn off the gas or electricity to the unit, close the cold water valve above the tank and call.
Our step-by-step visit
- Confirm the symptom. We check the water temperature at a tap and look at how the heater behaves when hot water is drawn.
- Check the fuel side. On gas tanks that means the pilot or igniter, thermocouple or flame sensor, burner and venting. On electric tanks it means power, thermostats and elements.
- Check the water side. We look at the relief valve, dip tube, drain valve and the connections at the top.
- Look at the tank. Rust at the base or a weeping seam means the tank is failing.
- Repair or advise. If the part is the problem, we replace it. If the tank is the problem, we explain your options honestly.
The sticker on the side of the tank shows the manufacture date, usually coded in the serial number. Knowing the age helps decide whether a repair is sensible.
Common causes in Durham homes
Sediment is the big one. Durham's water carries minerals that settle in the bottom of tank heaters, insulating the water from the burner and causing the tank rumble and pop. Electric heaters lose elements to scale. Gas units in damp basements see corroded burner parts and blocked air intakes. Many Oshawa homes still have rented heaters, and some issues on rentals are handled by the rental company; check your agreement before booking any repair.
Keeping it from coming back
Flush the tank once a year if the drain valve is in good shape, keep the area around a gas heater free of storage, and test the relief valve gently each year. If scale is the recurring issue, read our notes on hard water in Durham, and consider whether a softener makes sense. A leaky tap feeding the heater bill can be handled through faucet repair and replacement; homes with sewer backups should add backwater valve installation to the list.