Water Heater Repair in Washington, MO
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Franklin County cold makes your water heater work longer
Water coming into your house is cold from October through April, and colder still on nights that average 24°F. Your water heater has to work harder to bring it up to temperature, and it runs longer to do it. That extra runtime wears on the heating element and the thermostat that controls it, which is why a unit that has been fine for years starts falling behind once the cold sets in.
Franklin County has had 9 winter storms and 72 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like these can knock out power to homes. A gas water heater with a standing pilot will keep working through an outage. One with electronic ignition will not light until the power is back, and most will come back on by themselves once it does. If yours does not, that is worth a call.
- 24°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 7 months
- October through April, the months homes here need heat
- 19%
- of Missouri 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 $270 a year off hot water for a typical Missouri home.
Estimates for a typical Missouri home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Missouri 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 starting to fail. Sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank over years, and it eats away at the lining from the inside until a crack or pinhole opens up. Once the tank itself is leaking, it needs to be replaced, not patched. A loose drain valve or a fitting can also leak from down there, and that one a contractor can fix without replacing anything.
- 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 keep the gas flowing. When it wears out, it stops sensing the flame correctly and shuts the gas off even though the pilot is lit. A dirty or clogged pilot tube can cause the same thing by starving the flame. Either one is a straightforward repair for a licensed contractor.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is common and is cleared by flushing the unit. Igniters, flow sensors, and exhaust vents can all fail on their own and be replaced individually. A contractor can look at the error code the unit is showing and tell you which part is at fault.