Who you gonna call? Pro plumbers!
Cold showers, rusty water, and weird noises coming from your hot water heater are all signs that it’s time to call someone to fix it—but who fixes water heaters? The short answer is that plumbers typically service water heaters, whether it’s gas or electric. An electrician may also be able to fix an electric hot water heater, assuming the problem is electrical. Maybe you’re wondering if you can DIY the solution or if you need to call a water heater pro. Let’s take a look at the benefits of hiring a plumber or electrician.
Choosing to call in a professional plumber probably involves weighing several factors—cost being one of the heaviest ones. Some DIY-able home repairs can indeed save you a lot of money by figuring it out and doing it yourself. But repairs for plumbing and electrical should really be done by licensed professionals. Although paying a plumber to fix your hot water heater costs more, consider the additional benefits beyond having that hot shower on standby.
A plumber is going to have the right tools for the job. You may have some of the tools around, but a plumber will surely have all the tools, including specialized ones that most homeowners don’t have on hand. You may be able to rent some of the tools, but not always. Not only can the tools be expensive to rent or buy, but it also takes time to get them and learn how to use them properly, which brings us to the next benefit of hiring a plumber: saving your valuable time.
As with any professional, the benefit of hiring a licensed plumber to fix your water heater is that they know what they’re doing. Plumbers have training, education, and experience with diagnosing and fixing hot water heater problems. This knowledge translates into getting the job done right and much more quickly than the usual DIY process of researching and following steps in a video or an article.
You can save time by hiring a plumber to fix your hot water heater, and you have the peace of mind that it’s done right. Regardless of what type of water heater you have, gas or electric, working on them can be dangerous. Doing the job incorrectly can also be dangerous, as gas leaks or improper electrical work can present a serious danger to you and the people and pets in your home. Poorly done electrical work can cause fires and electrocution risks. The bottom line is that hiring a professional plumber for this kind of work is safer.
If there happens to be a problem after the water heater has been fixed, you can call the plumber back to correct it. Make sure you ask your plumber about their policy on this before hiring them, but most licensed plumbers will guarantee their work.
As you’ve probably found out on other home projects, or you’re discovering on this one, it can be stressful to figure out who to hire for the repairs and tasks you need a pro to do. Hiring a plumber to fix your water heater can be the start of a great working relationship. Not that you plan to have loads of plumbing problems, but they’ll pop up over the years. After this, you’ll know a plumber you’re comfortable working with, and you’ll know who to call for any other plumbing you may need done in the future.
Some water heater repairs are simple enough to DIY. For example, if your electric water heater isn’t working properly, the remedy may be as simple as pushing the reset button to reset your water heater. Similarly, a problem like a water heater not draining could be caused by a clog that's pretty simple to fix. However, that may be a sign that it’s time to call a plumber or possibly an electrician to inspect the unit’s built-in breaker.
On the other hand, a licensed electrician should do many hot water heater repairs. When repairs call for working with gas lines and valves, exhaust vents, or electrical, consult a licensed plumber to diagnose the problem. In most cases, you should also hire a plumber or local water heater repair pro to do the work.
If you have an electric water heater, the likelihood of an electrical problem is much higher—although gas water heaters can also have electrical issues. As mentioned above, an electric water heater has an internal breaker and many more electrical components that may need repair or maintenance. If you’re not seeing discolored water, leaks, or hearing noises coming from the unit, you may have an electrical issue that an electrician can fix.
For comparison, an electrician typically charges $50 to $100 per hour, and plumbers usually cost $45 to $200 per hour (though be warned, emergency plumbers cost 1.5 to 3 times as much, depending on when you call them). Each hourly labor rate will depend on the actual problem with your water heater as well as the experience and expertise of the plumber or electrician.
To fix a water heater, a plumber will inspect the unit, checking for some of the most common water heater components that need a repair on hot water heaters, such as the anode rod, thermostat, thermocouple, gas valve, or testing the water to determine if it needs to be flushed. A leaking tank almost always means you’ll need to replace the entire water heater.
Once the plumber identifies the problem, they will let you know what they found and present a recommendation for repair or replacement. When maintained properly, tank-style water heaters last about 10 years, and tankless water heaters last about 20 years. If yours is near the end of its expected life span, it may be time to replace it, as repairs are likely to become more frequent.
Depending on the repairs needed and the type of water heater in need of repair, expect the following cost ranges for different hot water heater repairs or replacements:
Plumbers typically charge from $45–$200 per hour
Repair a tank-style water heater: $225–$980
Replace a tank-style water heater: $600–$2,500
Repair a tankless hot water heater: $220–$975
Replace a tankless hot water heater: $1,200–$3,500
Although a typical tank-style hot water heater can last about eight to 12 years, and a tankless water heater can last up to 20 years, regular maintenance goes a long way toward getting the longest use from your water heater.
The different kinds of maintenance range from $50 to $1,300; for instance, a water heater flush costs $110 to $200 on average. Regular maintenance can also help you avoid the surprise of a cold shower or flooded utility area.
There's often a cost-benefit to replacing an older water heater. With most water heaters lasting between 10 and 20 years, putting extensive repairs into a water heater that's more than a decade old might not save you money in the long run. Additionally, any water heater that's constantly breaking down or showing signs you need a new water heater could be a good candidate for a replacement. Consider asking how much of your water heater's lifespan remains when you bring in someone who fixes water heaters to look at your current issue.
When looking for a plumber, electrician, or water heater repair professional to fix your hot water heater, we highly recommend getting at least three quotes from various companies. This will allow you to compare contractors on price, timeline, customer reviews, and any other factors that are important in your decision-making.
When getting quotes over the phone or in person, we suggest asking some or all of the following questions:
Is your company licensed and insured, and is the contractor who will actually show up to do the work also licensed and insured?
Is a permit required for this work? If so, does your company handle obtaining the permit, and is the cost built into your quote?
How long will the water heater repair take, and how soon can you get here to start the work?
Based on the condition of the water heater, does repair make sense, or would it be more cost-effective to replace it? If replacing it, what type and size of water heater do you recommend, given the size of our house and family?
Do you offer a guarantee for your labor?
What water heater maintenance do you recommend that can help me prevent issues like this in the future?
Water leaks and malfunctioning thermostats are the most common problems with hot water heaters. Wear and tear on tanks and valves from corrosion and normal use causes leaks. Thermostats also wear out, preventing the water heater from functioning properly and preventing the heating elements from turning on.
Yes, repairing your hot water heater can be worth the price, especially if it’s a minor repair. Tank-style water heaters usually last up to 12 years, and tankless water heaters last up to 20 years or more. If the repairs are severe for a new unit, the manufacturer’s warranty may cover repairs or replacement. If the water heater is older and the repair costs more than half the price of replacing it, you may want to consider installing a new water heater.
Depending on the size of your hot water tank, you should get about one shower per 16 gallons of hot water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the typical shower lasts eight minutes, using just over two gallons of hot water per minute. If your tank size is 40 gallons, you should get just over two average showers from a single tank.
