Water Heater Repair in Batesland, SD
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Cold ground water means longer burner or element run times
Groundwater here comes in cold, especially with winter nights averaging 15°F from December through February. A tank has to work longer to bring that water up to temperature. That extra run time wears on the thermocouple or igniter on a gas unit, and on the heating elements on an electric one.
Heat is needed in Batesland homes from October through May, eight months a year, so the water heater is putting in this extra work most of the year. What you notice is usually the recovery time. Hot water runs out faster than it used to, or the tap takes longer to turn hot at all.
- 15°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, the months homes here need heat
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new water heater would cut about $80 a year off hot water for a typical South Dakota home.
Estimates for a typical South Dakota home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and South Dakota 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. 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 like this only gets worse, and a tank in this state needs to be replaced, not patched. If the water is only coming from a fitting or the drain valve at the bottom, that is a different problem and a contractor can often just repair or replace the part.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn out thermocouple, the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve the flame is lit. Once it wears out it can't hold that signal, so the valve shuts the gas back off. A dirty pilot tube or a draft blowing across the flame can cause the same thing, so it isn't always the thermocouple. A contractor can test which one it is and replace the part that's failing.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. The heat exchanger, igniter, flow sensor, and venting can all be tested and replaced individually. Mineral buildup inside the heat exchanger is a common issue in hard water areas and is usually cleared by flushing the unit rather than replacing it. A contractor can diagnose which part is causing the problem and tell you whether it's worth repairing or replacing for your unit's age.