Water Heater Repair in Watertown, SD
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Codington County winters are hard on a water heater
Winter nights here average 6°F from December through February. Cold like that works its way into everything the water heater touches, and the burner or heating element ends up running longer and more often to keep up. That extra work shows up first in the parts that do the heating, the igniter or thermocouple on a gas unit, the heating element on an electric one.
Homes here need heat nine months a year, September through May, so the water heater rarely gets a break either. When it starts to fail, you will likely notice water that takes longer to heat up, runs out faster than it used to, or never gets as hot as it should.
- 6°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new water heater would cut about $50 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?
- The most common cause is a failing tank. Once the steel tank corrodes from the inside, water works its way through and drips out the bottom, and at that point the tank can't be patched or sealed. A leak can also come from the drain valve or from fittings on top that run down the side and pool at the base, so it's worth checking those before assuming the tank itself is gone. A contractor can tell you which one it is and whether the unit needs to be replaced.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- This usually points to the thermocouple, the small part that senses the pilot flame and tells the gas valve to stay open. When it wears out or sits out of position, it reads the flame as out even when it's lit, and the gas valve shuts off the pilot to be safe. A dirty pilot tube or a draft near the unit can cause the same thing. A contractor can check the thermocouple and clean or adjust the pilot assembly.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless unit are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger, a failed igniter, or a clogged inlet filter are common issues, and each of those can be cleaned or replaced without swapping the whole unit. A contractor can run the diagnostics built into most tankless systems to find the exact cause.