So you went downstairs this morning and discovered a pool of water on the floor next to the water heater. Or maybe you jumped in the shower and waited for the water to get hot…and waited…and waited. Obviously, the first thing you’ll need to do is diagnose the problem. Then you may have to decide whether it’s better to repair the old water heater or get a new one.
Diagnosing the Problem
On occasion, the problem can be a simple one, something you can fix on your own. For example, if you have a gas water heater and you’re just not getting hot water, you may have a pilot light out. With an electric water heater, you may want to check to make certain you haven’t tripped the circuit breaker. Even so, you may need someone to figure out why the circuit breaker tripped in the first place.
As a general rule, when you have a water leak, it’s best to turn everything over to a professional plumber, someone who will know right away what might cause the problem.
Repair or Replacement?
Many problems with a hot water heater can be resolved without much outlay of cash. If you need a burner or heating element, if the thermostat needs to be replaced, or a valve sticks, those issues can typically be taken care of for a couple hundred bucks. If your water heater is less than 10 years old and the remedy is less than half the cost of a new water heater, it probably makes sense to repair, rather than replace.
If, however, your water heater is more than 10 years old, it’s probably seen most of its useful life. Any money that you put into it now will likely have rapidly diminishing returns. A new water heater is probably the best investment.
Contact Public Service Plumbers
To learn how we can help you, call (214) 753-4633 or contact us by e-mail and we’ll schedule an appointment.
At Public Service Plumbers, we answer our phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can send our service personnel to your home or business anytime, day or night. All of our plumbers are factory-trained and factory-certified.
Public Service Plumbers
5610 Dyer Street
Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 753-4633
We offer plumbing installation and repair services to individuals and businesses throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Richardson, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Coppell, Garland, Mesquite, Addison, Kessler Park, Farmers Branch, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and Lewisville.
