At Sav-On Plumbing, we get a lot of calls regarding water heaters that are not working, and are asked whether the water heater should be repaired, or replaced. Of course its cheaper to repair a water heater than to replace one, but there are other factors that should be taken into consideration before you decide which route to go. Unless the water heater is leaking, in which case the only solution is to replace the unit.
If the problem is that it is not making hot water, it can usually be repaired. First though, you want to look how old is the heater. If the heater is out of warranty, generally 6 years, it probably isn’t a wise decision to put too much money into a heater that is due for replacement in the near future. On an out-of-warranty electric heater, putting more than $200.00 into a repair is a waste of money, unless of course money dictates that a new heater is out of the question.
A gas water heater, since they generally last longer and have less maintenance than an electric, one can put money into an out of warranty heater and have some expectation that the heater has some useful life left in it. However, it is a GAS WATER HEATER, and with gas safety must always be the first consideration. At Sav-On Plumbing, if a gas water heater is out of warranty and needs repair, we counsel our customer to replace rather than repair the unit.
If your water heater needs service, call Sav-On Plumbing. We will diagnose the condition of your heater, and make you a recommendation based on what’s best for your particular circumstance.