Water Heater Repair in Richmond, VA
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What Richmond winters do to a water heater
Your water heater works harder from October through April, when incoming water runs cold and stays that way for seven months. On the nights that drop to 30°F, it cycles more just to hold a set temperature, and that extra work falls on the heating element or burner and on the thermostat that controls it.
Richmond has seen 15 damaging wind events and 10 winter storms over the past ten years, and in 2024, 22% of Virginia households lost power for at least 24 hours. A gas water heater with a standing pilot will keep running through an outage. One with an electric igniter will not relight until power comes back, and you will notice when the hot water runs out and does not return on its own.
- 30°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 7 months
- October through April, the months homes here need heat
- 22%
- of Virginia households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new water heater would cut about $320 a year off hot water for a typical Virginia home.
Estimates for a typical Virginia home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Virginia 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 of the time this means the tank itself has rusted through and is failing. Sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank over the years, and once corrosion works through the steel, water finds a way out and the tank cannot be sealed or patched. It could also be a loose drain valve or a fitting at the bottom of the tank, which a contractor can check before assuming the worst. If the tank itself is the source, the water heater needs to be replaced, not repaired.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. When it wears out, it fails to hold the valve open and the flame goes out. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft reaching the pilot can also cause this. A contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it if that is the problem, which usually solves it.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater can be fixed without replacing the unit. Common repairs include descaling the heat exchanger where mineral buildup blocks water flow, replacing an igniter that fails to light the burner, or clearing a blocked vent. A contractor can diagnose which part is causing the trouble and repair or replace that part rather than the whole unit.