Water Heater Repair in Milton

When you need water heater repair

Cold showers are the obvious sign. Others are quieter:

• Hot water that gives out partway through a shower.
• Crackling and rumbling while the burner runs.
• Rusty or cloudy water from the hot taps only.
• A gas pilot that lights, then dies when you let go of the knob.
• Water pooling around the base, or a relief valve that drips.

Any smell of gas near the heater is a different matter. Get everyone out and phone Enbridge Gas from the yard before you call us.

What the visit looks like

On a gas tank, we check the pilot assembly, thermocouple or flame sensor, the burner, the venting and the gas control. On an electric unit, we test the elements, thermostats and the high-limit reset with a meter. Then we look at the tank itself: the age on the rating plate, any weeping at fittings, and the condition of the relief valve.

If a part will fix it, we replace the part. If the tank itself is leaking, no part will save it, and we will tell you so plainly. At that point our pamphlet on choosing a water heater is worth reading before you decide what comes next.

Milton homes and this problem

Hard water is the steady enemy here. Minerals drop out as the water heats and collect as grit on the bottom. With gas, that grit sits between flame and water, which causes the rumbling sound and wastes fuel. On an electric heater, the lower element can become buried in scale and fail early. Our pamphlet on hard water in Milton goes into why.

Townhomes across the newer subdivisions often have the heater tucked into a tight mechanical room beside the furnace. Access matters for repairs, and it matters more if a replacement is ever needed.

What affects the cost

• The part involved. A thermocouple and an electronic gas control are very different items.
• Fuel type and model. Power-vent and high-efficiency units have more components to check.
• Access to the tank and its venting.
• Whether the visit is during regular hours or after them.

Describe the symptoms on the phone and we can usually say which of these is likely before we arrive.

Doing it yourself vs calling

Some checks are safe for any homeowner. On an electric heater, look at the breaker. On a gas heater, follow the relighting instructions printed on the tank label exactly. Bleeding a pail of water from the drain valve to clear sediment is also reasonable if the valve opens and closes easily.

Leave the gas control, the venting and the electrical components to a qualified technician. Gas work in Ontario requires a licensed gas technician, and a mistake with venting can put carbon monoxide into the house. The basement flooding prevention page is also worth a look if your heater sits near a floor drain that has backed up before.