Frank comparison this is really what everyone is comparing. A single-part repair on a unit under eight years old is nearly always the right money. A tank is a costly item and is still in good shape. After year 12, the calculation is reversed. Spending real money on a tank that could rupture next winter is throwing good money after bad, and we will tell you that directly instead of taking the repair fee. It depends on the part that failed, if it has failed previously and the condition of the tank interior when we reach in to inspect. Before you make your decision, you receive both figures for repair and replacement. No pressure to the larger invoice, the follow-up call is more important than one job.

Fix Your Tankless Unit Without Replacing It

Unlike a standard gas water heater that simply stops operating when it has a problem, tankless water heaters display error codes, and many of these codes indicate the need for maintenance. Scale on the heat exchanger is typically the problem in this zone, creating ignition problems, temperature fluctuations and mid-shower shutdown. Descaling resolves it. We repair flow sensors, igniters, flame rods, fan assemblies and blocked condensate drains and clear blocked vents that cause safety lockouts. If you can, bring us the code from the display – it will help to reduce diagnosis time significantly. Worth knowing: A tankless unit that is descaled once a year will last twice as long as two tank heaters. Failure to perform that service is what makes it a replacement quote.

Stop Repeat Failures With Annual Water Heater Service

The majority of repairs we make could have been avoided a year ago. Sediment builds up in the tank bottom, insulates the burner from the water, extends run times and at some point cracks the glass coating. It is cleaned annually by a flush. The anode rod corrodes on purpose to protect the tank  once it is spent, the tank starts dissolving instead. The rod replacement cost is much less than that of a heater replacement. Every year we provide a full flush, anode check, T&P valve test, thermostat calibration, connection and fitting check as well as venting check on gas units. Landlords and property managers: we will cover all units on all properties in one appointment and advise you on which units are on the brink of replacing to avoid any unwanted surprises on a tenant.

When Repair Is Not the Answer, We Say So

There are some things we won’t fix and it’s best to know that ahead of time. If there is water accumulating at the bottom of the tank, the wall of the tank is ruptured. No patch, no tightening to fit. It will get worse and at the end of the day, it will be 40 gallons on your floor. Also on the list: units well past their rated life with corrosion visible through the jacket, tanks that have already had multiple major repairs, and any installation with a compromised flue or combustion air problem that cannot be corrected safely. In such situations, we safely shut down the unit, quote the replacement cost and take away the old one. Not doing an unsafe repair is not an upsell, it is the entire job.

Areas We Cover for Water Heater Repair

Most of our water heater calls are within the city limits of Spring, where our service is same day and parts are readily available. Outside of the city, we service about a 30-mile radius in Greene, Christian and Webster counties. Battlefield and Brookline are the closest and most typically the quickest. Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Willard, Strafford, and Rogersville are all within a day or two of the same day. Fair Grove, Clever, Marshfield and Bois D’Arc are on the outer edge, next day for anything but urgent. Things are a bit different at rural properties, however, with propane instead of natural gas and well water which causes accelerated sediment, and units located in crawlspaces or outbuildings. Our trucks are stocked for those conditions too. Just past these towns? Ask, and we will usually make it work.