Water Heater Repair in Cañon City, CO
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Cold winters put your water heater to work harder
Cañon City sees winter nights averaging 15°F from December through February, and homes here need heat nine months of the year. That cold soaks into the ground and the pipes running through it, so the water coming into your tank starts out colder than it would most of the year. The burner or heating element has to work longer to bring it up to temperature, and that extra runtime wears on the thermostat and the heating element itself.
Power is part of the picture too. Statewide, 13% of households went at least a day without power in 2024, and Fremont County has logged 292 winter storms and 165 damaging wind events over the past ten years. Most gas water heaters with a standing pilot keep working through an outage, but tanks with electric ignition or electric models shut down and need to be checked when the power comes back on.
- 15°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
- 13%
- of Colorado 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 $60 a year off hot water for a typical Colorado home.
Estimates for a typical Colorado home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Colorado 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?
- The most common reason is that the tank itself has corroded through and is failing from the inside. Sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank over years, and once it wears through the lining, water finds a way out. It can also be a loose drain valve or a fitting that has failed, which a contractor can check before assuming the tank is done. If the leak is coming from the tank itself, the water heater needs to be replaced, since a corroded tank cannot be sealed or patched.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Most of the time this means the thermocouple has worn out and can no longer sense the flame to keep the gas valve open. It can also happen if the pilot orifice is dirty or if there is a draft near the pilot assembly. A thermocouple is a low-cost part to replace and usually solves the problem on its own. If it keeps happening after a new thermocouple is installed, have a contractor check the gas valve itself.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater can be repaired rather than requiring a full replacement. Common repairs include descaling the heat exchanger, replacing an igniter, or clearing a blocked vent. Because these units have more electronic parts than a tank water heater, a contractor needs to diagnose which part has failed before knowing what the repair involves.