Water Heater Repair in Colorado Springs, CO
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What Colorado Springs winters do to a water heater
Your water heater works hardest from September through May, and on the cold nights in between, the ones averaging 17°F in December through February, incoming water runs colder and the tank has to recover more to keep up. That extra cycling wears on the burner and the thermostat that controls it, and on an electric unit, the lower heating element.
El Paso County also sees its share of winter storms and wind, and power doesn't always hold. Statewide, 13% of households went at least 24 hours without power last year. Most water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns, but if yours doesn't, that's worth a call.
- 17°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 cause is the tank itself has rusted through and is failing from the inside. Sediment builds up on the bottom of the tank over years, and it wears through the lining until the steel underneath starts to corrode. Once a tank is leaking from the bottom seam, it needs to be replaced, not patched. Water pooling underneath can also come from a loose drain valve or a fitting at the bottom, and those a contractor can fix without replacing the tank. Shut off the water supply to the tank and the power or gas to it, then have someone look at it before it fails completely.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Most of the time this means the thermocouple has worn out or gotten dirty. That's the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. It reads the flame, and when it can't sense it, it shuts the gas off as a safety measure, even if the pilot is actually lit. A weak or dirty pilot orifice can cause the same symptom. Either part is a straightforward repair for a licensed plumber. Don't keep relighting it over and over. If it won't hold after a couple of tries, get it looked at.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairable. Common issues are a clogged inlet filter, a buildup of mineral scale on the heat exchanger, an igniter that's failing, or an error code pointing to a sensor. Scale buildup is a bigger issue in areas with hard water, and it's usually cleared with a descaling flush rather than a full replacement. A contractor can pull the error code and tell you whether it's a part or a flush the unit needs.