Water Heater Repair in Lakewood, CO
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What cold winters do to a water heater in Lakewood
Winter nights here average 18°F from December through February, and the tank has to work harder to keep water hot as the incoming water runs colder. That extra work falls on the heating element in an electric unit or the burner assembly in a gas one, and either can wear out sooner for it.
Jefferson County has seen 113 winter storms and 114 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like these knock out power. Across Colorado, 13% of households lost power for 24 hours or more in 2024. A gas water heater with a standing pilot will keep making hot water through an outage. One with electric ignition will not light again until power comes back, and most units start back up on their own once it does.
- 18°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?
- Most of the time this means the tank itself has rusted through and is starting to fail. Water heaters corrode from the inside over the years, and once the tank wall is breached, no seal or fitting will stop it. It can 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 leak is coming from the tank itself, the unit needs to be replaced, not repaired.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- A pilot that won't stay lit is usually a sign the thermocouple has worn out. That's the small sensor that sits in the flame and tells the gas valve it's safe to keep supplying gas. When it wears out, it can't confirm the flame is burning, so the gas valve shuts off and the pilot goes out. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft blowing across the flame can cause the same problem, so a contractor will check both before replacing anything.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems can be repaired rather than requiring a full replacement. Common issues include a clogged inlet filter, mineral buildup on the heat exchanger, or a failed igniter, all of which a contractor can service or replace. Because tankless units don't store water, hard water minerals build up faster on their internal parts than they do in a tank, so regular descaling matters more here. A contractor can tell you whether the unit needs a repair or has reached the point where replacement makes more sense.