About Water Heater Express

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 One of the most common issues with water heaters is no hot water. This problem can be caused by several factors. 

Pilot is not lit: A pilot light does not go out by a windy day. If the pilot is out you may try to relight the pilot. (Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.) You may be able to get it relit, but it will likely go out again and again and it will get harder and harder to relight.

Solutions: Important information would be the model and serial number of the water heater. Water heater parts and not generic therefore are specific to the model and manufacturer. This information will also tell us the capacity of the unit as well as the age of the water heater. The average life of a water heater is 8-1 2 years. If yours is older it may make better financial sense to replace it, rather than repair it.  

Two parts keep the pilot light lit: the pilot assembly (some units have thermocouples) and the gas control valve. Changing these parts will restart the water heater. However, there is no way to accurately tell how much longer the water heater will last. If it’s 8-12 years old or older, it may make more sense to replace the entire unit.  

Check under the water heater to see if there is water under the unit.

Water pooling or streaming out. The average life of a water heater is 7-12 years. The only way to fix a water heater that is leaking is if it is leaking at a part or fitting. Water heaters are glass-lined units. Once the unit leaks from the tank itself, it cannot be repaired and must be replaced. If it’s leaking from a line on the top or the drain valve at the bottom, those leaks can be repaired. 

 Popping sounds/rumbling: This is usually caused by sediment buildup on the inside of the water heater. This calcification tends to build up over time.  Draining or flushing the tank may help on a very short-term basis, like a week or less. Once this happens, it’s probably time to replace the water heater or live with the sound. This is a sign that the unit is failing.

Loud banging/explosion noise: This is a dangerous situation.  You need to immediately turn off the gas to the water heater.  What is happening is that there is a tear in the burner of the water heater, and gas is escaping outside of the burner and exploding. The fix for this is to replace the entire burner.  This part is specific to the brand and the specific model number of your current unit.

Modern tankless systems can supply multiple fixtures simultaneously. Units can produce from 6.6 gallons per minute up to 11.1 gallons per minute. 

 The typical cost of a tankless water heater is more costly than tank replacement. A tankless water heater will last longer than 2 or 3 water heaters. Energy savings and rebates offset the initial investment (there are federal tax incentives at times, however, you should consult your tax professional). 

 Tankless systems provide hot water approximately the same time it takes for your current system.

It is entirely possible that you can DIY (do it yourself) your water heater.  A few things to consider -

1.  There will be no warranty on it unless it is installed by a professional.

2.  If you damage your home with a leak or other problem your insurance will most likely not cover it.

3.  Water Heaters weight a lot, are large, and are akward to handle.  You need a be a big person or have some friends there to help you so you don't hurt yourself, damage the water heater, or damage your home.

4.  This is a technical specialty and if you required a professional to come finish the job a contractor is going to charge you more, not less to come complete the process you started but did not complete.