Water Heater Repair in Johnson City, TN
Tell us what your water heater is doing, and a licensed contractor who covers Washington County will get in touch.
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What winter here does to your water heater
Groundwater coming into your house is cold from October through April, seven months a year, and on nights that average 29°F your water heater has to work harder to bring it up to temperature. The tank cycles more often, and the burner or heating element runs longer each time to keep up.
Washington County has had 30 winter storms and 40 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and those bring power outages. A gas water heater with a standing pilot keeps working when the power drops. One with electric ignition or an electric tank will sit cold until power is back, and you will notice it first as water that will not heat up.
- 29°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 7 months
- October through April, the months homes here need heat
- 20%
- of Tennessee 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 $280 a year off hot water for a typical Tennessee home.
Estimates for a typical Tennessee home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Tennessee 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 failing from the inside out. Sediment builds up on the bottom of the tank over the years and eats away at the lining until the steel underneath gives way and starts to weep. Once a tank is leaking from the bottom like that, it needs to be replaced, not repaired. A loose drain valve or a fitting can also leak from the bottom area, and that part can be fixed, so it's worth having someone check before you assume the worst.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Usually the thermocouple has worn out and can no longer sense that the pilot is burning, so the gas valve shuts it off. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft pulling the flame away from the thermocouple can cause the same thing. A weak thermocouple is a simple part to replace and often solves it on its own. If it keeps going out after that's been replaced, the gas valve itself may be the problem.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless unit are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is common and is usually cleared with a descaling flush. Igniters, flow sensors, and fan motors can all be replaced individually when they fail. A contractor can check the unit's error code and tell you what part is actually causing the trouble.