Do You Call a Plumber to Fix a Hot Water Heater?

The best way to get the needed repair work done

Most days, you probably don’t think too much about your water heater. So long as it’s doing what it was made to do, there’s no reason for it to be on your mind. Yet, as soon as the hot water runs out, that’s when repairing the heater becomes a central concern.

That’s because a hot water heater directly impacts the quality of life. If your heater stops working, showers and baths may become quite unpleasant. Your washing machine may not work as well as it’s meant to. And you may be tempted to let dirty dishes pile up, rather than wash them in chilly water.

The question is, what’s the best way to get the needed repair work done? Do you need to call a plumber? Should you ever hire an electrician, instead? And are there heater repair projects you can do on your own?

Here’s our guide on who to call for water heater repair.

Do Plumbers Fix Water Heaters?

Water heaters can sometimes be complicated to repair. And often, for older units, there’s really no way to salvage them. Instead, they need to be completely replaced. You probably don’t want to attempt this on your own. Instead, call a plumbing company.

Here are some specific situations in which it’s best to enlist a plumber to work on your water heater.

• You have rusty water coming out of the water heater.
• Your hot water pressure is suddenly quite low.
• Your water heater isn’t giving you any hot water at all.
• The pilot light won’t stay lit (only applicable to a gas water heater; electric water heaters don’t have a pilot light).
• You hear strange noises coming from your water heater.

If you experience any of these problems, it’s best to call a plumbing professional. These aren’t electrical problems, and they probably aren’t problems you can handle on your own. The expertise of a plumbing professional will help get your water heater back in prime condition.

Do Electricians Offer Water Heater Repair Services?

If you’re dealing with electric water heaters, you may run into problems that requite the work of an electrician, as opposed to a plumber.

We’d recommend enlisting an electrician (as opposed to a plumber) if you encounter these problems:

• Your water heater keeps tripping the circuit breaker (an obvious electrical problem).
• The water heater fuse box overheats or blows (again, clearly an electrical problem).
• You have loose wiring (if your reset button is frequently tripped, it’s probably loose wiring).

What About DIY Water Heater Repairs?

Do you always need to call a plumber or electrician? Or are there some water heater problems you can address on your own?

Most of the time, you don’t want to mess around with your water heater problems. If it’s a problem with a gas water heater, that can pose a real safety threat to your family. And even if it’s just some minor flooding, that can lead to property damage down the road.

Finally, it can sometimes be hard to determine the most cost-effective way to address water heater problems. Sometimes, you may just need to replace a heating element; in other cases, you may want to replace the unit altogether. One way to ensure a prudent solution? Call a plumber to advise you. We offer water heater installation in Indianapolis, water heater installation in Carmel Indiana, Fishers IN, and Greenwood IN.