Water Heater Repair in Reading, PA
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What Berks County winters do to a water heater
Your water heater works harder from October through May, when the incoming water running through it is colder to start with. That extra work falls on the heating element or the burner, and on the thermostat that tells them when to fire.
Berks County has had 20 winter storms and 478 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like these knock out power. Most water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns, but a pilot light on an older gas unit can blow out in a power event and needs to be relit by hand. If your water turns cold with no warning, check the pilot before you assume the worst.
- 23°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, the months homes here need heat
- 15%
- of Pennsylvania 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 $70 a year off hot water for a typical Pennsylvania home.
Estimates for a typical Pennsylvania home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Pennsylvania 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 from the inside and is failing. Sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank over years, and once it wears through the steel, water finds its way out and there is no patch for it. It can also be a loose drain valve or a fitting that has failed, and those are worth checking first since they can be fixed without replacing anything. A leak from a failed tank only gets worse, so it needs attention now rather than later.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. When it wears out, it shuts the gas off even though the flame is lit, because it can no longer sense the heat correctly. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft in the area can also blow the flame out or keep it from sensing right. A contractor can test the thermocouple in a few minutes and replace it if that is the cause.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless unit are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is the most common issue, especially if the unit has never been flushed, and that can be cleaned out. Ignition failures, sensor faults and error codes usually point to one part rather than the whole unit. A contractor can read the error code and tell you exactly what has failed.