Water Heater Repair in Jackson, WY
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Cold winters push your water heater hard
In Teton County your water heater runs every month of the year, and it works against winter nights that average 8°F from December through February. The colder the water coming in, the longer the burner or heating element has to run to get a tankful hot, and the more the thermostat and heating element cycle to keep up.
The county has seen 203 winter storms over the past ten years, and storms like these often bring power outages with them. Most water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns, but if yours has a pilot light, you may need to relight it by hand. If your water heater is electric and you find you have no hot water after a storm, check the breaker and the power before you assume the unit itself has failed.
- 8°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8%
- of Wyoming 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 $260 a year off hot water for a typical Wyoming home.
Estimates for a typical Wyoming home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Wyoming 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 has rusted through from the inside and is starting to fail. Sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank over years and corrodes the steel until it gives way, and once that happens the tank cannot be patched or sealed. Water at the bottom can also come from a leaking drain valve or a fitting that has loosened, which a contractor can check before assuming the tank is done. If the leak is coming from the tank wall itself, the water heater needs to be replaced.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Usually the thermocouple has worn out and is no longer sensing that the pilot is lit, so the gas valve shuts it off as a safety measure. A weak or dirty pilot flame can cause the same problem, and so can a draft reaching the pilot from a vent or nearby opening. A contractor can test the thermocouple and clean or adjust the pilot assembly to find out which one it is. With winter nights here averaging 8°F, a water heater that will not hold a pilot needs attention right away rather than waiting.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is common and is cleared by flushing the unit, and failed igniters, sensors, or flow sensors can be replaced individually. Error codes on the unit's display help a contractor pinpoint which part has failed. A full replacement is usually only needed when the heat exchanger itself has cracked or corroded through.