Water Heater Repair in Waco, TX
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McLennan County winters are short, but they still find the weak spot
Waco doesn't get the deep freezes some places do, but winter nights from December through February average 38°F, and that's cold enough for a water heater to work harder than it does the rest of the year. Add a hard freeze or an ice storm, four of them in the last ten years, and the strain shows up fast. Power drops during those storms, and Texas households went without it for 24 hours or more often enough in 2024 that it's worth planning for. Most water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns, but a unit that was already struggling before the outage won't fix itself.
When a water heater is failing, you'll usually notice it as water that takes longer to heat, water that doesn't get as hot as it used to, or a tank that's making noise it didn't make before. Sediment settling at the bottom of the tank is often behind that noise, and it's also what shortens the life of the heating element or burner underneath it.
- 38°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 5 months
- November through March, the months homes here need heat
- 33%
- of Texas 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 $290 a year off hot water for a typical Texas home.
Estimates for a typical Texas home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Texas 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 and is failing. Water heaters corrode from the inside as the lining wears down, and once the steel underneath is exposed, it's only a matter of time before it gives way. It could also be a loose drain valve or a fitting that's failed, which a contractor can check and sometimes fix without replacing the tank. But if water is pooling under the tank itself, that's usually the tank telling you it's done.
- 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 fails to sense the flame and shuts the gas off even though the pilot lit fine. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft blowing out the flame can cause the same problem. A contractor can test the thermocouple in a few minutes and replace it if that's the issue.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is common and is cleared by flushing the unit. Igniters, flow sensors, and venting issues can all be replaced or corrected without swapping out the whole unit. A contractor can run a diagnosis to tell you whether the fix is worth it or whether replacement makes more sense for your unit's age.