Water Heater Repair in Alexandria, LA
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Power outages here are hard on a water heater
Rapides Parish has logged 59 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like that knock the power out. Statewide, almost half of Louisiana households went at least 24 hours without power in 2024. Every time power cuts out and comes back, an electric water heater's thermostat and heating element take that jolt. A gas unit with an electric igniter can fail to relight, and you're left with no hot water until it's reset.
Winter nights here average 41°F from December through February, cold enough that the tank runs longer to hold its temperature. If your water is taking longer to heat, or you notice the tank cycling more than it used to, that is often where it starts.
- 41°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 5 months
- November through March, the months homes here need heat
- 49%
- of Louisiana 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 $250 a year off hot water for a typical Louisiana home.
Estimates for a typical Louisiana home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Louisiana 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 often the tank itself has rusted through and is failing. Water heaters have a steel tank with a glass lining inside, and once that lining cracks, the steel underneath starts to corrode. A tank leaking from the bottom usually can't be repaired, since the damage is inside the tank wall. It's also worth checking the drain valve and the fittings above the tank first, since a loose valve or fitting can look like a tank leak but is a simple fix.
- 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. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft near the burner can cause the same problem. A contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it if that's the issue.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Common issues are a clogged inlet filter, a buildup of scale on the heat exchanger, or a failed igniter, and a contractor can clean or replace these parts. Tankless units also run diagnostic error codes, which point the contractor to the specific part causing trouble.