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Wrenches resting on a piece of driftwood
The wrenches come out for a water heater job.

Home service

Aisle 4 · Hot water

Water heater repair for North York homes

A cold shower is not always a dead tank. Thermocouples, igniters, elements and thermostats wear out and can be swapped in an afternoon.

  • We start at the mechanical room or furnace room
  • On the van: combustion and gas leak tester
  • You see the broken part before you hear a number
  • Every fixture on the run tested before we leave
Call nowTalk to a plumber(365) 990-1521
  • Licensed and insured (details on the call)
  • Price agreed before work starts
  • North York and next door

Read the symptom

  • No hot water at all, gas tank: pilot out, failed thermocouple or flame sensor, or a tripped venting switch.
  • No hot water, electric tank: tripped breaker, failed upper element or thermostat.
  • Runs out fast: broken dip tube, failed lower element, or sediment taking up tank volume.
  • Popping or rumbling: grit on the tank floor flashing to steam over the flame.
  • Water around the base: could be the relief valve, a fitting, or the tank itself.

What we check

On a gas tank, the plumber looks at the pilot and burner through the sight glass, tests the thermocouple output and checks the venting. Power-vent units have a fan, a pressure switch and a control board; any of them can stop the burner. On electric tanks, we test both elements and thermostats with a meter after shutting the breaker.

We also check the relief valve discharge pipe. If it drips, either the valve is worn or the household pressure is too high, often because a pressure reducing valve has failed or there is no expansion tank on a closed system.

On a gas tank, the plumber looks at the pilot and burner through the sight glass, tests the thermocouple output and checks the venting.

From the counter

Rentals are common here

Lots of North York houses rent the tank. Where there is a rental tag, phone the rental company first; repairs on a rented tank are normally their job. If you own it, we fix it. If you are not sure, the sticker on the tank or your gas bill will usually say.

Gas odour? Get everyone out, then phone Enbridge Gas from the sidewalk. Do not touch switches. A plumber is not the first call for a gas smell.

Repair or replace

We weigh the tank age (on the rating plate), the cost of the part, and whether the tank itself is leaking. A leaking tank cannot be repaired. A 12 year old tank with a dead control valve is usually better replaced. A 5 year old tank with a bad thermocouple gets a thermocouple.

Questions

How long does a water heater repair take?

Most part swaps take an hour or two once the part is on hand. Some control valves need ordering.

Should I flush my tank?

Running a bucket out of the bottom valve each year keeps sediment down. If the valve has never been opened on an old tank, it may not close again, so be ready.

How the job runs

  1. You callDescribe what is dripping, backing up or cold, and the cross streets.
  2. We ask questionsAge of the building, pipe type if you know it, where the shut-off is.
  3. We open it upTrap off, clean-out open or wall cut: find the actual fault before quoting the fix.
  4. We test itOpen each tap on that run, watch the joints dry and show you what came out.