Water Heater Repair in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County
Service call $100 to $250; most element and thermostat repairs $100 to $350
It is 6:30 in the morning and the shower runs cold after two minutes. That is the most common water heater call there is in West Palm Beach, and it is usually one part, not a dead tank.
What fails on an electric tank
A standard electric tank has two elements and two thermostats, upper and lower. The upper one heats first and hands off to the lower one.
- No hot water at all. The upper element or upper thermostat has failed, or the high-limit reset has tripped.
- Hot water for a few minutes, then lukewarm. The lower element is burned out. The tank is only heating the top third.
- Breaker trips when the heater kicks on. A shorted element, or a wire that has cooked at the terminal.
- Water far too hot. A thermostat stuck closed. That is a scald risk and the relief valve will start letting go.
Elements fail faster when scale builds up on them. An element that burns out every year or two is telling you the tank needs flushing.
What fails on a gas tank
- Pilot lights, then goes out when you let go. A worn thermocouple or a dirty flame sensor.
- Pilot will not light at all. A clogged pilot tube, a dead igniter, or a gas control valve that has quit.
- Burner lights, then shuts down. A flammable vapor sensor tripped, a blocked intake screen at the base, or a vent problem the heater is protecting itself from.
- Smell of exhaust near the heater. A vent that is disconnected or backdrafting. Shut the gas valve off and call.
What the visit looks like
The plumber reads the label first, then checks power or gas supply, water temperature at the nearest tap, and the relief valve. On electric, each element and thermostat gets a meter on it. On gas, the pilot assembly, thermocouple and burner come out and get looked at. You get the price for the part before anything is ordered. Common elements, thermostats, thermocouples and relief valves ride on the truck.
What it costs
The service call is $100 to $250. Elements and thermostats run $100 to $350. A relief valve is $50 to $300. An anode rod is $150 to $350. If the repair costs a third of a new heater on a tank past ten years old, you get both numbers and pick.
When you call (561) 264-5624, read off the label: brand, gallons, gas or electric, and the year. That decides which parts go on the truck.