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Pickering Plumbing Company markPickeringPlumbing Co.Call now(365) 334-6645

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Water Heater Service in Pickering

Lukewarm showers, a rumble from the basement or a damp ring on the floor around the tank are all worth writing down. A water heater rarely fails without leaving a few signs first.

  • On the truck: multimeter, combustion and draft check, drain hose and pipe wrenches
  • First look: the rating plate, venting, T&P valve and drain valve
  • No permit usually needed for a like-for-like repair
  • Booked within the week, often sooner
  • A price range on the phone, a firm quote before work
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A pink wall with a flower pot and exposed pipes creating a unique visual contrast
A pink wall with a flower pot and exposed pipes creating a unique visual contrast.

Open 7 daysEmergencies any hour

  • Licensed plumbers, details on request
  • Quote before any work starts
  • Pickering and Durham Region
  • Residential and commercial

Signs you need water heater service

  • Hot water runs out sooner than it used to
  • Popping or rumbling as the burner fires, often from sediment on the tank bottom
  • Hot water that runs rusty or cloudy while the cold stays clear
  • Moisture at the base, the drain valve or the relief valve discharge pipe
  • A pilot that keeps going out, or an error code on a tankless unit

How we handle the job

First the rating plate gives us age, fuel and capacity; then we check venting, the gas or electrical supply, the temperature and pressure relief valve and the condition of the connections. On gas units we look at the flame and the draft. Electric units get their elements and thermostats tested. Tankless heaters get an error-code check and a look at the inlet screen.

Then we tell you which of three paths makes sense: a repair, a flush and tune-up, or replacement. A ten-year-old tank leaking from the shell is a replacement, and we will say so plainly. For a full swap of a gas tank, see gas water heater replacement; for element and thermostat faults, electric water heater repair covers the details.

Job note: a lot of Pickering households rent their tank. For a rented tank, the rental firm normally handles repairs for repairs to that unit, so check your utility bill before booking anyone.

Durham Region supplies treated Lake Ontario water to most of urban Pickering.

Pickering homes and this problem

Durham Region supplies treated Lake Ontario water to most of urban Pickering. It is moderately hard, so tanks collect scale and sediment over the years, and heat exchangers in tankless units need periodic descaling. Rural homes on wells in the north end can carry more mineral and iron, which shortens the life of anodes and elements. The note on renting or purchasing a water heater is useful if you are weighing your options.

What affects the cost

  • Fuel type and whether parts are stocked locally
  • Rental versus owned equipment
  • Venting changes, which apply when moving to a high-efficiency or tankless model
  • Access in tight utility rooms or finished basements
  • Permit requirements for a replacement

Repair or replace: a quick reckoning

Weigh three things together. Age comes first, then the cost of the part against a new unit, then whether the problem is likely to recur. A failed thermocouple on a six-year-old tank is an easy repair. Repeated relief valve discharge on an old tank may point to scale and pressure issues that will not go away.

What you can do first

Find the cold water shut-off above the tank and the gas valve or breaker that feeds it. If the tank is actively leaking, close the cold supply and turn off the fuel. Put a pan or towels down. Note the brand, the model and the date on the plate, and if you can, take a photo; it lets us bring the right components the first time. Do not lift the relief valve lever on an old tank to test it unless you are prepared for it not to reseat.

Questions callers ask

How often should a tank be flushed?

On municipal water, a yearly visit is a fair rhythm. Homes on hard well water may benefit from more frequent attention.

Is my water heater too old to repair?

Many tanks last roughly eight to twelve years. Past that, a repair can still make sense for a cheap part, but a leaking tank body cannot be fixed.

Do you service tankless units?

We do: descaling, inlet screen cleaning and diagnosing error codes.

Related pages

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