Water Heater Repair, Replacement, and Installation
Full Nelson repairs, replaces, and installs residential water heaters of all types and fuel sources. Our plumbers diagnose water heater problems, explain your options, and provide up-front pricing before any work begins.
Signs Your Water Heater Needs Service
Water heaters rarely fail without warning. Most problems develop gradually and produce symptoms you can identify before a full failure leaves you without hot water.
- No hot water or insufficient hot water for your household's demand
- Water temperature fluctuates during use without anyone adjusting the thermostat
- Rusty or discolored hot water at the faucet, especially when the tap first opens
- A rumbling, popping, or banging sound from the tank during heating cycles, caused by sediment buildup on the bottom of the tank
- Water pooling around the base of the water heater
- The pressure relief valve is dripping or discharging water
- Hot water has a metallic taste or sulfur smell
- The water heater is more than 10 years old and showing any of the above symptoms
Some of these symptoms point to repairable components. Others indicate the tank itself has deteriorated and replacement is the better path. Full Nelson diagnoses the specific problem and recommends accordingly.
Water Heater Repair
Many water heater problems involve replaceable components rather than a failed tank. Full Nelson repairs water heaters by diagnosing the specific component at fault and replacing it.
Common water heater repairs include:
- Thermostat replacement
A faulty thermostat causes inconsistent water temperature or failure to heat. Gas water heaters use a gas valve with an integrated thermostat. Electric water heaters use separate upper and lower thermostats.
- Heating element replacement
Electric water heaters use immersion heating elements that corrode and burn out over time. A failed lower element produces lukewarm water. A failed upper element produces no hot water at all.
- Anode rod replacement
The anode rod is a sacrificial metal rod suspended inside the tank that corrodes in place of the tank walls. When the anode rod is consumed, the tank itself begins to corrode. Replacing the anode rod before it is fully consumed extends the tank’s lifespan.
- Dip tube replacement
The dip tube directs cold incoming water to the bottom of the tank. A cracked or deteriorated dip tube allows cold water to mix with hot water near the top of the tank, producing lukewarm output.
- Pressure relief valve replacement
The T&P (temperature and pressure) relief valve is a safety device that opens if tank pressure or temperature exceeds safe limits. A valve that drips continuously or fails to seat properly needs replacement.
- Sediment flush
Minerals in the water supply settle to the bottom of the tank over time, forming a layer of sediment that insulates the burner or element from the water. The tank works harder, makes rumbling noises, and heats less efficiently. Flushing the sediment restores performance.
Water Heater Replacement and Installation
Tank water heaters have a typical lifespan of 8 to 12 years. When the tank develops a leak, replacement is the only option since a leaking tank cannot be repaired. Full Nelson removes the old unit, installs the new water heater, connects gas or electrical, water supply, and flue venting, and tests the system before leaving.
Sizing a Water Heater
The right water heater size depends on your household’s peak demand. A unit that is too small runs out of hot water during morning showers. A unit that is too large wastes energy keeping water hot that nobody uses. Full Nelson considers the number of people in the household, the number of bathrooms, and simultaneous demand patterns (showers running while the dishwasher operates, for example) to recommend the correct tank size or tankless flow rate.
Expansion Tanks
When a water heater heats cold water, the water expands. In a closed plumbing system (one with a backflow preventer or check valve on the supply line), that expanded water has nowhere to go. Pressure builds in the system, stressing pipes, fittings, and the water heater itself. An expansion tank absorbs this thermal expansion, protecting the system. Full Nelson installs expansion tanks as part of water heater installations when required by code or when the plumbing system is closed.
Types of Water Heaters
Full Nelson installs and services four types of residential water heaters. Each type has its own dedicated page with detailed technical information.
Why Full Nelson
- Family, Women, and Veteran owned since 2003
- Licensed, insured plumbers
- Gas, electric, tankless, and hybrid water heater service
- Up-front pricing before work begins
- Expansion tank installation
- 24/7 emergency service for water heater failures
- Total Home Care Club members receive annual water heater inspection