Water Heater Repair in Troy, MI
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Eight months of heat, and the water heater carries its share of the load
Troy homes need heat from October through May, eight months of the year, and the water heater runs right alongside the furnace that whole time. That is a long stretch of steady use, and a gas unit's igniter or an electric unit's heating element wears with every one of those cycles. When one of them gives out, hot water either stops arriving or runs out faster than it used to.
Power matters too. In 2024, 34% of Michigan households went at least 24 hours without power, and Troy has seen 16 winter storms and 164 damaging wind events over the past ten years. Some water heaters do not come back on by themselves once power returns, and a tank that needs a manual reset just sits there cold until someone finds the switch.
- 19°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, the months homes here need heat
- 34%
- of Michigan 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 $50 a year off hot water for a typical Michigan home.
Estimates for a typical Michigan home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Michigan 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?
- The most common cause is the tank itself has rusted through from the inside, and once that happens the tank needs to be replaced, not patched. Water leaking from the bottom can also come from a failed drain valve or fittings that have loosened over time, which a contractor can often fix without replacing the tank. Sediment that has built up in the bottom of the tank over the years also puts stress on the tank and can lead to cracks. If you see water pooling underneath, shut off the water supply to the tank and have someone look at it before it fails completely.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Most often this means the thermocouple has worn out and no longer senses that the pilot is lit, so the gas valve shuts it off. A weak or dirty pilot flame can cause the same problem, and so can a draft reaching the pilot from a vent or nearby door. If the pilot won't hold even after it's been cleaned and adjusted, the thermocouple is the part that usually needs replacing. This isn't something to keep relighting on your own if it keeps going out.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable rather than a reason to replace the unit. The heat exchanger, igniter, flow sensor and venting are the parts that most often need attention, and each can usually be serviced or replaced on its own. Mineral buildup from hard water is a common cause of poor performance in tankless units, and a descaling service often restores them. A contractor can flush the unit and test each part to find out exactly what's failing.