Water Heater Repair in Paterson, NJ
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Eight months of cold groundwater strain your water heater
From October through May, the water coming into your tank starts out cold, and on nights that average 23°F all winter, it's colder still. The burner or heating element has to run longer to make up that difference, and that extra run time wears on the thermostat and the heating element itself.
Power outages add to the risk. In New Jersey, 11% of households went at least 24 hours without power last year. A gas water heater with a standing pilot will keep running through that. One with an electronic igniter won't relight on its own, so you may find the water cold with no warning it was ever off.
- 23°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, the months homes here need heat
- 11%
- of New Jersey 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 $90 a year off hot water for a typical New Jersey home.
Estimates for a typical New Jersey home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and New Jersey 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?
- Most of the time this means the tank itself has rusted through from the inside, and once that happens the tank has to be replaced, not patched. Before you assume the worst, check whether the water is really coming from the tank and not from a loose drain valve or a fitting on top that's dripping down the side. A failing temperature and pressure relief valve can also leak from underneath the tank. A contractor can tell you in a few minutes whether it's the tank or something simpler.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. When it wears out it stops sensing the flame correctly and shuts the gas off even though the pilot is lit. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft in the area can also blow the flame out or keep it from sensing right. This is a gas control issue, so have a contractor check it rather than relighting it repeatedly.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless problems are repairable, not a reason to replace the unit. Common repairs include descaling the heat exchanger of mineral buildup, replacing an igniter or flow sensor, or clearing a blocked intake or exhaust vent. Tankless units run diagnostic codes when something is wrong, and a contractor can read that code to know exactly which part needs attention.