To repair or replace your water heater: that is the question.
Not to worry—we’ll help you figure out what you should do.
First, you can use clues from the unit itself to determine whether you need to replace it completely or not.
For example, you should replace your water heater if it’s:
(Learn more about each of those points in our article, "When Should I Replace My Water Heater?")
However, there’s another very important factor to consider when deciding whether to repair or replace your water heater: the warranty.
In this article we’ll explain:
Need a water heater repair ASAP?
If your water heater repair is covered under warranty, then you’ll most likely want to repair it (vs complete replacement).
You see, your water heater warranty may cover:
Let’s look at the difference between parts and labor warranties:
Most plumbers will also offer a labor warranty on their repair work. Let’s say you had a part break down, then a plumber fixed it. But the same part broke down 6 months later. Typically, plumbers will offer a 1–2-year guarantee on their repair work, so they’ll likely cover the cost to repair the part again.
A typical water heater warranty can cover important parts like:
Note: A manufacturer warranty doesn’t cover these parts if they break due to neglect or normal wear and tear—only if they break down prematurely due to a manufacturer error.
Examples of things NOT covered by water heater manufacturers include:
To know what’s covered by your manufacturer, you’ll need to check your warranty. We’ll show you how...
To check if a part is covered by the manufacturer, follow these steps:
Note: Most water heater manufacturers require homeowners to follow specific guidelines in order for the water heater warranty to be valid. These guidelines include:
If you don’t meet the manufacturer’s guidelines, then your parts warranty may be considered invalid by the manufacturer.
To check if a repair is covered under your labor warranty, contact the plumber who installed/last repaired your water heater. They’ll have the record of your water heater installation and labor warranty info.
We hope this article pointed you in the right direction. But if you still have questions, or you need a water heater repair or replacement, just give us a call.
Learn more about our water heater services and see a list of cities we serve in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.