Water Heater Repair in Covington, GA
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What Newton County weather does to your water heater
Winter nights here average 35°F from December through February, and the tank works harder to keep up when the water coming in is that cold. The heating element or burner runs longer to make up the difference, and that extra work is what wears out a thermostat or an element before its time.
Wind is the bigger risk in this county. Ten years of records show 39 damaging wind events against a single winter storm, and Georgia households went without power for 24 hours or more in 31% of cases last year. A gas water heater with a standing pilot will keep making hot water through an outage like that. One with an electric ignition or an electric tank will not, and you will notice when the water runs cold and stays that way until the power comes back.
- 35°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 5 months
- November through March, the months homes here need heat
- 31%
- of Georgia 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 $330 a year off hot water for a typical Georgia home.
Estimates for a typical Georgia home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Georgia 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 a failing tank. Once the steel tank corrodes from the inside, water finds its way through and shows up as a puddle underneath. It can also be a loose drain valve or a fitting that has worked itself loose, which a contractor can tighten or replace. If the tank itself is leaking, it needs to be replaced, not repaired, since there is no way to seal a hole in the tank wall.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Most of the time this means the thermocouple has worn out. That's the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve it's safe to keep gas flowing. Once it fails, the valve shuts the pilot off as a safety measure, even though nothing else is wrong. A weak gas supply or a draft blowing on the pilot can also cause it, so a contractor will check the thermocouple first and go from there.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Common issues are a clogged inlet filter, a buildup of scale on the heat exchanger, or a failed igniter, and all of those can be fixed without replacing the unit. A contractor can run a diagnostic to find which part is causing the problem before deciding whether repair or replacement makes sense.