Plumbing

Water Heater – Same Day

Turn up the heat in style with water heater pros!

Marin and Sonoma County Plumbing Company

Water Heater Repair + Installation Services

A broken water heater can be a major inconvenience for you and your family. Besides causing ice-cold, uncomfortable showers, a broken water heater can lead to extensive water damage.

At Gotelli Plumbing, we’re experts at repairing broken water heaters with long-lasting solutions. If your unit is in need of frequent repairs or is past its life expectancy, it might be time to replace it instead.

Luckily, we can help you determine whether a repair or replacement is more effective. Then, we’ll take care of the installation or repair process to get your hot water restored in no time.

Common Water Heater Problems

a Gotelli plumber using a wrench to provide San Rafael water heater services

Unlike fine wine, water heaters do not get better with age. In fact, age is the biggest cause of failure. If your system is acting up after multiple repairs and is past its 10-13 year lifespan, you should consider getting a replacement.

However, if your water heater is nowhere near its expected lifespan, there are a couple of other causes of water heater repair you should look out for. Here are some of the most common problems we see in Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Water Heater Leaks

Water leaks could come from a faulty relief valve, your plumbing connections or even the tank itself.

If you notice a leak, the first thing you should do is inspect the water heater’s pipes and connections, as well as your pressure relief valve.

If you notice the leak coming from the bottom of the water heater, make sure it isn’t just condensation buildup. Otherwise, you may have a fracture in the tank causing the leak. Unfortunately, a leaky tank cannot be repaired – it can only be replaced.

No Hot Water

Gas-powered water heaters that aren’t generating hot water may have a blown-out pilot light or need the thermocouple replaced.

With electric water heaters, sometimes hot water will turn off when your circuit breaker has tripped. If that isn’t the case, the defective part is most likely your heating element. You will need to call a professional to replace this part correctly.

Not Enough Hot Water

If you’re running out of hot water too quickly, a quick fix would be to turn up the temperature on your tank’s thermostat (just don’t set it too high). However, this problem can also be caused by a faulty thermostat or an issue with the electrical wiring. If you have a gas heater, the problem may be a faulty dip tube.

Sometimes, your water heater may just be too small. A water heater that is too small will need to work harder and will likely have more breakdowns and a shorter lifespan. Luckily, a professional can help you determine the correct size water heater for your needs.

Rusty Water

There are rods in your water heater that are designed specifically to rust so that the main appliance is spared. These rods, called sacrificial anodes, need to be replaced on occasion. It’s important to replace these components once you notice a problem because rust can corrode your tank and cause irreparable leaks.

Smelly Water

Smelly water is caused by bacteria. Setting the temperature to 140 and then periodically flushing the tank can sometimes help, but a sulfuric or rotten egg smell might mean you need to replace the anode rod.

Strange Noises

If you’re hearing hissing, knocking, popping or other strange noises, your tank may have a buildup of scale or sediment. One easy fix is to try flushing your water heater.

When To Consider Water Heater Replacement

When it comes to water heaters, it can be dangerous and costly to keep using them past their life expectancy. The average water heater lasts 10 to 13 years, so it’s important to keep track of your system’s age.

If it’s 10-13 years old — or even older than 13 years — it might be time for a water heater replacement. You should also consider replacing your water heater if it displays these signs that it’s nearing the end of its life — even if it isn’t 10 years old yet:

  • It’s in constant need of repairs.
  • You are only getting cold or lukewarm water.
  • There’s visible damage to the water heater tank, including rust.

Determining The Right Water Heater For You

Choosing the right model is vital if you want a long-lasting and reliable water heater that works for your home and family. If you get a water heater that is too small for your needs, its life expectancy will be considerably shorter due to the extra strain — and it will likely need frequent repairs along the way.

Not to mention, if your water heater is too small, you and your family are going to be fighting over who gets to shower first! Our technicians can evaluate your home, needs and budget to find the best water heater for you and ensure everything is done correctly.

Save Water And Time With Recirculation Pumps!

Waiting for the water to heat up in your shower or in the sink as you’re doing the dishes or waiting to get in the shower is a waste of time, water and money. A recirculation pump added to your home water heater can save you time and energy by allowing your water heater to work smarter, not harder.

A recirculation pump works by recycling the water that is sitting in pipes through the hot water heater so the warm water arrives faster.

A recirculation pump can save you money by reducing the amount of time you wait for hot water and helps conserve water by giving you access to hot water immediately rather than having to wait.

In areas like Marin and Sonoma counties where water conservation is important, a recirculation pump is an essential tool for saving water. Let your water heater live up to its fullest potential with a recirculation pump.

Call A Plumber For Your Water Heater Needs!

The quickest solution to your water heater problems is to call a professional plumbing company. At Gotelli Plumbing, we provide quick and high-quality service so you are back to comfort as quickly as possible.

We’ll make repairs whenever possible to extend the life of your heater and recommend a replacement only when it is the smartest decision for your situation. Contact us today for the best services in Marin and Sonoma Counties.

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Other Services We Offer
Gotelli was able to send a plumber out the day I called. Joey was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional and everything was back in order that same day. Thanks!
Steve Smith and his partner provided excellent service yesterday. They were quick and efficient, honest, friendly and professional. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone!
Joey was able to get out to us in the morning and inspect the leak we had outside the house. He figured out how to stop the leak while we figure out the next steps for repair. He also gave us some ideas for work arounds in the meantime. He did a quick inspection of the house and pointed out a few things that could be changed, but since no issues at the moment, not pressing. All and all, happy with the result.
I called Gotelli on a Friday afternoon with a plugged sewer system. The office was very understanding and very promptly answered our plea - dispatching Steve to our house. Steve was quick and very professional with clearing our lines, ensuring that both the house service lines and the lateral to the street were cleared. He also offered to check the pressure to our main water line service to ensure that our pressure reducer was working. And he offered suggestions regarding options for upgrading our hot water heater system. Steve's help and calm, friendly demeaner were greatly appreciated in our time of crisis!
Timely and efficient! I highly recommend.
Love the fact that Joey was able to get here on short notice and that he explains everything as he’s going along. He answered all of my questions and is extremely courageous
Him is Rdly Friendly and knowable absolutely I will call him back for future service
I found a puddle of water under my kitchen sink on a Fri morning. Was afraid I would have to wait until Monday, esp since I had a morning -early afternoon commitment. Tom was @ my door by 2pm, knew a trick to have the dishwasher fill, then in a minute empty - yes it was the garbage disposal leaking. At 17 yrs old it had done it's duty. Tom had the exact modeling in his truck, installed it & cleaned up the wet mess under the sink. Lovely. Will be using them again when I need a plumber.
Steve the technician who came to take care of my plumbing problem was very knowledgeable, professional, respectful and kind. I was very relieved and grateful that Steve was able to solve my plumbing problem. I have used Gotelli in the past and Steve was my technician at that time. He did an outstanding job then and again this time around. Thank you and very much appreciated.
Joey was knowledgeable and helpful. Our job was done quickly and we appreciated that he could come earlier than expected.
Tom has been to our house many times over the years. He's always professional, friendly and knows what he's doing! A great guy and a great company. Thanks Gotelli!
Great company that is there when you need them. Response time is outstanding. Thank you and true professionals. Highly recommend.
They were quick to get me on the schedule and my tech Joey was great, friendly, and efficient.
Gotelli found a solution to my plumbing problem that had been going on for two months! Another company was baffled. I love these guys!
Fernando was professional, great information for us regarding the issue. He has been to our home previously and has always been amazing. I feel we are in good hands!! Issue was solved.
Very professional and super experienced
Thank you Jason Ralph at Gotelli Plumbing for your outstanding service and expertise. We were very happy with the service you provided!!
Tom put in our garbage disposal. Did a great job. Everything was awesome. Thank you. Will call again with the next plumbing problem
Excellent service by Joey and his cohort. Good information and You will be my go -to from now on! Thanks!
Steve and Sebastian were great. Professional and courteous. They spotted the problem immediately and fixed it completely!
Santa Rosa, CA
3200 Dutton Avenue, #423
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
San Rafael, CA
21 Lovell Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
97604453-4e7b-4120-900b-17b20c3fba84