Water Heater Repair in Laconia, NH
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Belknap County winters are hard on a water heater
Winter nights here average 14°F from December through February, and cold like that reaches the pipes and the unit itself if it sits in a garage or basement that does not stay warm. The colder the water coming in, the longer the burner or the heating element has to run to bring it up to temperature, and that extra runtime wears on both.
Storms are part of living here too. Belknap County has seen 44 winter storms and 38 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and when the power goes out, a tank-style water heater with an electric ignition or a standing pilot without power to the controls will not fire until it is back. In New Hampshire, 22% of households lost power for 24 hours or more in 2024, so that is not a rare event.
- 14°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
- 22%
- of New Hampshire 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
- Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?
- Most often the tank itself has rusted through from the inside and is starting to fail. Water heaters have a steel tank lined to resist corrosion, and once that liner wears through, rust works on the steel until it gives way, usually at a seam near the bottom. It can also be a loose drain valve or a fitting that has started to weep, which a contractor can tighten or replace. If the tank itself is leaking, it needs to be replaced, since there is no repair for a cracked or rusted tank.
- 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 or sits out of position, it shuts the gas off even though the flame is lit. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft pulling the flame away from the sensor can cause the same thing. A contractor can test the thermocouple and clean or replace whatever part is at fault.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. The igniter, the flow sensor, and the heat exchanger are the parts that most often fail, and each can be tested and replaced on its own. Mineral buildup inside the heat exchanger is common too, especially in hard water, and that can be flushed out rather than replaced. A contractor can diagnose which part is causing the trouble and tell you whether repair or replacement makes more sense for that unit.