Water Heater Repair in Portsmouth, NH
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Portsmouth winters push hard on your water heater
Cold groundwater runs into your tank from October through May, and on nights near 18°F your heater works harder to bring that water up to temperature. The burner or the heating element cycles more, and that extra work wears on the thermostat and the heating element first. You notice it as water that used to run hot for a full shower now turning lukewarm halfway through.
Rockingham County has seen 66 winter storms and 103 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like that knock out power. In New Hampshire, 22% of households went at least 24 hours without power in 2024. A gas or propane water heater with a standing pilot stays lit through an outage, but one with electric ignition or an electric thermostat needs the power back on before it will heat again.
- 18°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October 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?
- The tank itself has likely rusted through and is holding water it can't contain anymore. Sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank over the years and eats away at the lining from the inside, and once that metal gives way, the leak won't stop or seal itself. It could also be the drain valve or a fitting that's loose or worn, which a contractor can check before assuming the worst. If the tank is the source, the water heater needs to be replaced, not patched.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Most of the time this means the thermocouple has worn out and can't hold the gas valve open once you let go of it. It's a small part that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve the flame is lit. When it fails, the valve shuts the gas off within seconds of you releasing it, even though the pilot lit just fine. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft blowing out the flame can cause the same symptom, so a contractor will check both before replacing anything.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. The heat exchanger, igniter, flow sensor and venting are all parts that fail on their own and can be replaced without swapping out the whole unit. Mineral buildup inside the heat exchanger is common and usually needs flushing rather than replacement. A contractor can tell you after looking at the unit whether the part that failed is worth repairing or whether the unit has reached the point where replacement makes more sense.