Gas & Electric Water Heater Repair in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach & Delray Beach
No hot water, water that will not stay hot, or a puddle under the tank? Clearview diagnoses and repairs gas and electric water heaters and tells you honestly when a repair is worth it.
Start With the Symptom
Most water heater problems fall into a handful of patterns. Knowing which one you have helps you describe it when you call, and it tells us where to start looking.
No Hot Water at All
On an electric unit, the usual causes are a tripped breaker, a tripped high-limit (reset) switch, a failed upper heating element, or a failed upper thermostat. On a gas unit, look first at the pilot or ignition: a pilot that will not stay lit often points to a thermocouple or flame sensor, and newer units with flammable-vapor safety systems can lock themselves out until the cause is corrected. A gas supply problem or a failed gas control valve can also leave you with no heat.
Hot Water Runs Out Fast or Temperatures Swing
On electric tanks, a failed lower element is a classic cause: the top of the tank still heats, so you get a short burst of hot water and then lukewarm. Heavy sediment, a broken dip tube that lets incoming cold water mix at the top of the tank, a faulty thermostat, or a tank that is simply too small for the household can all cause the same complaint. If only one fixture runs hot and cold, the problem may be that fixture's valve rather than the heater.
The Reset Button Keeps Tripping
The high-limit switch on an electric heater trips when water gets too hot. Resetting it once may restore heat, but if it keeps tripping, something is wrong: usually a stuck thermostat, a shorted element, or a wiring problem. Electric water heaters run on 240 volts, so this is a job for a professional, not trial and error.
Leaks
Where the water is coming from matters:
- Top connections or fittings: often repairable.
- Temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve: a valve that drips or discharges may be failing, or it may be doing its job because pressure or temperature is too high. Thermal expansion in a closed plumbing system is a common cause. Never cap or plug a T&P valve.
- Drain valve: usually replaceable.
- The tank itself: a leak from the tank body or bottom is not repairable, and the heater needs to be replaced.
Noises and Odors
Rumbling or popping usually means sediment has built up at the bottom of the tank, which is common with South Florida's hard water. A rotten-egg smell in the hot water usually comes from a reaction with the anode rod. A smell of gas near a gas water heater is different: leave the area and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
Electric vs. Gas Water Heater Repair
Electric repairs commonly involve heating elements, thermostats, the high-limit switch, and wiring connections. Gas repairs commonly involve the thermocouple or flame sensor, pilot and ignition components, the gas control valve, and venting. With either fuel type we also check the anode rod, the T&P valve, the drain valve, and the condition of the tank.
Tankless units have their own failure modes, such as error codes, scale in the heat exchanger, and ignition faults. See our tankless water heater page for those.
Repair Considerations
- Age: the manufacture date is usually encoded in the serial number on the label. Tank water heaters commonly last around 8–12 years.
- Warranty: check whether the tank or parts are still under the manufacturer's warranty before paying for parts.
- Cost vs. remaining life: a new element or thermocouple on a younger tank usually makes sense. A major repair on an old tank often does not.
- Repeat failures: if the same part keeps failing, there is usually an underlying cause, such as sediment or water pressure, that should be fixed too.
When Replacement May Be Recommended
We will recommend replacement when the tank itself is leaking or badly corroded, when the unit is near or past the end of its expected life and needs a significant repair, when failures keep recurring, or when the heater no longer keeps up with your household. In those cases, see water heater installation and replacement or consider whether a tankless water heater fits your home. When it is a close call, we lay out both options and you decide.
What to Do Before We Arrive
- If the tank is leaking, close the cold-water supply valve on top of the heater.
- Turn off the breaker for an electric unit, or set a gas unit's control to "off" or "pilot."
- Keep the area around the heater clear so we can work safely.
- Note the brand, model, and approximate age if you can see the label.
Areas We Serve
We repair water heaters in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach, and throughout Palm Beach County and nearby areas of Broward County. Delray Beach homeowners can also see our local water heater repair in Delray Beach page.