Water Heater Repair in El Cajon, CA

A leaking water heater leaking or no hot water in the house? Water heater issues seem to crop up at the worst possible times, and it can be hard to know who to rely on to navigate the repair process. At High Tech Plumbing, we have repaired hundereds of water heaters in El Cajon, CA. Our process involves first diagnosing the issues, performing initial troubleshooting steps, choosing the most effective repair method, and repairing your water heater to restore its functionality. If there is a need to go beyond a water heater repair, El Cajon homeowners can rely on us to help them navigate the rebate and permit process for a new water heater unit.

Water Heater Repair Services in El Cajon

The most common water heater repairs in El Cajon involve fixing a lack of hot water in the house. If you're experiencing no hot water coming from your water heater, check the pilot light on the gas control valve. The gas control valve will shut off the water heater if it detects any dangerous operating conditions like a gas leak or high temperature. The pilot light's blinking pattern can be used to trouble shoot the issue. You can find what each pattern means by consulting the user manual for your water heater model. In El Cajon, many water heaters come from Rheem or AO Smith which include user manuals for your model on their website. Our plumbers will use the pilot light status to find the best water heater repair option. In some cases, the most effective repair is to just relight the water heater which can be safely performed by consulting the user manual. If the gas control is reading a high temperature, it could be that the thermocouple is faulty and needs to be replaced. This is a simple repair, but it should be done by a licensed plumber. In the event that the issue is related to a gas leak, a gas detection should be performed to ensure that the water heater can be safely used in that space. Gas control valves are sometimes faulty themselves, and they might need to be replaced. Luckily, most water heater manufactures will send you a brand new unit as long as your water heater is still under warranty. For any water heater repairs needs, El Cajon homeowners can trust High Tech Plumbing for quality, timely service.

Common Water Heater Issues

There is a large range of water heater issues that we experience in El Cajon, CA. Water heater leaks are probably the most common. A water heater begins to leak when the tank or a pipe connection is exposed to the environment. In the case of a cracked tank, this is likely due to corrosion or sediment build up in the tank. Regular maintenance can remove this sediment during a water heater flush, but this has to be performed before the sediment begins to build up. If it's been a few years since your water heater has been flushed, then it's unlikely the sediment can be removed and it's likely the water heater will begin to leak from the bottom at some point. It's also possible that water could be leaking from the pressure relief valve of the water heater. This safety valve opens when there is excessive pressure in the water heater tank. Excessive pressure is usually caused by an emergency buildup in pressure due to heat, or high water pressure in the house due to a faulty pressure reducing valve. If your T&P valve is leaking, rest assured that we offer T&P valve replacement in El Cajon, CA.

Leaks coming from a fitting or pipe can also be repaired by a licensed plumber. If the leak is happening from a corroded tank due to the hard water we received in El Cajon, then water heater repair might not be possible. The best choice would be a full replacement with a new water heater. Luckily, there are great rebates that El Cajon residents can use to save money when they choose an energy efficent replacement. We discuss these rebated in a later section and you can contacy us if you'd like to learn more or have our team navigate the rebate process for you.

Types of Water Heaters

Different types of water heaters that may be suitable for the needs of your home. Solar water heaters are a great choice for environmentally conscious homeowners. Since we get a lot of sun in El Cajon, these water heaters are a great choice for homes that don't use hot water frequently enough and want to keep energy bills low. Tankless water heaters are another energy efficient choice which provide on-demand hot water without the need for a large storage tank. Homeowners should be mindful that in El Cajon, tankless water heaters are more likely to develop leaks from the hard water that we receive from being close to the ocean. Pairing a water heater with a water softener system can be a good choice to mitigate hard water issues.

Hybrid or heat pump water heaters can also be a great choice especially for homeowners looking for an energy-efficent replacement for their current water heater. In California, hybrid water heaters quality for TECH Clean California rebates, which could result in thousands of dollars saved if you quality. For more information on navigating the rebate process, reach out via our contact page. Finally, the manufacturer of the water heater an important consideration when deciding which water heater to go with. We would all like our water heaters to last as long as possible, and the best way to do that is to go with a brand that is known for its quality. For traditional water heaters, Bradford White is considered on of the best brands for quality and value. Their Contractor Grade line of water heaters can only be purchased by licensed contractors and they come with an industry-leading warranty so you'll be protected from the occasional part failures. For tankless water heaters, you can go with the Rheem/ Rinnai, Navien, or Noritz brands.

Local Considerations and Regulations

In the city of El Cajon, permits are required for water heater replacements. The regulation states that homeowners or contractors should obtain a Simple "No-Plan" Plumbing/Gas Permit for "Water heater replacements, except tankless types". During the permit process, a local safety inspector will arrive after the installation is complete and he or she will verify that the installation complies with the regulations in El Cajon. If there is an issue, the inspector will ask the contractor to fix the issue before the inspector returns for another safety inspection. This process will continue until all safety and regulatory checks have been passed at which point the permit will be issued verifying that your El Cajon water heater repair is up to code.

You should also know about the available green rebates to save greatly on your water heater repair project. El Cajon residents can quality for a federal tax credit of 30% of the project cost, up to $2,000, when they upgrade to a heat pump water heater that are energy start approved. There are also local rebates available. Many El Cajon homeowners are customers of SDG&E which qualifies them for an up $900 Golden State instant rebate. Finally, TECH Clean California has distributed 85+ million dollars worth of rebates to California residents, including those in the El Cajon area, for upgrading to energy efficient heat pump water heaters.

Don't let water heater problems disrupt your daily routine. Contact High Tech Plumbing today for all your water heater repair and installation needs in El Cajon. We're here to ensure you always have hot water when you need it!