Water Heater Repair in Aberdeen, MD
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What winter here does to your water heater
Groundwater coming into your house is already cold when winter sets in, and with nights averaging 26°F from December through February, your water heater works harder for longer to get the water up to temperature. That extra runtime wears on the heating element in an electric unit or the burner assembly in a gas one, and it shows up first as water that used to be hot running lukewarm.
Harford County sees storm-driven power outages too. Maryland households went without power for 24 hours or more at an 11% rate in 2024, and the county has logged 24 winter storms and 329 damaging wind events over the past ten years. An electric water heater does nothing until the power is back, and most gas units with an electric ignition system will not relight on their own either. If yours has a standing pilot, it should come back on its own once the outage ends.
- 26°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 7 months
- October through April, the months homes here need heat
- 11%
- of Maryland 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
A new water heater would cut about $370 a year off hot water for a typical Maryland home.
Estimates for a typical Maryland home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Maryland fuel prices. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when an element, thermostat or gas valve has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the tank itself is leaking.
- Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?
- The most common cause is a tank that has corroded from the inside and is failing at the seams or at the bottom seal. Sediment that settles at the bottom of the tank over the years can also trap heat against the steel and speed up that corrosion. Sometimes what looks like a bottom leak is actually water dripping down from a loose fitting, the temperature and pressure relief valve, or a drain valve higher up on the tank. A leak from the tank itself usually means the tank needs to be replaced, since the steel cannot be patched or resealed once it corrodes through.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- This usually points to the thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. When it wears out or sits out of position, the valve shuts the gas off as a safety measure even though the flame is lit. A weak or dirty pilot orifice, a draft near the burner, or a failing gas control valve can cause the same problem. A standing pilot does not run on electricity, so a power outage will not be the cause here. A contractor can test the thermocouple's output and replace it if it is reading low.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairs rather than replacements. Common issues include a clogged inlet filter, a buildup of mineral scale on the heat exchanger, a failed igniter, or an error code pointing to a sensor. Homes on well water or with hard water tend to see scale build up faster, which restricts flow and trips the unit's safety limits. A contractor can flush the exchanger, clean the filter, or replace the specific part the error code identifies.