Water Heater Repair in Boston, MA
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Cold winters put steady strain on your water heater
Groundwater feeding your tank runs cold from October through May, eight months of the year. On winter nights that average 23°F, your water heater has to work harder and longer to bring that water up to temperature. That extra strain wears on the heating element and the thermostat, and it shortens the life of the tank itself.
Suffolk County has recorded 22 winter storms and 140 damaging wind events over the past ten years. Across Massachusetts, 10% of households went at least 24 hours without power in 2024. Most water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns, and a standing pilot never needed power to begin with. But if the ignition control failed during the outage, you will notice it as no hot water at all until someone resets or repairs it.
- 23°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, the months homes here need heat
- 10%
- of Massachusetts 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 $130 a year off hot water for a typical Massachusetts home.
Estimates for a typical Massachusetts home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Massachusetts 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 the tank itself failing from the inside. Sediment builds up over the years and corrodes the steel, and once the tank rusts through, water finds its way out the bottom or through the seams. A leaking drain valve or a loose fitting can also cause this, and those can be fixed, but a leak from the tank itself means the water heater needs to be replaced. A contractor can tell you which one you're dealing with.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- This usually points to the thermocouple, the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve it's safe to stay open. When it wears out or sits slightly out of position, the flame lights but the valve shuts the gas back off within seconds. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft in the area can cause the same thing. A standing pilot doesn't use electricity, so this isn't related to a power issue.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is common and is cleared with a descaling flush, and a bad igniter, sensor, or fan can be replaced on its own without replacing the whole unit. The exceptions are a cracked heat exchanger or a control board that's failed beyond repair, which are rarer. A contractor can run a diagnosis and tell you which part is causing the problem.