When it comes to long-term water heater cost, one of the main considerations to make is the possibility of replacements and repairs. 

You want to make sure that your water heater is operating at peak condition and the best way to do that is to budget for regular maintenance and this might include repairing it or replacing some of the components, of which it has many. 

You’ll know that your water heater is in need of repair if you’re not getting enough hot water to go around or if it’s not providing you with any hot water at all. 

Read on to find out if your water heater is worth repairing and how much hot water tank repair typically costs. 

Should You Repair Your Water Heater?

The average homeowner doesn’t have much knowledge about water heaters and how to repair them. 

But, perhaps it’s time this changed because this is an issue that you’re going to have to deal with at some point if you have a water heater in your house. 

The first thing you need to determine is if your water heater is worth repairing or if you should just replace it because this is usually the beginning of the problem. 

For best results, we recommend hiring a professional plumber to look at your water heater and determine the best cost of action. 

What Are the Costs of Repairing a Water Heater?

There was recently a study where they revealed that hot water heater repairs typically cost about $500. In fact, the average homeowner will pay about $203 to $800 for a single repair job. 

However, because this type of heater is made from various different components, tankless water heater repair can be substantial depending on the particular component that needs replacing. 

Here are some of the average water heater repairs: 

  • Up to $485 for Broken Ignitor Replacement: The boiler ignitor is what’s responsible for triggering the fuel required to power the heater. This is what enables it to generate the heat required to heat the water up and if it doesn’t work then your heater will fail to produce hot water. 

  • Up to $450 Mineral Deposit Removal: Boiler tank walls can experience a build-up of limescale due to hard water mineral deposits. This can lead to overheating. On the other hand, the build-up of sediment at the bottom of the boiler container can also make it difficult to regulate water pressure in the tank. The solution to this is to flush away the sediments in order to get the heater operating properly again. 

  • Up to $650 for Expansion Tank Replacement: You may need to replace your water heater if the expansion tank overflows due to leaks or overheating. 

  • Up to $1,800 for Circulator Pump Replacement: The “circulator” is the part of the water heater that delivers the hot water to the pipes throughout your house. That’s why the hot water no longer flows to the tap when the circulator is no longer operating. 

  • Up to $350 for a Pipe Leakage Fix: Boiler leaks can damage your water heater to the point where it stops working completely. This can lead to leaks that cause water damage so it’s one of those problems that you need to fix in a timely manner.

As you can see, tankless water heater repair takes a lot of money and effort and there are a lot of different components involved in the process. 

You have to factor in such things as the installation date of the water heater, whether or not the drain pan and airflow system must be repaired, the supply pipes, mount, and any building codes that you need to get up to date with. 

So, depending on which of these factors are at play, you may not end up paying that much or you may need to dip into that maintenance budget which will always come in handy when you have a water heater. 

For best results, hire a qualified professional plumber to help you figure out and fix the issue.