Water Heater Repair in Des Moines, IA
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Des Moines winters put your water heater to work
Groundwater coming into your house is cold for eight months of the year, October through May. Your water heater has to work harder in that stretch to get the same hot shower, and the tank cycles more to keep up. That extra cycling wears on the heating element or burner assembly over time, and it's often when the strain shows.
Polk County also sees its share of winter storms and wind, and power doesn't always stay on through them. A gas water heater with a standing pilot will keep running through an outage, but one with electric ignition won't relight on its own. If your water suddenly runs cold after a storm, that's usually why.
- 16°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, the months homes here need heat
- 15%
- of Iowa 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 $50 a year off hot water for a typical Iowa home.
Estimates for a typical Iowa home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Iowa 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 has rusted through and is failing from the inside. Sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank over years, and it traps moisture against the steel until it corrodes a hole. A leak can also come from a drain valve that isn't sealed tight, or from a fitting where a pipe connects at the bottom, and those can sometimes be repaired. Once the tank itself is leaking, it needs to be replaced, not patched. A contractor can tell you which one you're dealing with by looking at where the water is actually coming from.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Usually the thermocouple has worn out and can no longer sense the flame, so the gas valve shuts off to protect you. It's a small part and a common fix. A weak or dirty pilot flame can cause the same problem, and so can a draft blowing into the burner compartment. If the pilot lights but drops out within a few seconds every time, the thermocouple is the most likely reason and a contractor can replace it.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is common and can be flushed out, and sensors, igniters, and fans can be replaced individually. Error codes on the unit's display usually point a contractor straight to the failed part. A full replacement is only needed if the heat exchanger itself has cracked or corroded through.