Alameda & the Bay Area
Water Heater Repair, Replacement & Installation
No hot water, a leaking tank or a heater on its last legs: we repair what's worth repairing and install new tank, tankless and heat pump water heaters.
Repair or replace?
Most calls start with no hot water or a puddle by the heater, and where the problem is decides whether a repair makes sense.
| What you see | What we usually do | Why |
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| Water leaking from the tank itself | Replace | A tank that leaks through its wall cannot be repaired. |
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| A drip from a valve, fitting or the drain valve | Repair | Valves and fittings can be swapped without replacing the heater. |
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| Gas heater, no hot water, pilot keeps going out | Diagnose, then usually repair | Often a thermocouple, gas valve or venting issue on an otherwise sound heater. |
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| Electric heater, lukewarm water | Diagnose, then usually repair | Often a heating element or thermostat. |
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| Popping or rumbling from the tank | Flush, or replace if the tank is old | Sediment has built up on the bottom of the tank. |
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| Rusty hot water from a tank 10 or more years old | Plan to replace | The tank lining is likely failing. |
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Not sure which one you have? Call (510) 939-7042 and tell us the brand, the age and what you are seeing.
Brands we work on
We work on Rheem, Bradford White, A.O. Smith, Navien, Rinnai and Noritz water heaters, among others. For Navien, Rinnai and Noritz tankless units, see our tankless water heater page. Tell us the brand and model number when you call so we bring the right parts.
Flushing and maintenance
Sediment settles at the bottom of a tank over time. Flushing it out helps the heater run quietly and last longer, and it is a good time to check the anode rod, the relief valve and the venting. Tankless units need their own flush to clear mineral scale; most manufacturers recommend about once a year.
A flush is $50 off right now. See specials.
What a replacement has to include
Two quotes for "a new water heater" can differ because one leaves out work the other includes. California law requires water heaters to be braced, anchored or strapped against earthquakes (Health and Safety Code section 19211). Many homes also need an expansion tank, new venting or new gas and water connectors, and most cities want a permit for the swap.
Our Berkeley job above is a typical example: the new A.O. Smith went in with a new expansion tank and new fittings. If you already have a quote, we will look at it for free.
Where we work on water heaters
We are based in Alameda and work on water heaters across the local Bay Area: Alameda, Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Lafayette, Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, Hayward, Castro Valley, Union City and Fremont. Recent installs include a closet swap in Oakland, an exterior closet replacement in Berkeley and a wall-mounted Navien tankless in a laundry room. See the full service area.
