Water Heater Repair in Columbus, MS
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What winter power outages do to a water heater in Lowndes County
Water heaters here run all year, but winter is when a problem turns into no hot water fast. Nights average 35°F from December through February, and the tank has to work harder to keep up.
The bigger risk is the power going out. Lowndes County has seen 6 winter storms and 110 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and statewide, 30% of households lost power for at least 24 hours in 2024. An electric water heater does nothing until the power comes back, and when it does, most units come back on by themselves. If yours does not, or the water never gets hot again after an outage, something failed while it sat idle.
- 35°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 5 months
- November through March, the months homes here need heat
- 30%
- of Mississippi 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 $260 a year off hot water for a typical Mississippi home.
Estimates for a typical Mississippi home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Mississippi 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 reason is that the tank itself has corroded through and is failing. Sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank over years, and it traps heat against the steel until a weak spot rusts open. Water can also drip down from a loose fitting, a failed drain valve, or the temperature and pressure relief valve above, so it's worth drying the tank and watching where the water first appears. If the leak is coming from the tank itself, the tank needs to be replaced, since a corroded tank cannot be sealed or patched.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Usually this means the thermocouple has worn out and is no longer holding the gas valve open once you let go. The thermocouple is a small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve the flame is lit. When it wears out or sits out of position, the valve shuts the gas off seconds after you release it, even though the flame was burning fine. A weak pilot flame, a draft in the area, or a dirty pilot orifice can cause the same symptom, so a contractor will check all of those before replacing the part.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. The heat exchanger, igniter, flow sensor, and venting are the parts that most often need service, and each can usually be replaced or cleaned on its own. Mineral buildup inside the heat exchanger is common and is often cleared with a descaling flush rather than a replacement. A contractor can run the diagnostic codes on the unit to tell you exactly what's failing before deciding whether it's a repair or a replacement.