Water Heater Repair in Hattiesburg, MS
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Power outages here take a toll on your water heater
Forrest County has logged 115 damaging wind events over the last ten years. Wind like that knocks out power, and when it comes back on, an electric water heater's element and thermostat switch on again with no warning. That surge wears on the element over time. It is often why one element stops heating while the other still works, so you get some hot water but not enough.
A gas water heater with electronic ignition can lose its flame the same way. After the power drops and returns, the burner may not relight on its own. You will notice at the tap, water that used to run hot within a minute now stays lukewarm or never warms up at all.
- 40°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 tank has likely rusted through from the inside and is holding water where it shouldn't. Once a tank starts leaking like this, it means the steel has already failed, and there is no patch or seal that fixes that. Sometimes what looks like a bottom leak is actually water dripping down from a loose fitting or the temperature and pressure relief valve above it, so it's worth checking those first. If the tank itself is the source, it needs to be replaced, not repaired.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small part that senses the pilot flame and keeps gas flowing to it. When it wears out, it can't confirm the flame is lit, so the gas valve shuts off and the pilot goes out. A weak or dirty pilot flame, a draft near the burner, or a failing gas valve can also cause this. A contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it if that's the problem.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems can be repaired without replacing the whole unit. Common issues include a clogged inlet filter, mineral buildup on the heat exchanger, a faulty igniter, or an error code pointing to a specific sensor. Because tankless units run water through a heat exchanger instead of storing it, buildup from hard water is one of the more frequent repair needs. A contractor can check the error code or symptoms and tell you what part is causing it.