Water Heater Repair in Tupelo, MS
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Lee County's power outages are hard on a water heater
Winters here are not the harshest, but nights still average 34°F from December through February, and that is cold enough to keep a tank working through the night to hold its temperature. Over five months of colder incoming water, the heating element or gas burner runs longer and more often than it does the rest of the year.
What causes more trouble is the power. Nearly a third of Mississippi households lost power for 24 hours or more in 2024, and the county has logged 94 damaging wind events over the past ten years. Most electric water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns, but a storm that trips a breaker or damages a line can leave a tank cold for a day or more, and some units need to be reset by hand. If your water heater comes back weaker than before after a storm, or won't come back at all, that is worth a look.
- 34°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?
- Most often the tank itself has rusted through and is leaking from the inside out, and once that happens the tank needs to be replaced, not repaired. Before you assume the worst, check whether the leak is actually coming from a loose drain valve or the fittings on top, since water can run down the side and pool at the bottom and look like a tank leak. Pressure relief valves can also drip from underneath if they're releasing excess pressure. A contractor can tell you in a few minutes which one you're dealing with.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve it's safe to keep gas flowing. When it wears out, it stops sensing the flame correctly and shuts the gas off even though the pilot is lit. A dirty or misaligned pilot orifice can cause the same problem. A standing pilot doesn't use electricity, so a power flicker isn't the cause. Either way this is a gas valve and sensor issue that a licensed contractor should handle.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairable. Common issues are a scaled-up heat exchanger, a failed igniter, a clogged inlet filter, or an error code pointing to a sensor. A contractor can diagnose which part is causing the problem and replace just that part rather than the whole unit.