Repair or Replace Your Water Heater
Age, repair cost, and symptom severity together decide whether to repair or replace — not any one factor alone. Here’s how to weigh them.
HotWater Decoded
Water Heater Age Decoder
Decode your water heater’s age from its serial number by brand. Rheem, A.O. Smith, Bradford White, and more — no guessing required.
Heat Pump Water Heaters: Owner’s Guide
How heat pump water heaters work, what they cost to run, common owner complaints, and what to check before you buy one.
Water Heater Anode Rod Guide
The anode rod is what actually protects your tank from rusting through. Here’s how to check it, when to replace it, and which type to buy.
How to Flush a Tankless Water Heater
Step-by-step tankless flush procedure using the isolation valves, plus how often to do it based on your water hardness.
Hot Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs
A sulfur smell in hot water (but not cold) almost always points to the anode rod reacting with bacteria in the tank. Here’s the fix.
Water Heater Making Noise
Popping, rumbling, humming, or a high-pitched whine — each sound points to a different cause. Here’s how to tell them apart.
Water Heater Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit
A pilot that lights, then goes out the moment you release the knob, almost always means a dirty or failed thermocouple. Here’s the fix.
Water Heater T&P Relief Valve Dripping
A dripping T&P valve is either doing its job or failing. Here’s how to test which, and why you should never plug it.
Water Heater Leaking From the Top
A top leak usually points to the T&P valve, the anode rod access plug, or the inlet/outlet fittings. Here’s how to narrow it down.