Leaking tank or no hot water right now
A leaking heater or a cold shower at 6 a.m. will not wait for business hours, and our dispatch runs 24/7. While you wait for us, make the unit safe. Same-day and after-hours visits are available when our schedule allows, so call first and we will tell you what is open.
Shut off the power at the breaker for an electric unit. For gas, turn the gas control to off or pilot. Close the cold water valve on the pipe feeding the top of the tank.
If water is near any electrical item, stay out of the room and never touch anything electrical while standing in water. A gas smell means leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 before you call us.
- Turn off power or gas to the heater.
- Close the cold supply valve above the tank.
- Open a hot tap upstairs to relieve pressure if the tank is hissing or banging.
- Move stored items away from the base and put a bucket under any drip.
Water heater leaking
Where the water comes from decides the repair. A drip at a pipe connection, the drain valve or the relief valve outlet can often be fixed with a part. Water seeping from under the jacket or collecting evenly around the base often points to a corroded tank, and that cannot be patched.
Wipe everything dry, then watch for a short while with a dry paper towel at each joint. A wet towel tells you which fitting to point out when you call. A tank that has rusted through is a replacement, and we will say so rather than sell you a repair that will not hold. See water heater replacement for how that decision is made.
Cold showers or a wet floor around the tank? Call now and we will talk you through the first steps.
(732) 466-1098No hot water, gas or electric
- Check the breaker or gas firstA tripped breaker or a shut gas valve explains many cold showers. Reset a breaker once. If it trips again, stop and call.
- Gas units, pilot and thermocoupleIf the pilot is out and will not stay lit, the thermocouple or flame sensor is a common culprit. Do not repeat relighting if you smell gas.
- Gas units, igniter and burnerNewer models use an electronic igniter. A heater that clicks but never lights can have a failed igniter or a dirty burner.
- Electric units, elements and thermostatsTwo elements heat the tank. If only lukewarm water comes out, the lower element or a thermostat may be dead. If the water runs out fast, the upper one is likely.
- Reset buttonElectric units have a red reset on the upper thermostat. Press it once with the power off at the breaker, then restore power. If it keeps tripping, there is a deeper fault.
Common faults and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Gas | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Lukewarm only | Dirty burner or low flame | Failed lower element |
| Runs out fast | Sediment, bad dip tube | Failed upper element |
| Pops or rumbles | Sediment under the burner | Scale on elements |
| Hot water smells | Bacteria or anode reaction | Same |
| Dead cold | Pilot, igniter or valve | Breaker, reset or thermostat |
Noises, pressure and the relief valve
Popping and rumbling usually mean sediment is baking at the bottom of the tank. A flush can sometimes help on a unit that is not yet too old or too scaled. Never plug or cap the temperature and pressure relief valve. It is the safety release, and a valve that drips or discharges regularly is telling you something.
An expansion tank sits on the cold line in homes with a closed system, and it absorbs the pressure rise as water heats. If it fails, the relief valve may drip every heat cycle. A heat pump or hybrid heater adds a compressor and condensate line to the checklist, and we look at those too.
What local water may do to your heater
We do not have a sourced hardness figure for New Brunswick, so we will not guess. What is true everywhere is that mineral scale and sediment build up faster in a tank with harder water, and it shortens element and burner life. Ask your water utility for its annual water quality report and read the hardness line.
If you live in Highland Park, the borough's water supply is bought from Middlesex Water Company, so that report is the one to request. In Piscataway, ZIP 08854, ask which supplier serves your street. The answer tells you how often a tank flush is worth doing.
Source: Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (Highland Park) page on middlesexwater.com
What drives the repair price
Homeowners policies often cover a sudden burst or discharge of water from a plumbing appliance but not wear and corrosion. Ask your insurer which applies, since policies differ.
We give a clear price before work starts, and a real number by phone once we know the model and the symptom. Call (732) 466-1098.
Repair or replace
Putting in a new heater of like capacity counts as minor work, and a permit is still required, according to the state Department of Community Affairs code alert. Work may start once the local enforcement agency has been notified, so ask the building department about your town.
Repair makes sense
The tank is dry, the unit is not old, and a single part has failed. Fixing it keeps your existing hookup.
Replace makes sense
The tank is leaking from the body, the repair would cost close to a new unit, or parts keep failing.
Rethink the type
If the household has outgrown the tank, a different system may fit better. See the tankless water heater page.
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs code alert on 2018 NJ Register changes, nj.gov/dca/codes/alerts/pdfs/OM_MW_03052018.pdf
Where we work
We serve New Brunswick and nearby towns. The Piscataway page and the Edison page cover those areas. Water that spreads under a heater can also hide a slow pipe leak, so see leak detection if the base stays damp after the unit is fixed.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Dispatch runs 24/7 and you reach a person at (732) 466-1098. Tell us if the heater is leaking, if it is gas or electric, and whether you have shut off power and water. Same-day and after-hours visits are available when our schedule allows.
Turn off the power or gas, then close the cold water valve above the tank. Put a bucket under the leak and keep people away from wet electrical items. Then call us.
The tank may be heating but the water may not be reaching the taps. A failed dip tube, a mixing valve or a failed element can do this. Describe it on the phone and we will narrow it down.
Sometimes. If the tank is sound and one part failed, a repair can be sensible. A tank that leaks from the body is not repairable.
Follow the label on the unit. If the pilot will not stay lit, stop, because a failing sensor needs replacement. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911.
Yes, we cover all three. Tell us the make and age when you call so we can bring likely parts.
A simple part swap usually differs from replacing the unit, but rules vary. Ask the New Brunswick building department whether your job needs one.