Water Heater Repair in Benton, AR
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What winter and storms do to water heaters in Benton
Winter nights here average 33°F from December through February, and colder groundwater means your water heater runs longer to bring it up to temperature. That extra work shows up first in the parts that wear, the heating element in an electric tank or the burner assembly in a gas one. A tank that used to keep up starts running out of hot water partway through a shower.
Saline County has recorded 11 winter storms and 70 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like that knock out power. In Arkansas, about a quarter of households went at least a day without it in 2024. Most water heaters come back on by themselves once power returns, but if yours doesn't, or if it's making noise or running out of hot water faster than it used to, that's worth having looked at.
- 33°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 5 months
- November through March, the months homes here need heat
- 24%
- of Arkansas 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 $290 a year off hot water for a typical Arkansas home.
Estimates for a typical Arkansas home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Arkansas 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 cause is a failing tank that has corroded from the inside out and is weeping water at a seam or fitting. It can also be a loose drain valve, a leaking temperature and pressure relief valve, or condensation if the unit is new or the water is very cold going in. A tank that is actually corroding will not stop leaking and needs to be replaced, not patched. A contractor can tell you which one you are looking at and whether the tank itself is at fault.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- Most often the thermocouple has worn out and is no longer sensing that the pilot is lit, so it shuts the gas off. It can also be a weak pilot flame from a dirty orifice, a draft blowing it out, or a bad gas valve. The thermocouple is a simple, inexpensive part to replace and fixes this in the majority of cases. If replacing it does not solve the problem, the gas valve itself may need attention, and that is a job for a licensed contractor.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairable rather than a reason to replace the unit. Common issues are a clogged inlet filter, mineral scale built up on the heat exchanger, an ignition failure, or a sensor throwing an error code. Scale buildup is especially common if the water is hard and the unit has not been flushed regularly. A contractor can read the error code and tell you whether it is a straightforward fix or something more involved.