Water Heater Repair in Fayetteville, AR
Tell us what your water heater is doing, and a licensed contractor who covers Washington County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Winter nights here are hard on a water heater
From December through February, nights in Fayetteville average 29°F. Groundwater feeding into the tank runs cold, so the heating element or burner has to work harder and longer to bring a tankful up to temperature. That extra runtime wears on the parts that do the heating, and on the thermostat that tells them when to stop.
Winter storms bring another problem. Washington County has seen 16 winter storms and 99 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and across Arkansas almost a quarter of households lost power for a full day or more in 2024. When the power drops and comes back, a gas water heater with an electronic ignition needs that ignition to relight the burner. If it does not, the water runs cold until someone resets it or has it looked at.
- 29°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 7 months
- October through April, 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?
- Most often the tank itself has rusted through and is holding water it can't seal anymore. This happens as the glass lining inside wears down over years of use, letting the steel underneath corrode. It can also be a loose drain valve or a fitting that's failed, which a contractor can replace. But if the tank itself is leaking, there's no repair for that, it needs to be replaced.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The thermocouple is likely worn out and no longer sensing that the pilot is lit, so it shuts the gas off as a safety measure. Dirt or dust on the pilot assembly can cause the same problem. A draft near the water heater can also blow the flame out repeatedly. A contractor can test the thermocouple and clean or replace the pilot assembly to fix it.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, in most cases. Tankless units have parts like the heat exchanger, igniter, and flow sensor that can be tested and replaced on their own. Mineral buildup from hard water is a common cause of problems, and flushing the unit often solves it. A contractor can diagnose which part is failing and let you know whether repair or replacement makes more sense for that unit.