Radiator Repair

how much is it to repair water heater?

well we had a trouble hot water leaking in the bath tub could that be the cause of having not hot water is it the weater heater? if so how much you think it cost to repair it since were on tight budget and its pretty hard to pay stuff since we have to get the house payed off and stuff. well we fix the leak but it comes out cold

Public Comments

1. If your faucet is leaking in the bathtub,and you have no hot water anywhere else,its gotta be a big drip.You probably need to replace the seats and washers(might as well do cold side too)the parts aren't expensive,but if you don't have the proper tools don't try it.This is not a job for a do-it-yourselfer,you will probably need a plumber.That's where the money comes in.
2. If there is water leaking in the bathtub. It probably isn't the hot water heater. It more than likely is a leaking valve in the tub. This could cause your hot water to run constantly, use all your hot water, run up your electric or gas bill, and waste a lot of water. If the problem is the water heater, the cost will vary greatly depending on the problem. Could be some pipes and valves need to be replaced or the whole water heater. Your cost could be vary depending on the cost of labor in your area. I know this is really vague, but there is not a good answer for this question.
3. to me it sounds like you have a bad valve on the tub, mainly the hot water valve.. you would know if it was the water heater, if the rest of your water fixtures sinks and what not were also not getting any hot water or had hot water problems. If it is your hot water heater, chances are it is cheaper and smarter to replace, because a new one will be much more energy efficient than your old one, ofsetting any cost savings to fixing the old one, not to mention it will have a warrenty that is good for at least a year.
4. Since the leak is fixed now, there are a couple of possibilities left. If your heater is gas, then the pilot light may be out. If it is an elelctric heater, then you may have a bad heatin element or the circuit breaker is tripped. If you are familiar with working with electricity then you can replace the heating element yourself, most often the bottom element will burn out due to hard water buld up. At least in our area, that is the case.
5. I'm assuming the water heater no longer heats up at all. It depends if it's electric, fuel oil, nat. gas or propane. If the tank itself is leaking, the entire unit will have to be replaced. Otherwise: If oil or gas [natural gas or propane/LP] the cost would likely be the same. Replacement of the burner nozzle would be the likely suspect. They get gummed up and clogged. Expect anywhere from $100-$200. If the whole assembly needs replaced [called the "gun"], you're looking at $250-$400, depending on make/model. Electric water heaters are much simpler. Two things can cause the heater to fail, a bad thermostat or the heating elements. With a few tools and some basic electrical knowledge, a novice can replace these for less than $75 worth of parts and a special element tool [this is assuming the heater has 2-4500 watt elements and 2 thermostats , upper and lower]. The element tool is basically a big socket that grips the element, allowing you to unscrew it. Unless you have an off brand, parts can be obtained at your local home center or hardware store. Most water heaters are 220 volts, so if you have little or no experience with house electrical wiring, hire an electrician. It will cost another $100- $150, but you'll be alive the next day to enjoy a hot shower.
6. It could be the thermocouple. That is a small tube with copper tubing connecting it to the gas valve. It sticks into the path of the pilot flame. It tells the gas valve that the pilot is lit. When bad, the main burner never comes on. If the main burner never comes on, that's it. Unscrew the main burner tube and the pilot tube at the gas valve. You should be able to manipulate the entire assembly out of the water heater. It isn't connected anywhere else. Clean the light rust and replace the thermocouple. You could take the whole assembly to the hardware store to match it up and get some more free advice. It isn't really all that hard.