Yes — water heater repair is one of the most common calls Done receives, and our licensed plumbers diagnose and fix most water heater problems on the same visit. Whether you’re dealing with no hot water, lukewarm output, strange noises, a pilot that won’t stay lit, or a unit that’s leaking at a connection, Done serves Denver-area homeowners with water heaters of all common types and brands: conventional tank units (gas and electric), tankless on-demand systems (gas and electric), and heat pump water heaters.

Common Water Heater Problems We Repair

Most water heater failures fall into a predictable set of categories. Understanding which one applies to your unit helps us bring the right parts on the first visit:

  • No hot water (gas unit): Failed thermocouple or thermopile, faulty gas valve, or a pilot assembly that needs cleaning — all repairable parts
  • No hot water (electric unit): Burned-out upper or lower heating element, failed high-limit reset, or a tripped breaker at the panel
  • Lukewarm water: A single failed element (electric), a dip tube that has broken and is mixing cold inlet water into the hot supply, or a thermostat set too low
  • Rumbling or popping sounds: Sediment accumulation on the tank bottom — a flush and descale often resolves this
  • Pressure relief valve dripping: Either the valve has failed and needs replacement, or system pressure is genuinely too high — both require professional attention
  • Leaking connections: Inlet, outlet, or anode rod fitting leaks are repairable; a leaking tank body is not and indicates replacement is needed

Tankless Water Heater Repairs

Tankless units have different failure modes than tank heaters. At Denver’s 5,280-foot altitude, gas tankless units must be configured with altitude-adjusted gas valve settings and venting sized for thinner air — a unit installed at sea-level factory settings will underperform and may produce error codes related to combustion. Done’s technicians are familiar with altitude-specific tankless setup and can recalibrate or repair units that were never properly commissioned for Colorado.

Scale buildup in the heat exchanger is the most common tankless repair need on the Front Range. Colorado’s hard water deposits calcium inside the narrow passages of the heat exchanger, restricting flow and causing the unit to overheat and shut down. A professional descaling flush (different from a standard tank flush) clears the exchanger and restores full output. Many manufacturers recommend annual descaling in hard-water markets like Denver.

When Repair Makes Sense vs. When to Replace

Done’s plumbers give you an honest assessment of repair versus replacement. As a general guideline: if a tank water heater is under eight years old and the failed component is a thermocouple, element, or valve, repair is almost always cost-effective. If the tank is twelve or more years old — especially if it hasn’t been maintained with periodic flushing — the repair cost often doesn’t justify extending the life of a unit that’s approaching end of service anyway.

Colorado’s hard water shortens water heater life below national averages. Mineral scale on the tank bottom acts as an insulating layer that makes the burner work harder and raises internal temperatures, accelerating corrosion. A tank that was never flushed may fail years earlier than a well-maintained equivalent unit.

What to Do While You Wait for Service

If your water heater is actively leaking from the tank body, locate the cold-water inlet shut-off valve (usually directly above the heater) and close it to stop water flowing in. This slows the leak significantly. Do not shut off gas to the unit unless you smell gas — the temperature and pressure relief valve is a safety device, and the tank should stay at ambient temperature while you wait. If you smell gas near the unit, leave the area and call from outside.

Done offers emergency service for water heater failures that can’t wait. For standard repairs and maintenance, visit our water heater repair page to schedule a visit. If our tech determines replacement is the better path, we can discuss options same-day — see the full range at water heater services. Ask about the Care Club membership for annual maintenance that catches sediment and component wear before they become emergency repairs.