Water Heater Repair in Wausau, WI
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What Wausau winters do to a water heater
Groundwater coming into your house is already cold, and from December through February it has to fight its way up from near 9°F nights before your water heater can do anything with it. That means longer burner cycles or the electric element staying on longer, every day, nine months of the year. The parts that make heat wear out faster than the parts that just hold water.
Marathon County sees its share of winter storms and wind events that knock out power, and a gas water heater's igniter or control board still needs electricity even though the tank itself doesn't run on it. When the power drops mid-cycle and comes back, some units relight on their own and some need a hand. If your water is taking longer to get hot, or the burner won't stay lit, that is what nine months of cold intake and a rough winter will do.
- 9°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
- 18%
- of Wisconsin 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 $40 a year off hot water for a typical Wisconsin home.
Estimates for a typical Wisconsin home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Wisconsin 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 that has to go somewhere. Once a tank starts leaking like this it will not seal back up, since the steel has already failed from the inside. Sometimes what looks like a tank leak is actually the drain valve or a fitting on top dripping down the side, so it is worth drying everything off and watching where the water first appears. If it is coming from underneath the tank, the tank needs to be replaced, not repaired.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn out thermocouple, the small sensor that sits in the pilot flame and tells the gas valve it is safe to keep sending gas. When it wears out or gets coated in soot, it stops sensing the flame correctly and shuts the gas off even though the pilot is lit. A weak pilot flame, a draft in the area, or a dirty pilot tube can also cause this. A licensed contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it if that is the problem.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless unit are repairable. Buildup of minerals on the heat exchanger, a failed igniter, or a faulty flow sensor are common issues, and each of those parts can be serviced or replaced on its own. Tankless units also run diagnostic codes when something is wrong, which helps a contractor find the problem quickly instead of guessing. Full replacement is usually only needed when the heat exchanger itself has failed.