Water Heater Repair in Durant, OK
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What winter and storms do to a water heater in Bryan County
Winter nights here average 34°F from December through February, and the water coming into the tank is colder too. The burner or heating element has to work longer to bring it up to temperature, and a unit already worn will fall behind. You notice it as water that's warm but not hot, or hot water that runs out faster than it used to.
Bryan County has seen 50 damaging wind events over the last ten years, and a quarter of Oklahoma households lost power for at least 24 hours in 2024. A gas water heater with a standing pilot keeps working through an outage. One with an electric igniter or an electric tank will not, and it needs to be reset or relit once power is back.
- 34°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 5 months
- November through March, the months homes here need heat
- 25%
- of Oklahoma 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 $250 a year off hot water for a typical Oklahoma home.
Estimates for a typical Oklahoma home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and Oklahoma 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 of the time this means the tank itself has rusted through, and once that happens, the tank cannot be repaired, only replaced. Sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank over the years, and it wears through the steel from the inside where you can't see it. Sometimes what looks like a tank leak is actually the drain valve or a fitting on top letting water run down the outside, so it's worth checking those first. A contractor can tell you quickly which one you're dealing with.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small part that senses the pilot flame and tells the gas valve it's safe to stay open. When it wears out, it stops sensing the flame correctly and shuts the gas off even though the pilot is lit. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft blowing on the flame can cause the same thing. This is a gas part, so have a contractor look at it rather than trying to adjust it yourself.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairable. Issues like a failing igniter, a clogged inlet filter, mineral buildup on the heat exchanger, or a bad sensor can usually be fixed without replacing the unit. Tankless units are more sensitive to hard water buildup than tank models, so descaling on a regular basis keeps small problems from turning into bigger ones. A contractor can check the error code the unit is showing and go from there.