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Having problems with your water heater? Depending on the age and condition of your water heater, what appears to be a simple repair may require a complete system replacement.
A water heater repair can range in cost depending on the problem associated with the water heater. The cost of a new water heater can range depending on the functionality, brand and technology of the equipment.

There are numerous factors that affect the cost of water heater repairs and installations. These elements will be discussed further below.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Your Water Heater Repair

In this section, we’ll look at the four major factors that influence the cost of a water heater repair:

1. Your water heater’s age
2. What kind of water heater do you have?
3. Is the unit covered by warranty?
4. The contractor you select

Your Water Heater’s Age

The older your water heater, the more expensive the repair.

This is due to the fact that the more wear and tear a water heater experiences, the more likely it is that several components will need to be repaired and/or replaced (vs just one faulty component).
Water heaters can last anywhere from 8 to 20 years, depending on the model (gas vs electric/tank vs tankless). So, if your water heater is approaching its eighth birthday (or is older), water heater repairs will be slightly more expensive.

Is your water heater more than eight years old? Is it beginning to require frequent repairs? Then you might want to consider cutting your losses and replacing your water heater entirely.

What Kind of Water Heater Do You Have? (Tank Vs Tankless)

Tankless water heater repairs are typically more expensive than tank water heater repairs.
Why? Tank water heaters are basic water heating devices (water enters the tank and is kept hot until needed by either gas burners or electric heating elements). Their simplicity usually leads to simple, low-cost repairs.

Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, are more complicated devices (water enters the unit and is heated directly or on demand before being delivered to a hot water tap—it is not stored). Tankless water heater repairs typically require more labor and materials to complete because there are more components involved.

Is The Unit Covered by a Warranty?

Depending on the type of warranty you have and if your water heater is still under warranty, the repair will be either at no cost to you or minimal in expense.

Water heaters are typically covered by two types of warranties:

Labor: This warranty is typically provided by the contractor who installed the water heater and lasts 1 to 2 years (sometimes longer). This warranty covers the cost of labor for any necessary repairs but not the cost of replacement parts.

Parts: Manufacturers (such as Reem, Bradford White, and others) provide this type of warranty, which covers the cost of any replacement parts but not labor costs. A parts warranty typically lasts between 5 and 10 years.

Are you unsure whether your water heater is still under warranty? We recommend that you first look up your manufacturer’s website online. Then, on the website, look for your water heater model. The warranty information should be available on the product page.

If after a quick online search, you’re still unsure, try contacting the professional who installed the water heater. They should be able to tell you whether or not your water heater is still under warranty.
The Contractor You Select

It is important to hire an experienced water heater technician to perform your repair or installation. The experienced professionals at Sureflow Plumbing & Drain are equipped with the most modern and advanced tools and equipment to quickly and efficiently repair your water heater problem or hot water heater emergency quickly and efficiently.

Select a technician who:

• In your local region and that is licensed and insured.
• Guarantees their work and provides at least a one-year warranty on repairs
• Has been in operation for more than 5 years
• Has high quality online reviews and testimonials

Factors Influencing the Cost of a New Water Heater

In this section, we’ll look at the five most important factors that influence the cost of a water heater replacement:

1. The kind of water heater you select
2. The dimensions of the water heater
3. Whether you’re changing fuel types or not
4. The water heater’s efficiency
5. The plumber you employ

The Kind of Water Heater You Select

When it comes to selecting the type of water heater you want, you have two options: do you want a:

• Is it better to have a tank or a tankless water heater?
• Water heater, gas or electric

Let’s take a look at how those two choices affect cost…

Tanks Versus Tankless

A tankless water heater is defined as:

• Installing a tankless water heater is typically less expensive.
• Ideal for larger homes with a high demand for hot water.

A tank water heater is defined as:

• Installing a tank water heater is typically more expensive.
• Is more appropriate for smaller homes with low hot water demand.

We do not recommend a tankless water heater if your home does not have a gas hookup (and you do not want to install one). Electric tankless water heaters are notorious for being inefficient (resulting in high monthly energy bills) and incapable of meeting high hot water demand.

A Tank Water Heater’s Operation

A tank water heater gets cold water from your home’s main water line. The storage tank is filled with cold water, which is then heated using gas burners or electric heating elements. The heated water is kept in the tank until it is required elsewhere in the house.

A Tankless Water Heater’s Operation

Tankless units are far more complex than tank models. They do not keep water. Instead, when a hot water tap is turned on, cold water rushes into the tankless unit, where it is quickly heated and then sent to the tap. This process requires the use of special piping and venting.

If you are unsure which option is best for you, contact our team of professional at Sureflow Plumbing & Drain.

Electricity Vs Gas

Gas water heaters are typically more expensive than electric models, but they also have lower monthly energy bills.

A gas water heater, on the other hand, is slightly more complex to install. This is because the installation requires connecting the unit to the main gas line in the home.

However, because natural gas is less expensive than electricity, most homeowners choose gas water heaters. In most cases, the monthly savings quickly offset the higher installation cost of a gas water heater.

The Water Heater’s Size/Capacity

The higher the capacity of the water heater, the more expensive the unit.

Sizing a Tank Water Heater

Tank water heaters are sized according to the amount of hot water they can hold. This is expressed in gallons. Tank water heaters come in a variety of capacities ranging from 30 to 100 gallons.

The size of the tank water heater you require is determined by:

• The number of people living in your household
• Your hot water demand (the more hot water appliances you typically run at the same time, the greater your “demand”).

If you already have a tank water heater that meets your hot water needs, we recommend simply replacing it with one of the same size. However, if you are unsure about the size of your current water heater, consult one of our professionals to determine the correct size that you may require.

Sizing a Tankless Water Heater

Tankless units are sized according to each unit’s maximum “temperature rise” given a certain “flow rate”.

The temperature rise describes how hot the unit can heat the cold incoming water before it reaches you (measured in degrees).

The flow rate is the amount of hot water that the unit can provide per minute (measured in gpm—gallons per minute).

Let’s put this sizing method to the test:

A tankless water heater model can provide hot water at a flow rate of 6.7 gallons per minute as long as the water is not heated above 45 degrees.

Here’s is some insight: the higher the temperature rise required, the lower the flow rate of the unit (and vice versa).

In the example above, the Tankless Water Heater can provide more gallons per minute (up to 8.4 GPM) if necessary, but the temperature rise decreases, resulting in 10° colder water (35° temperature rise as opposed to 45°) than at 6.7 gpm.

The size of your tankless water heater is determined by:

• How many hot water appliances you intend to use concurrently (this determines the maximum “flow rate” required from the water heater)
• How hot do you want your hot water to be? (This provides the “temperature rise” required by your water heater.) Note that incoming cold water in Vaughan is usually 47°, so if you want your hot water to be 110°, your required temperature rise is 63°.

Are you perplexed? That’s fine. Sizing a tankless water heater is difficult.

Fortunately, our experienced team at Sureflow Plumbing & Drain can calculate the size you require. It’s always a good idea to hire a professional because if you get a tankless unit that’s too large, you risk having to pay exorbitant monthly utility bills. And if it’s too small, there will never be enough hot water.

The Water Heater’s Efficiency

The higher your water heater’s efficiency rating, the more it will cost.

Every water heater has a “EF” rating that indicates how “efficient” it is. The more efficient the unit, the higher the EF rating. This figure is based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed by the unit on an average day.

The EF of a water heater can range from .58% to.96%.

Not sure which efficiency to select? Everything comes down to how much money you want to spend up front:

• If you have an extensive budget, invest in a high-efficiency water heater (high EF rating).
• If you’re on a smaller budget, a mid-efficiency EF rating will suffice.

Are You Changing Fuel Types? (Electric To Gas)

There will almost certainly be additional costs if you switch from an oil-fired or electric water heater to a gas water heater.

If your home does not already have a gas line, you will need to:

• Have your gas lines installed by a utility company.
• Put in a chimney liner.
• Hire a professional to install your new gas water heater.

While converting to gas can be a time-consuming (and costly) process, many homeowners choose this option since in the long run, significant savings can be seen since gas is less expensive than electricity.

Our experienced team of professionals at Sureflow Plumbing & Drain are:

• Local, licensed and insured.
• Have extensive knowledge of water heater installation and repair.
• Have been servicing the community since 2007
• Locally Owned And Operated.
• Provide warranty and guarantee our work.
• Honest And Transparent

Need a water heater replacement or repair? No matter if you own a residential or commercial property, our professionals at Sureflow Plumbing & Drain are able to repair, replace and install a hot water heater that fits your budgetary requirements and your needs.

Contact Sureflow Plumbing & Drain to schedule an appointment today.