Our plumbing experts explain how to repair the most common causes of water heater failuresr

There is no such thing as a good time for your water heater to fail, and the winter months are a particularly bad time to be left without hot water. It is essential to get professional maintenance for your HVAC system routinely, but even the best-maintained system can fail at the worst time.

While you should call in water heater specialists for any needed repairs and routine maintenance, there are several things you can do yourself to help keep your water heater running smoothly and help troubleshoot any issues if they occur.

When there’s a problem, things can get uncomfortable in a hurry. That’s why you need to understand these essential water heater troubleshooting tips:

water heater

No Hot Water

The lack of hot water from your electric water heater is a common problem you can resolve by looking for loose connections and resetting any tripped fuses in the circuit breaker. After about an hour, your home will be resupplied with warm water if the breaker tripped. If the circuit breaker continues to trip, push the reset button and If there’s still an issue, contact a qualified electrician for electric hot water heater repairs.

If you instead have a gas-powered water heater that won’t heat water, the issue is possibly related to the gas supply. Check if the pilot light has gone out, and attempt to relight it.

Low Supply of Hot Water

If your water heater can not produce enough hot water according to your needs, this could be because of one of two things:

  • Your water tank is too small
  • Your aging water heater needs replacing

Perhaps your water heater was more than sufficient when it was just you and your partner. However, when your family expanded, so did your hot water needs. If this is the case, it’s about time you upgrade your hot water tank size. However, if your water heater unit produces less hot water according to its capacity, it might have an issue with one or two heating elements.

Water is Too Warm or Cold

Does the water in your shower feel uncomfortably hot or cold? Your water heater may produce too hot or too cold water because the thermostat is incorrectly set. Fortunately, this is one of the easier solutions to the problem of water that’s too hot or too cold, so it is best to start here. Ideally, you should set your water heater thermostat between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Low Water Pressure

Dealing with low water pressure in the shower can be frustrating. When your hot water pressure is lower than usual, the first thing you’ll likely think of is whether your water heater could be behind the low water pressure issues.

Since many common water heater problems could cause low-pressure issues, knowing where the issue lies is vital. It doesn’t make much sense to replace your water heater only to discover that the problem persists due to corrosion or water line clogs.

Here are several issues that may be causing your low hot water pressure issues:

  • Hard-water buildup in the pipes
  • Partially closed shut off-valve
  • Pipe problems

While a water heater may be the reason behind low hot water pressure, it is far from the only cause. A skilled plumber can help find and fix water pressure problems.

Hot Water Smells

Maybe your issue has nothing to do with the temperature or pressure of your water. Instead, when you run a shower, your hot water comes with an unpleasant odor, maybe smelling like rotten eggs.

Typically, this happens when you leave hot water sitting in your tank for too long. If you don’t smell anything when only running your cold water, the problem likely originates from your water heater. Usually, it happens when warm water sits too long in your heater’s tank, leading to a buildup of bacteria. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to DIY water heater repair with this issue. You’ll need to contact a professional plumber to clean and disinfect your water heater’s tank.

To avoid similar issues in the future, don’t leave hot water in your water heater if you are planning to leave for two weeks or more. Before leaving, ensure that you turn the gas or electricity off to your water heater, and you won’t have any issues.

The Water Heater is Leaking

It’s an unpleasant surprise: You venture into your basement only to splash in a pool of water surrounding the base of your water heater. Since the water heater often sits in a rarely visited area, many tend to fall into that “out of sight, out of mind” trap.

You will likely need a professional plumber to find the source of your water heater tank leak and fix it properly. The good news is that Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter services water heaters in Conejo Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Surrounding Areas, so reach out to us.

Odd Noises in Water Heater Tank

A low, vibrating noise or rumbling noise is most likely caused by sediment buildup in the bottom of the tank. You can fix this by draining the tank to get rid of the sediment, or descaling it with organic chemicals. We don't recommend either of these solutions, though, and chances are that you need a new hot water heater.

FAQ

» Is it worth it to repair a hot water heater?

Although you can call in an expert to fix most of your electric hot water heater repair problems, whether or not you should do it depends on the cause of the issue, the severity of it, and the age of your water heater.

Frequent water heater repair and major efficiency problems can cost much more than replacing the unit with a newer, more efficient water heater.

» What is the most common problem with water heaters?

Water tank leaks are perhaps the most common type of water heater problem you’ll face. No matter how long it takes, a tanked water heater will eventually start to leak as water slowly corrodes your tank, creating microscopic cracks or fractures.

» Can I fix a water heater myself?

Yes. With the essential tools and expertise, you can save money handling DIY electric water heater repairs in your home. However, should the repairs get too technical, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance. Just get your phone and look up “ electric water heater repair near me ".

» What are the signs that your water heater is going out?

Unsure if it’s time to replace your water heater? Here are six signs you need a new water heater in your home:

  • The water heater is a decade old or showing signs of age
  • Inadequate heating
  • Recurrent leaki
  • Discolored water
  • Unusual noises
  • Sediment buildup

Trusted Water Heater Repair & Replacement in the Conejo Valley

Family-Owned & Locally Trusted in the San Fernando Valley Since 1927

Diagnosing and fixing problems with your water heater can sometimes be simple, but often it is better to leave it up to the professionals. If the cause of a problem is unclear or the fix is complicated, it’s time to call in the experts. Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter has years of experience diagnosing, fixing, and maintaining water heaters.

Are you looking to request emergency water heater repair services in the Conejo Valley area? Contact us Online or call us today at (805) 499-0448 for immediate help!

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kenneth schild
2 days ago
Roof tune up
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Brenda Mauss
5 days ago
Conejo Roofing performed an excellent job on our flat roof. Their customer service was outstanding. Someone from the company was always in communication with us every step of the process. We received a 12 year warranty that ensures security for the years to come. I would highly recommend this company for your roofing needs. Brenda M
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Mike S
5 days ago
We have used various home service companies for HVAC, electrical, roofs etc over the years and some ok and some not very professional. Conejo did my roof and their people were so crisp in appearance and professionally trained it was like nothing I have experienced. They gave me their ASAP button and said press it for anything you need in the home. I pressed yesterday as I needed to get my HVAC fixed and they called me back right away and scheduled to come out today. They came and fixed and were pleasant and well groomed. I will be using Canejo for anything that goes wrong… Thanks and keep up good work…
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Leah Lacayo
6 days ago
Elijah and Vartan did an awesome job. We're very quick and thorough. Double checked everything. Did a great job!
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Jackie O'Hagan
7 days ago
Ronnie did a great job assessing and fixing our plumbing issue which required complex troubleshooting. Ronnie was very knowledgeable and able to fix quickly and efficiently. Thank you!
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Rawsyker Ker
1 week ago
Darrian came on October 7, 2026 to fix the hot water heater pedestal. He was very professional and did a very nice, finish job. Darrian was friendly and he gave me plenty of time to ask questions and spent time to explain what he did. Thank You Conejo for sending me Darrian to complete the job. He was terrific !
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Richard Beene
1 week ago
Juan G was fantastic! He diagnosed the problem immediately and had it fixed within 30 minutes! And we had cool air to watch the dodger game
Eric was very personable and extremely knowledgeable. He did a superior job. We route pleased to have him back.
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M Lee Bello
2 weeks ago
Miguel & James were terrific plumbers. Proxy, arrived early, polite, smart and friendly. Would hire them again
Drew Newman profile picture
Drew Newman
2 weeks ago
Conejo is the BEST!!! Ronnie fixed everything. Professional, kind and funny. Definitely choosing Conejo for all my plumbing needs.
Kyle Shaw profile picture
Kyle Shaw
2 weeks ago
Plumbing maintenance was a breeze. Ronnie was prompt and on time and had great service.
Lauren Anderson profile picture
Lauren Anderson
2 weeks ago
I’m really glad I happened to find Conejo Services. It’s been one of those crazy months where EVERYTHING keeps breaking or falling apart. We’ve had multiple plumbing issues in the past two weeks; and both times Conejo sent James as our plumber. James is honest, kind, thorough, and goes above and beyond to take good care of homeowners. Beyond James’s professionalism, Conejo has impressed us with their communication style. They text confirmations promptly and also send a photo of the service technician will be, so you are 💯 confident who is knocking on your door is who they say they are. Seriously relieved to find such a trustworthy company—which is rare these days.
Chris Jacobs profile picture
Chris Jacobs
2 weeks ago
Ronnie was great, super through and explained everything well!
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Homer B.
3 weeks ago
James and Miguel came out today to replace our backyard faucet. They arrived earlier in their allotted time window and went straight into their assessment. Took all of 3 minutes for that. After signing the authorization, I had to answer a quick work phone call. By the time I was done with my call, they were done with the job. Both James and Miguel were awesome, super friendly and professional. We would like to have them personally come out and handle our next plumbing job in the future. I highly recommend these guys to get the job done! Conejo Services is a great company to work with. They also installed our water heater and central heating unit a few years ago. They took care of EVERYTHING, to include inspections, asbestos abatement, city permits, ALL of it. They are definitely the one stop shop for heating/cooling, water heaters, plumbing, and probably more. Very trustworthy.
Ronnie was very nice. Work was to fix a plumbing leak. He explained me what he was going to do and he cleaned up after his work. Mentioned when I should turn the water back ON and what to expect. I am happy with his service.
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Matt Bague
3 weeks ago
Had James come out and help replace an old hose bibb. Was kind enough to let me watch and explain to me what he was doing so I could learn myself. Very friendly and professional.
Tom Clark profile picture
Tom Clark
3 weeks ago
Ronnie did a great job! Knew who to contact to remedy the issue with our water heater.
David Gonzalez took care of my HVAC filter, explained the possible reason for water coming out of the emergency outlet and was wonderful in explaining the next steps needed for troubleshooting.
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michael broomer
1 month ago
I luckily found Conejo Plumbing on Yelp to service our tankless hot water heater, after my original plumber reneged on my lifetime contract. The plumber “Dier” was early for our appointment and after pleasantries was eager to solve the intermittent ignition issues we were experiencing. After an inspection it was noted that the igniter and flame rods had carbon and rust built up. Instead of soaking a customer and replacing our unit a simple service call got us back up and running. I can’t thank Conejo and “Dier” for the prompt service call and their professionalism. Suffice it to say Conejo will be my first call for plumbing issues and I look forward to seeing them in the future for HVAC calls as well. If you’re in need of a professional plumber I highly recommend Conejo as your first choice.
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Trupti Guhan
2 months ago
Outstanding professional service with honest reasonable quotes - review based on both plumbing and HVAC based services. James, the expert assessor, not only did a thorough analysis of the issue, but also took the trouble to explain the scope of work. The work was scheduled for the very next day. The scheduling staff is also polite and helpful(Nancy, Anna). The HVAC technician, William, troubleshooted and got our AC unit running, again quality work at a very reasonable price.

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