Tank and Tankless Water Heater Repair in Des Plaines

Tank water heaters in Des Plaines homes

Most bungalows and split-levels in town have a 40- or 50-gallon gas tank in the basement or utility room. Lake Michigan water is moderately hard by the time it reaches the suburbs, so sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank. That's the rumbling or popping you hear when the burner runs, and over time it shortens the tank's life and slows recovery.

On a no-hot-water call we check the gas supply, pilot or ignition, thermocouple or flame sensor, gas valve, venting and the condition of the tank. A leak from the tank body itself is a replacement, not a repair. A leak from a fitting or relief valve often isn't.

Tankless and Navien service

Tankless water heaters give endless hot water when they're set up and maintained properly, but they are sensitive to scale. An error code, fluctuating temperature or a unit that shuts down mid-shower is often a heat exchanger that needs descaling or an inlet filter that needs cleaning. As a certified Navien installer, we know these units and their error codes and can tell you whether it's a maintenance issue or a failed part.

If you're considering switching from a tank to tankless in a Des Plaines home, we look at gas line size, venting route and where the unit can be mounted before recommending it.

Repair or replace?

We give you an honest read. Age, the condition of the tank, the cost of the part and how the unit has been maintained all factor in. If replacement is the better choice, we explain the options — tank, tankless or a different size — and you get the price before work begins.

Repair, replacement or a new installation?

Many Des Plaines calls start as "no hot water" and end up being a different job than the homeowner expected. A failed igniter, flame sensor, thermocouple or gas valve on a tank that is otherwise sound is usually a repair. Rust-colored water from the hot side only, a weep from the tank seam or a bottom that has rusted through points toward replacement, because the tank itself can't be fixed.

Replacement is also the time to ask whether the existing size still fits the house. A family that has grown, a finished basement bathroom or a new soaking tub can outrun a heater that was sized years ago. We look at the household, the fixtures, the gas line and the venting before suggesting the same size, a larger tank or a tankless unit, and we tell you if the current setup is the right fit as it is.

Planning hot water before guests arrive

Holiday visits are when a marginal water heater shows itself. A tank stores a fixed amount of hot water and then needs time to reheat; how long depends on the tank, the burner, the incoming water temperature and how much was used. In late fall and winter the incoming water is colder, so the same heater can feel smaller than it did in summer.

A few practical habits help: space showers out instead of running them back to back, run the dishwasher and laundry outside the morning shower window, and avoid filling a large tub right before others need to shower. A tankless unit doesn't run out the same way, but it has a flow limit, so two showers plus a dishwasher at once can drop the temperature.

If the heater has been popping, running out faster than it used to, leaking or showing error codes, it is better to have it looked at before the house fills up than during the visit. Call 847-550-3322 to schedule; we'll tell you what we find and what it will cost before any work starts.

What to tell us when you call

A few details help us arrive with the right parts: whether the heater is gas or electric, tank or tankless, its approximate age (often on the label), what changed — no hot water at all, not enough, a noise, a leak or an error code — and where the unit sits in the house. If there is water on the floor, mention it, and keep people and electrical cords away from the wet area.

What we check

• Gas supply, pilot or ignition and flame sensor
• Gas valve, thermostat and burner operation
• Venting and draft
• Tank condition, relief valve and visible leaks
• Tankless error codes, inlet filter and scale on the heat exchanger

More on this service

See our full water heater services page, or go back to plumbing and HVAC in Des Plaines.

Found water at the base of the heater? Our guide to a water heater leaking from the bottom explains why the source, whether a connection, valve or the tank itself, should be confirmed before choosing repair or replacement.

Weighing a replacement? Compare a tankless vs traditional water heater, or look up what your unit is showing in our tankless water heater error codes guide before you call.