Water Heater Repair in Newport, RI
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Newport County storms put water heaters to the test
Winter nights here average 26°F from December through February, eight months of heating season stretching from October through May. Rhode Island saw 12% of households lose power for 24 hours or more in 2024, and the county has logged 15 winter storms and 36 damaging wind events over the last ten years.
An electric water heater stops heating the moment the power drops, and most units come back on by themselves once it returns. If a storm keeps the power out for a day, you will notice it first in the shower.
- 26°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 8 months
- October through May, the months homes here need heat
- 12%
- of Rhode Island households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?
- Most often the tank itself has rusted through from the inside and is starting to fail. Water heaters corrode over years of use, and once the tank wall gives way, the leak won't stop or seal itself. It could also be the drain valve or a fitting that's loosened and just needs tightening or replacing, so a contractor will check those first before condemning the tank. If it is the tank, the unit 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 thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. When it wears out, it fails to sense the flame and shuts the gas off even though the pilot is lit. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft blowing out the flame can cause the same thing. A contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it, which usually solves the problem.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems are repairable. Common issues include a buildup of mineral scale on the heat exchanger, a faulty igniter, or an error code pointing to a sensor or flow problem. A contractor can flush the unit, replace the failed part, or clear the fault, and full replacement is usually only needed when the heat exchanger itself has failed.