Most Erie homes heat water with a tank in the basement, gas or electric. When it stops working in January, you notice fast. A licensed local plumber can tell you whether yours needs a part or a new heater, and what each option costs.
Signs your water heater is failing
Water around the base of the tank.
A leak from the tank itself usually means it needs replacing. A leak from a fitting or valve can often be repaired.
Rusty or brown hot water.
If only the hot side is discolored, the inside of the tank may be rusting.
Rumbling or popping sounds.
This is usually scale and sediment at the bottom of the tank.
Hot water runs out quickly.
Sediment, a failed heating element or a broken dip tube can cause this.
Pilot light keeps going out
on a gas heater.
Age.
The manufacture date is coded in the serial number on the label. A tank that is 10 years old or more is worth watching closely.
If you smell gas near the heater, leave the house and call National Fuel Gas or 911 from outside.
What Erie water does to a tank
Erie Water Works test results from 2021 show total hardness of 115 parts per million, about 6.7 grains per gallon. Those minerals come out of the water as it heats and settle as scale on the bottom of the tank and on electric heating elements. Over time the scale makes the burner work harder, causes the rumbling sound, and can shorten the life of the heater.
Draining a few gallons from the valve at the bottom of the tank once a year helps. If the valve is old and you are not sure it will close again, ask a plumber to do it.
Repair or replace?
A repair often makes sense when:
- The tank is fairly new and does not leak.
- The problem is a part: a thermocouple, gas valve, heating element, thermostat or relief valve.
Replacement usually makes sense when:
- The tank itself leaks.
- The heater is old and needs a costly part.
- You need more hot water than it can supply.
A plumber should explain which case you are in, show you the problem, and price both options if both are reasonable.
What it costs
There is no Erie price survey, so these are national figures from cost guides:
| Job | National figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater repair | About $616 on average | Angi |
| Gas water heater replacement | About $1,900 on average, most pay $1,000 to $2,700 | Fixr |
| Electric water heater installation | About $1,000 on average, mostly $800 to $1,500 | Fixr |
In older Erie houses, price can go up if the gas line, venting or water connections need updating to meet code for the new heater, or if the old tank is hard to get out of a narrow basement stairway. See our Erie plumbing cost guide for more.
Permits
In the City of Erie, only master license holders can obtain a plumbing permit, according to the city's Code Enforcement office. Whether a water heater swap needs a permit, and what it costs, is something to confirm with the plumber or with Code Enforcement at permits@erie.pa.us. Outside the city, ask your township.
Tank or tankless?
Tankless heaters heat water only when you use it and take up less space. They cost more to buy and install, may need a larger gas line or new venting, and hard water scale means they need regular descaling. A tank is simpler and cheaper up front. A plumber can look at your gas supply, venting and household size and tell you which fits your Erie home.
Common questions
How long do water heaters last in Erie?
It varies with the model, how much water you use, and the minerals in it. Erie water is moderately hard at about 6.7 grains per gallon, so flushing the tank once a year helps. Once a tank is 10 years old or more, start planning for a replacement.
Why is my water heater making noise?
Rumbling or popping usually comes from scale and sediment at the bottom of the tank. Flushing the tank can help. If the noise continues, have a plumber look at it.
Can a leaking water heater be repaired?
If the leak is from a valve or a pipe connection, often yes. If water is coming from the tank itself, the tank needs to be replaced.