Water heater help and guides
Straight answers on what is wrong, what it costs and what the code requires, with sources.
Troubleshooting
How to flush a water heater
Step-by-step draining and flushing, and how often in hard-water San Diego.
Water heater not draining
Clogged drain valve or air lock: what stops a tank from draining.
How to descale a tankless water heater
Manufacturer descaling steps, schedules and warranty cautions.
Water heater not working: no hot water
A safe checklist for gas and electric heaters with no hot water.
Water heater pilot light won't stay lit
Why a pilot goes out, what you can check, and when it is a technician job.
Water heater relief valve dripping
Thermal expansion, high pressure, or a bad valve, and why you never cap it.
Water heater leaking from the top
Top leaks are often connections or the relief valve, and often fixable.
What temperature should a water heater be set at?
120°F, why, and how fast hotter water burns.
Hot water smells like rotten eggs
Sulfur smell from the hot side: the anode rod and how it is fixed.
Water heater making noise
What popping, rumbling, ticking, sizzling and hissing mean.
Hot water runs out fast
Sediment, settings, a failed element or dip tube, or a heater too small.
Water heater reset button keeps tripping
What the high-limit reset means and why repeated trips need a technician.
Rusty or discolored hot water
Iron bacteria, a depleted anode, or a failing tank: how to tell.
Water heater leaking from the bottom
Failed tank or fixable valve? How to tell, and what to shut off now.
Error codes
Rinnai code 11: no ignition
What Rinnai code 11 means and the safe checks before calling a plumber.
Rinnai code 12: flame failure
Rinnai code 12 explained: the flame lit, then went out.
Rinnai code 10: air supply or exhaust blockage
Rinnai code 10: something is blocking the air intake or exhaust.
Rinnai code 79: water leak detected
Rinnai code 79 means a leak was detected inside the heater.
Navien E003: ignition failure
Navien E003 means ignition failure; start with the gas valve.
Noritz code 11: ignition failure
Noritz code 11: the heater wants to fire but cannot ignite.
Noritz code 12: flame loss
Noritz code 12: the flame lights but goes out.
Noritz code 90: combustion abnormality
Noritz code 90: the fuel-air mixture is off.
Rheem tankless code 11
Rheem tankless code 11: the causes and owner checks from Rheem's manual.
Comparisons & buying
Rinnai vs Navien tankless water heaters
Efficiency, flow, recirculation and warranty, from manufacturer specs.
Rheem vs A.O. Smith vs Bradford White
Warranty tiers and sales channels for the three big tank brands.
Gas vs electric vs heat pump water heaters
Efficiency, space needs and incentives for the three main types.
Condensing vs non-condensing tankless
Efficiency, venting and the condensate drain.
What size water heater do I need?
First-hour rating for tanks, flow and temperature rise for tankless.
Point-of-use water heaters
Small heaters at the fixture: when they make sense.
Tankless vs tank water heater in San Diego
Lifespan, cost, sizing, permits and the hard-water question.
Costs, code & maintenance
What does water heater replacement cost in San Diego?
The parts of the price, from the heater itself to permits and code upgrades.
Water heater straps, permits and code in San Diego
Earthquake straps, drain pans, expansion tanks and permits, in plain English.
San Diego hard water and your water heater
What 16 grains per gallon means for tanks, tankless units and maintenance.
How long do water heaters last?
Typical lifespans, how to find your heater's age, and warning signs.
No hot water, or a leak at the tank?
Get connected with a licensed water heater company serving San Diego County.